Three local professional leaders will speak May 15 at the Shenango Valley Urban League's 35th Annual Awards Dinner.

Danine Fleming, director for the office of minority student affairs for Slippery Rock University; the Rev. Leon Avery Jr., pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Sharon; and the Rev. Lora A. Adams-King, pastor of the Erie Street Church of God in Franklin and the Sharon school board member, will address the importance of education, spirituality and professionalism in the lives of today's youth.

The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, Shenango Township, with this year's dinner theme, "Generations: Our Past, Our Present and Our Future."

This year's event will also feature an oration, a mime presentation and musical selections from local youth. In addition, the dinner will host a silent art auction featuring works from local high school students.

Ms. Fleming, a director at SRU since last August, monitors and develops programs for students of color. She directs the office, its staff, students and student organizations, and is dedicated to serving students and promoting a mission of inclusion and diversity.

She has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Claflin University, the oldest historically black institution in South Carolina. She also has a masters of education in early childhood education from the University of Charleston and an education specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from South Carolina State University.

Rev. Avery Jr. is a lifelong resident of the Shenango Valley area who lives in Farrell. For four years, he has been pastor of Bethlehem Baptist.

He graduated from Farrell High School and attended Boyce Bible College and Moody Bible College. Rev. Avery has a prison ministry, serving on the chaplaincy board at the State Regional Correctional Facility in Findley Township.

Rev. Avery is employed by Liberty Life Insurance. He and his wife Monica (Royster) Avery have three children, Kenneth, Leon and Janaee.

Rev. Adams-King, a Shenango Valley native, grew up in Wheatland and attended Farrell Area School District.

She attended the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University.

She graduated with a bachelor of arts in education from Westminster College, New Wilmington, and is enrolled in the masters degree program at Youngstown State University.

Rev. Adams-King has served as pastor of Erie Street Church of God for five years. She is employed by the Farrell Area School District as an elementary teacher.

In addition to the Sharon school board, she is also affiliated with the Mercer County NAACP, the City of Sharon Human Relations Commission and the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association.

Rev. Adams-King and her husband Howard Douglas King have six children and two grandchildren.

For tickets or more information, call the Urban League, (724) 981-5310.