Ebony on the scene

IN WASHINGTON, D.C., Kimberly Oliver, a kindergarten teacher in Silver Spring, Md., is congratulated by President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings after she was named the 2006 National Teacher of the Year.

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IN BOSTON, the Association of Black Harvard Women named businessman, activist and community leader John Hope Bryant as the "Outstanding Man of the Year." He is congratulated by Alexis Cepeda Maule (event co-chair), Amanda-Jane Thomas (event co-chair) and Nicole Laws, president of the Association of Black Harvard Women.

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IN NEW ORLEANS, thousands of music fans gathered at the 2006 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which included appearances by Fats Domino and Lionel Richie. In Atlanta, participants at Spelman College's 125th anniversary include college organist Joyce Johnson; Beverly Guy-Sheftall, founding director of the Women's Research and Resource Center; Evelynn Hammonds, a Harvard University administrator; Beverly Daniel Tatum, Spelman president; Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock; Norman Rates, dean emeritus of Sisters Chapel; and legendary opera singer and alumna Mattiwilda Dobbs.

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IN NEW YORK CITY, filmmaker Spike Lee is joined by his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, and their children, son Jackson and daughter Satchel, during the 20th anniversary celebration of his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks company. The celebration took place onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and was attended by such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas, Magic Johnson, Dave Chappelle and Samuel L. Jackson.

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IN LOUISVILLE, KY., several celebrities were among supporters who attended the fifth annual Grand Gala benefit during Kentucky Derby weekend. At top former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali playfully squares off against R&B superstar Usher at the VIP reception, which was hosted by the champ and his wife, Lonnie, at the Muhammad Ali Center. The reception was also attended by entertainers Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker and Erykah Badu. Those who attended the Kentucky Derby the next day included former NBA stars Michael Jordan and John Salley, and Star Jones-Reynolds, Usher and NBA Hall-of-Famer Julius Erring.

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning