Sapulpa Daily Herald ■ Section B ■ Sunday. Feb 5. 2006
Living
Inside Living
Engagements, births — Page B2-3
Isabella's honored as Sapulpa Main Street
Business of the Near — Page B5.
Young star gets his chance to shine
K\ I AMI MATTOX
Herald Assistant Editor
Sherman Merchant is headed
to Hollywood.
A 15-year-old sophomore at
Sapulpa High School. Merchant
will represent the United States
in the World Championships of
Performing Arts to be held in
early August.
"I'm going for the experi-
ence. This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity." he said.
The "Talent Olympics.” as
the competition is casually
referred to, invites contestants
from the United States and more
than 40 countries to compete in
dance, vocal, mtnleling. acting,
instrumental and variety compe-
titions. The competition, held in
Burbank. Calif., will celebrate
its l()th anniversary this sum-
mer.
Merchant first read of the
competition as he browsed a
local radio station's Web site.
He saw that a local talent
agency. Ain’t It Good
Productions, would be holding
auditions for the competition in
downtown Tulsa.
Merchant said the entire
audition process lasted two min-
utes He sang part of a song he
had prepared. “Your Love. O
Lord" and then read a commer-
cial script in front of a panel of
talent scouts.
Merchant estimates that 150
potential contestants attended
the tryout in Tulsa, but only
around 20 were invited to attend
the Talent Olympics. He was
excited to learn he was one of
the few who would continue in
the competition.
During the Olympics,
Merchant will showcase his tal-
ents in singing, acting and mod-
eling competitions.
Merchant says his dream has
always been to be a singer and
actor He remembers that at the
ace of 5 he used to stand behind
Ins mother, l.eann. and sing
along while she led the praise
and worship at the Victory
Assembly of God in Sand
Springs.
As he grew older. Merchant
showcased his acting and
singing talent in several produc
tions, including the Sapulpa
Community Theatre's "The
Member of the Wedding",
school productions of “Oz‘ and
"Annie”, as well as several
church plays.
He is a member of the French
Club. Sapulpa High School
choir, select choir, the Blue
Blaze Marvels and the high
school's jazz choir. “I love to
sing for Tracy Watson."
Merchant said of his choir direc-
tor.
He has competed in solo and
ensemble contests through the
high school choir and received
superior ratings in competition
Merchant has also competed in
All-Slate choir.
He is also very involved in
church activities. He is currently
a member of the praise and wor-
ship team of Victory Assembly
of God. He has also attend the
Assembly of God Fine Arts
Festival.
Merchant has also attended
the Colorado Gospel Music
Association where he sang a
solo, and he currently takes
voice lessons from Phil Comer
Merchant will travel to
California along with the other
contestants chosen to represent
Ain't It Good Productions. His
parents, Craig and Leann
Merchant, will also make the
trip.
Merchant’s competition will
begin Aug. 5 with the final
round of competition ending
Aug. 12. He will compete in the
junior category.
Merchant believes this com-
petition may give him an edge in
terms of his future career goals.
“I want to go for the experience
I want to further myself in my
singing and acting."
In preparation for the Talent
Olympics. Merchant will
endure strenuous and difficult
training to ready him tor the
competition of his life.
He is currently seeking spon-
sorships to help cover the cost
of his coaches, training, travel
expenses and other costs that are
See MERCHAST. Page B7
'Mifc “tf---
So..
____
SHERMAN MERCHANT, A sophomore at
Sapulpa High School, will travel to Burbank
Calif., in early August to compete in the World
Championships of Performing Arts. Merchant will
face competition from across the United States,
as well as from more than 40 countries.
V&'
Photo by JAMI MATTOX
OSU honors first black student Nancy Davis
STILLWATER. Okla. (AP) —
Oklahoma State University kicked off the
start of Black History Month by honoring
the first black student to break the color
barrier at the Stillwater campus.
Now 80. Nancy Randolph Davis was
allowed to enroll in three courses in the
summer of 1949 despite sanctions facing
the university, then called Oklahoma
A&M College.
Initially told by one administrator
blacks were not welcome, Nancy
Randolph Davis persisted in her demands
to pursue a master's degree at OSU and
enlisted the help of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
State law allowed fines on university
administrators who admitted black stu-
dents, instructors who taught mixed class-
es and even the students who attended the
classes. OSU never was fined for admit-
ting Davis, officials said.
Davis said she had to sit in the back of
the room in two classes and in the third
had to sit in the hallway and watch class
through a window.
That changed after about a week, w hen
other students spoke out about her separa-
tion.
"The while students demanded that i
be seated in the classroom with them and
receive equal treatment. Davis said.
Davis was lauded at a ceremony
Wednesday in the Student Union. The
event was organized after the Student
Government Association urged naming
each Feb. 1 as "Nancy R Davis Day."
Davis told students they also have a
responsibility to make positive changes.
•Remember who you are. where you
are and where you are going." said the
Sapulpa native. "My parents always told
me ' Keep on going, look up and stand up
because you are somebody.
Davis, a granddaughter of slaves, grad-
uated with a bachelor's degree in 1948
from Langston University, the college
founded for blacks She taught one year at
Dunjee High School in northeast
Oklahoma County before opting to pursue
a master's degree in home economics at
OSU.
In recent years. OSU has named a resi-
dence hall and three scholarships in
Davis' honor.
The university has graduated 2.466
black students since Davis enrolled in
1949
Birth mother’s regret begins to weigh on teenage daughter
DEAR ABBY: My husband
and I adopted a beautiful baby
girl in an open adoption 14 years
ago. "Sara’s” birth mother.
“Chris,” was trapped in an abu-
sive relationship. We promised to
exchange letters and pictures
when Sara was able to communi-
cate. and have done so since Sara
turned 10. Sara and her birth
mother talk on the phone four
times a year.
Although the “open” agree-
ment is not legally binding, we
have kept our word. However,
over the past year we have
become concerned about the
effect this is having on our daugh-
ter. Sara is sad and moody after
contacts with Chris. Chris also
sends poetry about the adoption,
which upsets Sara. It’s pretty
heavy stuff for a 14-year-old.
Chris has rebuilt her life,
obtained higher education, mar-
ried and has two toddlers. Despite
Dear
Abby
this, it seems she’s still mourning
the loss of her firstborn. We
understand this, but feel it’s
unfair to unload this burden on
Sara. Sara cried when she saw
photos of Chris’ two small sons.
Should we limit or sever the
contact? — NO NAMES
PLEASE IN THE NORTH-
WEST
DEAR NO NAMES: From
my perspective, the letters, photo-
graphs and the quarterly phone
calls are excessive. And for the
birth mother to send “heavy"
poetry in an effort to offload her
guilt and pain at placing her child
for adoption is selfish. Because
the contact with her birth mother
is depressing your daughter
instead of being uplifting, it's
time to ask Sara what she thinks
— and take your cue from her.
DEAR ABBY: After 20 years
of marriage to an abusive man. 1
finally divorced him.
One night 1 was feeling
depressed, so 1 contacted
“Garrett.” an old high school
sweetheart. We ended up really
clicking. Garrett has been mar-
ried twice. Both his ex-wives
were unfaithful and treated him
shamefully, so he's afraid of mar-
rying again.
Garrett says he loves me and
we plan on moving in together.
The problem is his mother, who is
very religious. She will have a
hard time accepting our arrange-
ment. 1 asked him if he wanted
me to talk to her. and he said yes
How do I make her understand? 1
love Garrett very much and know
in my heart we were meant to be
together. I feel God brought him
back into my life.
I am 42 and Garrett is 43. so
it’s not like we’re kids. 1 respect
his mother very much and know
her son wants her acceptance.
Any advice you could otter
would be appreciated. — DES-
PERATE TO BE HAPPY IN
ILLINOIS
DEAR DESPERATE: Say to
Garrett's mother: “1 love vour son
and feel in my heart that we were
meant to be together. I want and
need to be with him. He has
struck out twice at marriage and
is afraid to try again — and at
least for now. I’m prepared to
accept this. 1 like and respect you
very much. We plan to live
together, and if you would like to
be part of our lives, we would like
that, too." Then shut your mouth
and hear what the woman has to
say. She may pleasantly surprise
you.
DEAR ABBS: Do you think it
is inappropriate to leave a family
gathering if another family mem-
ber brings a child — or himself
— to the gathering with a highly
contagious sickness? This is
causing a rift between me and my
husband's family. — DEBBIE
IN HAMILTON, OHIO
DEAR DEBBIE: Let me
answer you in this way: For
someone with a contagious ill-
ness to put others at risk of catch-
ing it is selfish and inconsiderate.
You have every right to protect
yourself by leaving the gathering
In fact. 1 recommend it.
Dear Abby is written by-
Abigail Van Buren. also known as
Jeanne Phillips, and was founded
by her mother. Pauline Phillips.
Write Dear Abby at
www.DearAbby.com or P.O Box
69440. Los Angeles. CA 90069.