2021 Community Service Award Recipients

Stephanie K. Saunders is the 2021 HBCU Drum Major Awardee. She is an Assistant Professor of music, the Associate Director of the Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Band and the Norfolk State Jazz Ensemble. She obtained her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Jackson State University and received her Master’s Degree in Music Performance on the Bassoon from the University of Houston. She has over 25 years of performance expertise in several wind instruments. She directs the marching band, pep band, and symphonic band; directs the jazz ensembles and combo; direct chamber ensembles; provides oversight of other band related activities, serves on university committees, and instructs in music theory and applied woodwinds.

Professor Saunders has also served at two other notable HBCUs, Alcorn State University and Prairie View A & M University. Her role as Associate Director of two musical organizations demonstrates her ambassadorship in representing NSU at athletic games and community events. In this role, she has served as a mentor and advisor to hundreds of students throughout her career.

In partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Iota Omega Chapter, the Norfolk Pearls Foundation are pleased to recognize Professor Saunders with the 2021 HBCU Drum Major Award!

Dr. Olivia M. J. Newby has been a Family Nurse Practitioner for 25 and practices at Primary Care Specialist in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2012, Dr. Newby Co-Founded and became President of The Healthy Living Center Foundation, a (501) 3c nonprofit organization. Dr. Newby holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Howard University, a Master's degree in Nursing from Hampton University, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Old Dominion University.

Additionally, she is Nationally Certified as a Diabetes Educator and Diabetes Lifestyle Coach. Dr. Newby has authored the book “Now What? I Have Diabetes”, and her study entitled “Culturally Tailored Group Medical Appointments for Diabetic Black Americans” was published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Newby has extensive experience in primary care, entrepreneurship, culinary medicine, research, and diabetes education. Dr. Newby currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Nursing Graduate College at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and is the Vice President/President Elect of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners.

Recent accomplishments include becoming a 2020-2021 Fellow of the Duke Johnson & Johnson Nursing Leadership Program, a 2020 inductee of Fellows American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and recipient of the 2020 President’s Award from Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, and Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. Currently Dr. Newby serves as a Board member for the American Heart Association of Hampton Roads. Dr. Newby professional interests include diabetes management and education, and dietary health prevention for at-risk populations.

In partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Iota Omega Chapter, the Norfolk Pearls Foundation are pleased to recognize Dr. Olivia M. J. Newby with the 2021 Constance Ferebee Jones Women’s Healthcare and Wellness Award!

Clayton Singleton has created public art, won numerous awards, and produced several solo and group shows.  His work has been featured at Walking on Paper at ArtWorks gallery, ART INSTALLATION PERFORMANCE at SONO gallery and LOOK BEYOND at d’ART Center @The Selden, which benefited The Autism Society of Tidewater. The Virginia Opera commissioned Clayton to design sets for Porgy and Bess and Freedom’s Journey.  Clayton has served as a member of Norfolk's All-City Teaching Team, The d'ART Center Board of Directors and Norfolk Arts Commission. 

In addition to helping rewrite Norfolk School Board's art curriculum, Mr. Singleton produced solo exhibitions; DEFINING BEAUTY at The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, CULTURAL SHIFT at The James Wise Gallery at Norfolk State University, LOVE OF THE GAME at The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, and VALEDICTORIAN which consists of paintings, mixed media and video; an extension of the group show Looking Both Ways: Roots in African American Art at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Moreover, Singleton exhibited at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, The Chrysler Museum of Art and has co-curated regional group exhibitions such as NOW: African-American Artists in Tidewater. Most recently he produced a solo exhibition FUTURE LOVE PARADISE, which toured for two years beginning at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, and ended at his alma mater Virginia Wesleyan University where he earned the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts with a Teaching Certificate. He earned his Master of Education from Regent University. He has served as an Art Teacher and Department Chairman for Norfolk Public Schools for over 25 years.

This award is named after Norfolk native, the late Mrs. Joyce Gilliam Brown, a member of the Iota Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc® for over 50 years. She was an award winning, nationally renown folklorist and storyteller. 

In partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Iota Omega Chapter, the Norfolk Pearls Foundation are pleased to recognize Mr. Clayton J. Singleton with the 2021 Joyce Gilliam Brown Award for The Arts!