"The day has come where you almost need a college degree to flip a burger," says Danine Fleming, director of the office of minority student affairs at Slippery Rock University.

She was one of three local professionals to speak Thursday evening at the Shenango Valley Urban League's 35th annual awards dinner held at the Radisson Hotel of Sharon, Shenango Township.

Ms. Fleming was joined by 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. The three guest speakers offered wise words of advice and encouragement about "Generations, Our Past, Present and Our Future," this year's theme.

Ms. Fleming, who spoke on education, said college can either be a dream, a goal or a reality. The single, most consistent and powerful instrument a person can embody is education because peer pressure can contaminate a person's views of the world, she said.

"Education is lifelong learning. One never completes his or her education. Hush, hush, there is someone calling my name," she said.

Rev. Avery, who spoke on spirituality, encouraged everyone to seek a relationship with God. "I was once taught that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything," he said.

Rev. Avery, who quoted from Proverbs 2:1, said he is glad to have been raised by parents who instilled the fear of the Lord in him. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," he said. "Wisdom will prolong your life and bring you prosperity. Heed to God's commandments."

The Rev. Adams-King spoke on professionalism.

As an educator and a pastor, she said a profession is a calling or a vocation; whereas professionals are masters, experts are specialists at what they do.

"Whether employed at Burger King, or baby-sitting ... as long as I look my best, act my best, am well-equipped and have given my all, those who have seen me on that day have seen an absolute picture of professionalism."

Receiving awards were: William Perrine, president of Sharon Tube Co., for corporate leadership; Rachine La'Vera Mazyck, a teacher at Sharon High School, for community service; and Shar-Dai Janine Peagler, a Farrell High School sophomore, for youth achievement.

Also honored were 19 volunteers who help tutor with the Urban League's "Urban Village" mentoring program.

The event also featured a song by Tymmesha Brown, who sang "Wind Beneath My Wings," an oration called "Realization," by Brittany Moore, a mime performance by the Kara Dancers of Cedar Avenue Church of God in Sharon and a musical selection by Stephen Bennefield.