Virtuous Academy Presents - Community Celebration featuring Fashion, Music, and Education

Pittsburgh PA, PA ( PressReleaseCollection ) May 08, 2010 - Fashion, music and entertainment will blend during the second annual Virtuous Academy Fashion Extravaganza, Saturday May 8. As a way to raise funds and to showcase the school, the fashion show titled “A Celebration of Fashion and Music” will be held in the Virtuous Academy Auditorium, 128 South 3rd Street in Duquesne at 4:00 p.m. An open house will take place prior from noon to 2:00 p.m. Virtuous Academy (VA) is a private educational facility, whose mission is to achieve academic excellence through a Christ centered focus and a concentration in the arts.

Highlighting clothing for all ages, the show will feature fashions and accessories from area stores including David’s Bridal, Sneaker Villa, K&G Fashions, TJ Maxx Marshalls, and Savvy Chic Bags. Entertainment will be provided by NAKA Entertainment and Roland Ford soul line dancing. The commentator is Marlon Martin formerly of WAMO and WGBN radio.

In its second year, Virtuous Academy strives to close the achievement gap and introduce the arts to students from underserved neighborhoods in the Mon Valley area. “We recognize that due to environmental stressors students do not learn at the same pace and need extra attention to be successful in school,” points out Iyana Tennon, CEO and President.

As founder of VA, Tennon is committed and passionate about providing an alternative to students in the Duquesne community. This area is underserved and the residents and students have suffered in a failing public education system for many years. Her concern is that the current model spends most of the resources improving safety and test scores; rather than being inclusive of interest in the students’ home life and the exploring the students’ talents and hobbies. “Test-taking skills have never been proven to improve citizenship,” says Tennon. “So we provide a holistic education that creates learners with the morals to be positive citizens.”

She indicates that at VA, education is individualized according to each student’s ability level and students are challenged to learn, grow, and give back.

This year, for the first time in its history, VA is planning to conduct a nine week summer camp. Believing in collaborations, VA, Super Kids Tutoring and Umoja Arts Group based in Pittsburgh will offer a combination of academic activity and arts programming to participants. “At Virtuous Academy , a non-profit institution, we seek to rebuild our community through academics, art, respect and integrity,” says Tennon. She points out that their mission is to foster holistic development, academic excellence and positive citizenship through academic and artistic rigor. This camp just helps us accomplish that mission.

Co-sponsors of the May 8 Fashion Extravaganza include the Soul Pitt, DID & Associates and Virtuous Visions Photography, LeKurion Salon and WGBN radio.

CONTACT: Iyana Tennon
(412) 330-0596 or virtuous_academy@live.com
www.virtuousacademy.org


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