The United Negro College Fund held a master's musician workshop and college scholarship fundraiser at the Emerald City Community Church in March.

UNCF plays a critical role in enabling more than 65,000 students each year to attend college and get the education they want and deserve. According to www.uncf.org, the organization has a 64-year history of supporting more than 350,000 students in higher education.

UNCF has 25 affiliate offices across the country, and Cheryl Shaw, an Emerald City member, serves as the Pacific Northwest director. In conjunction with the master workshop, Shaw organized a live auction and benefit concert to help raise $1.6 million for scholarships to support students in 900 colleges in the nation.

The Seattle area workshop—featuring the Gospel acappella group, Take 6, whose roots began in 1980 at Oakwood College, a UNCF member school—was the culmination of a community after-school incentive program designed for students interested in fine arts and pursuing higher education.

The Master's Class program, sponsored by T-Mobile, provides 10 students from Washington with yearly $5,000 scholarships for any university or college in the country.

Forty participants attended the afternoon workshop where they were acknowledged and thanked for taking their first step toward fulfilling their dream of getting an education with support from the UNCF organization.

Shaniqua Manning, Northwest Cable News anchor woman, emceed Take 6's benefit concert. The event raised $77,000, making it possible for young people to attend a college or university of their choice and excel in life.