Billboards will highlight achievements of Trenton teens
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won motion picture acclaim.
Locally, two billboards inside the City of Trenton will attract positive attention soon.
The Trenton Central High School NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 boys basketball sectional champion and state semifinalist will be featured on a billboard. Trenton High female athletes receive recognition as Tornadoes’ cheerleaders receive welldeserved honors.
Both billboards represent a positive message being delivered by a “Heal the City” campaign presented by the S.E.E.D. (Servants Endeavoring to Empower and Develop) male mentoring program, a local group that looks to guide city youth to become responsible and successful adults.
EE Jenkins Ministries, a non-profit, funds the “Heal the City” effort which originated in June, 2014.
“We thought these girls should be recognized for their contribution,” Stacy Heading, executive director for S.E.E.D, said.
Trenton High boys basketball team stormed through CJ Group IV title with a home win against New Brunswick followed by road wins against Hunterdon Central, Hightstown and Colts Neck. The Tornadoes (22-8) lost against Shawnee in a Group IV state semifinal.
Trenton High cheerleaders remain a treasured program known for inspirational performances and educational success.
“A major part of our identity is to always bring a lot of energy to uplift our crowd and the team. It doesn’t matter if we’re winning or losing, we bring the energy,” coach Ieshia Dawkins said. Dawkins cheered for Trenton from 1998-2002, attended and graduated from Delaware State then returned as a teacher and mentor.
Four Trenton High senior cheerleaders will attend Norfolk State, Delaware State, Morgan State and Clark Atlanta, all educational institutes connected to the nation’s list of Historically Black Colleges or Universities.
Both billboards will install on Monday March 26 with cheerleaders displayed on East State Street across from P.J. Hill. Former TCHS cheerleader standout Talaya Stoddard Wilson is the principal of P.J. Hill.
The boys basketball billboard will display at the corner of Stuyvesant Ave. and Prospect Street near the West Ward Center where many of them learned the fine art of basketball, sportsmanship and team play.
For more information on how to donate to the S.E.E.D. project, contact Stacy Heading at (267) 528-5781 or at seedmalementoring@hahoo.com.