W/ 2 PICS

Recently, the third annual Deia Wallace Peters Speech Scholarship was held at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Tacoma. The scholarship — which was started in 2001 under the name of the late Carl Maxey, a prominent attorney previously from Spokane — sponsored by the Jack E. Tanner Bar Association, was chaired by Deia Wallace Peter and Jerry Lee Jr. In December of 2001 Deia Wallace Peter, the 29-year-old attorney who was very active in her community, passed away. Following her death, family and friends of Deia Wallace Peters along with the Jack E. Tanner Bar Association created the Deia Wallace Peters Speech Scholarship during the winter of 2002. Each year students, grades ten through 12, from Pierce and Thurston counties do the community proud at this event. For 2004, students wrote and delivered effective speeches on the subject, “What is the Role of African American Youth in the Political Process.” Two weeks prior to the event, a workshop is held to assist students with the writing and presentation of their speeches. Judges for the event represent the Jack E. Tanner and the Loren Miller Bar Associations. The 2004 participants from local high schools were: Jalaia Braxton, Lincoln; Jaminah Hunt-Shannon, Steilacoom; Harrison Mar III, Foss; Syreeta Martin, Wilson; Audrey Polk, Timberline; N’Tasha Anders, Timberline; Lakeisha S. Jones, Franklin Pierce; John Moody, River Ridge; Justin Artis, Foss; Ryan Barfield, Curtis; Daron Flemming, River Ridge; Victoria Coats, River Ridge; Karyn Richards, River Ridge; Juan Ramos, Foss; Jordan Artis, Charles Wright; Erica Rembert, Foss; Rentita Hunter, Washington; and Jerrell Townsend, Curtis. All of the participants did an outstanding job meeting the judging criteria in the categories of professionalism, content, delivery, and time. The 2004 scholarship awards recipients were: Erica Rembert, first place; Jordan Artis, second place; and Audrey Polk, third place. The family and friends of Deia Wallace Peters would like to thank the participants for their diligent work, all the people that supported their efforts, the contributors that helped make the scholarship possible, and Pastor Rhoades of Bethlehem Baptist Church who continually supports this endeavor. Furthermore, we will always remember and be thankful for Deia’s legacy of love and commitment to family, friends, and community.