Elouise Sparks honored for Juneteenth efforts | Tri-City Herald

Elouise Sparks, director of the Miss Juneteenth Pageant, was honored Friday night by the PNNL Black Community Connection Network with its 2011 Community Stewardship Award.

The award was presented during the first "Cupid's Ball" held by the Black Community Connection network and Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant. Proceeds from the dinner attended by more than 140 at the Clarion Hotel in Richland will go to the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Program of the Tri-Cities.

The scholarship program honors black high school girls with college scholarships. Juneteenth marks the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

The Black Community Connection Network at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is assisting with Tri-City Juneteenth efforts and Black History Month activities this month.