Foundation honors former Harlem Globetrotter

More than 250 guests gathered at Florence Civic Center on Thursday night to help The School Foundation honor former Harlem Globetrotter and Wilson High School graduate Jolette Law as the 2008 Distinguished Graduate.

Law was honored as Florence District 1’s Distinguished Graduate during the Seventh Annual School Foundation Celebration.

Former Wilson High School principal Dr. Allie E.Brooks introduced Law as a “young lady that overcame the adversity of being short” and had the reputation of being an excellent basketball player and all-around student.

“The young lady we honor tonight is (one) that embodies ... knowledge, skills and character,” he said.

Dressed in a tailored white suit, Law stood at the podium and thanked everyone from her family, former teachers and administrators to the Florence community for providing the support she needed to be successful in life.

“This honor means so much to me because, if it (wasn’t) for all of the teachers, administrators, my pastor, Rev. (Dr. William P.) Diggs, his wife ... a lot of the things (I did in my life) wouldn’t have been possible,” Law said.

Law was a three-time Kodak All-American at Wilson before attending the University of Iowa, where she furthered her basketball career and earned a bachelor’s degree in sports studies/corporate fitness.

From there, Law joined the Harlem Globetrotters as the first and, at the time, only female team member.

She completed three worldwide tours, and conducted several seminars and clinics in her role as an ambassador of goodwill with the team.

Law went on to become one of the top assistant coaches in the country before being named the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Illinois. Her previous stint included 12 years at Rutgers, the last four as associate head coach.

During the celebration honoring Law, William E. Milliken, founder and vice chairman of Communities in Schools, encouraged all who attended to fight what he called “one of today’s civil rights’ issues” — high school dropout.

“This is one of the biggest moral crises in our country and it’s also in economic insanity,” he said. “We can solve the dropout (issues) in this country. There’s no excuse.

Milliken said he thinks caring, one-on-one relationships between adults and young people is one of the ways to make a difference.

“Programs don’t change kids, relationships do,” he said.

Milliken, who is known as one of the most successful and respected youth advocates in the U.S., is a winner of the American Association of School Administrators’ “Champion for Children” award.

The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in Florence School District 1 through grants for innovative and high impact programs designed to benefit all students.

On the Web:

The School Foundation: http://www.theschoolfoundation.org