Our future lies in the hands of our young ones – that was the message conveyed to the audience Friday evening in the Scheman Building.

This year’s Freedom Fund Banquet, hosted by the Ames branch of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, brought together a mixture of several prominent leaders from both the Iowa State and the Ames community.

Some of the individuals in attendance were Ames Mayor Ann Campbell; George Jackson, assistant dean of the graduate college and president of the Ames NAACP; and Rachel Iheanacho, senior in chemical engineering and president of the Black Student Alliance.

Celebrating its 11-year anniversary, the annual spring banquet placed its focus primarily on black youth with the theme of “Taking back our neighborhood through education, determination and dedication.”

The audience of nearly 100 people joined in to commemorate the beginning of Black History Month and enjoyed the first hour before the ceremony with a social during which guests were treated to a poetry recital by ISU alumnus Robert Taylor.

The ceremony began with a welcoming introduction by Ilsa Evans, who set the normally formal event at a comfortable ease with humorous anecdotes throughout the evening in her role as mistress of ceremonies.

Evans, who began working at Iowa State a month ago, provided a fresh spice to the occasion with her lilting Bahamian accent and reminders that the occasion was “a fellowship for everyone.”

After the opening greeting from Mayor Campbell and the singing of the Negro National Anthem by Jackie Martin, the audience settled in for dinner, followed by the keynote address by George Bradley, ISU alumnus and president of Paine College in Augusta, Ga.

Bradley spoke about the importance of keeping young people educated. He conveyed concern about young black people and the low economic status and poor schooling systems some have to endure. He said these factors and many others should be combated on both the educational and spiritual levels.

“The power of education can transform our entire destiny,” Bradley said. “Talent lies everywhere . Give people a chance to develop their talent to the fullest.”

Bradley also recognized that, as a society, Americans are becoming increasingly subject to global competition and urged those in attendance to learn how to compete in a global market.

In correlation with keeping black youth educated, the NAACP recognized four Ames High School seniors for their high achievements and influences in their communities. Alexis Squire, senior at Ames High, was awarded the 2008 Vanguard Award based on her academic accomplishments, determination and motivation. The $1,000 scholarship, which will go toward her college education, left Squire quite stunned.

“I did not even know I was nominated . I’m so surprised,” Squire said.