By Tameka Shockley

The Delaware State University Office of University Events and Ceremonies has their hard hats and lace gloves on as they prepare for the third annual Margaret Oliver First Lady’s Hats and Gloves Tea taking place on Sunday, March 25, 2018 in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center Parlors.

Every year this soiree is celebrated by many but ultimately is a fundraiser for the Honors Student Association and generates a lot of funds. Miss HSA is usually the Mistress of Ceremonies.

The event is usually headed by a committee put together by DSU’s First Lady but this year things may take a twist as Dr. Wilma Mishoe takes over and leads the girl power train during the International Women’s Month celebration.

The tea also takes time to highlight an exceptional woman doing the work of DSU’s mission in each of Delaware’s three counties. This year representing New Castle County will be Dr. Beatrice “Bebe” Coker, Kent County will be Dr. Mable R. Morrison and Sussex County will be Ms. Esthelda “Stell” Parker-Selby. Past honorees include Dr. Jill Biden and the Honorable Lisa Blunt-Rochester.

There are many wow factors throughout the night first being all the breath-taking decorations. In the past there have been delicate rose shaped napkins, jewelry displays and even a live history museum with students dressed as leading ladies in history.

This year we can expect the room to be beautifully filled with hues of blue as the theme is “Ladies Sing the Blues.” But make sure to come as equally decked out as the attire is Simply Chic, ladies come every year dressed in their Sunday best.

One of the coolest parts about the event? The staff working it. Graduate Student Porshia Brewer, c/o 2017 is the executive assistant to the Event Planner. She has gone full circle from volunteering for this event in her undergrad to calling shots in a paid position for the university.

Underneath her mentorship are many student interns under the Public Relations concentration, the Hospitality and Tourism Management major as well as business who all are getting extraordinary experience with this event and many others.

There are many ways to get involved in the fun, E-News has recently sent out an email blast stating that there will be an initial Orientation Meeting on Thursday, February 8, 2018, in the Glass Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the MLK Student Center from 11:00 to 11:45 am. A weekly commitment to attend five (5) training sessions will be required. The training sessions will be held on Thursdays from 11:00 am to 11:45 am, beginning Thursday, February 15, 2018 until March 22, 2018. (Training will not take place during the week of Spring Break.) The training sessions will be held in the Glass Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the MLK Student Center. Please contact Dr. L. Germaine Scott-Cheatham at gcheatha@desu.edu.

Dr. L. Germaine Scott-Cheatham (source: desu.edu)

There is still time to purchase a ticket for $55.00 or a table of ten for $550 as well as an ad in the program book. All funds must be received by the university by March 21^st.  Please contact Ms. Brenda Farmer for more information.