THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310739
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Television star Dawnn Lewis will be the featured guest Saturday at Elizabeth City State University's 15th annual Scholarcade, where educators turn entertainers for an evening of fund-raising.
Lewis, known for her starring roles in the sitcoms ``Hangin' With Mr. Cooper'' and ``A Different World,'' will perform with a cavalcade of others 7 p.m. at the Moore Hall Auditorium.
Tickets - $8 for the public and $3 for students - are available from any university office or at the door.
Scholarcade is the brainchild of Dr. Jimmie R. Jenkins, chancellor of the university.
``He conceived the idea and coined the phrase and developed the program, which brings the faculty and staff and administration together for the common cause of raising scholarship money for our students,'' said Dorothy Smith, this year's chairperson.
The past 14 Scholarcades have netted more than $30,000 for students at the four-year university. It also has served as a recruitment tool for high school students in the audience.
``What we do is put on a program for their entertainment, and it's full participation by the entire faculty, staff and administration,'' Smith said.
This year's highlights include a chorus line choreographed by Dr. Tina Talag, a physical education and modern dance instructor. About a dozen faculty members have been working on a high-stepping number similar to New York's Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Shawn Smith of the drama department will direct the comedy skit ``The Last Mama on the Couch.'' It features Bobby Lewis, a biology professor, and Glenda Griffin, who teaches English with the department of language, literatureand communications.
Sharon Zerlin will demonstrate her guitar skills. She's normally seen instructing classes within the department of education and psychology.
Even the chancellor and his wife will join in, strutting down the runway for a fashion show choreographed by Yvonne Wagner, director of university relations.
``We're stepping out of our roles temporarily to help us help our students,'' Smith said.
A crowd-pleaser is sure to be actress and singer Lewis, who, in addition to her television and motion picture credits, was an honor graduate of the University of Miami in Florida.
Besides two popular television comedies, Lewis has appeared in the movie ``Race to Freedom . . . The Underground Railroad'' broadcast on The Family Channel and Black Entertainment Network.
She also appeared in the CBS movie ``Stompin' at the Savoy'' as Ella Fitzgerald, using her own vocals. She also co-wrote the theme song for ``A Different World'' and the song ``Your Love'' that appears on Grover Washington Jr.'s current album.
Lewis will demonstrate her wide vocal range when she joins the Rev. Clifton Davis on stage during Scholarcade.
Davis, best known for his role as a minister on the 1980s show ``Amen,'' is the interim director of development and planning at ECSU.
``Mr. Davis was instrumental in securing her,'' Smith said. ``And we're delighted about that. We're really excited about her coming.'' MEMO: For ticket information, call 335-3328 or 335-3594. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dawnn Lewis
by CNB