From ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Thirteen individuals or organizations have been nominated for “Awards of Excellence 2009” to be announced at the 9th Annual Silver Harvest Banquet to be held Saturday, Nov. 14.

A fund-raiser for TAASU (The African-American Student Union) at Kansas City Kansas Community College, three recipients of “Awards of Excellence” will be announced at the banquet to be held at 6 p.m. in the Jewell Center on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.

The nominees are Kalen Allen, Sumner Academy; Richard Ayers, Workforce Development for the Unified Government; Alicia Hooks, Constituent Services Aide to Rep. Dennis Moore; Gateway High Steppers of KCK; Brooke Santos/Ann Taylor, Village West Parkway; Gloria Willis, USD 500 Board of Trustees; KCK Girl Scout Troop 1673; Trinity Hall of Wyandotte High School; KCKCC instructors Ronald Rowland and Lakshy Sivaratnam ; George Crump and Mark Moehlman, instructors at KCKCC’s Technical Education Center; and KCKCC Fringe Benefits.

John Rogers III, the CEO of StrongSpeak LLC (pictured), will present the keynote address at the ‘Powerful beyond Measure” banquet. A 1995 graduate of Wright State University, Rogers now serves as Director of Orientation and First Weekend for Wright State and has taught Hip Hop Psychology 101 for several years.

A speaker at national conferences, major universities, religious institutions and many other organizations, Rogers has 10 years of experience in higher education in such diverse areas as student success initiatives, underrepresented student recruitment and enrichment, academic intervention for at-risk students and the coordination of first year transition programs.

Tickets for the banquet are $20 for adults and $12 for youth 12 and under and can be reserved by calling 913-288-7601