The Daily Collegian TAKING IT TO THE STREETS Chloe Elmer/Collegian A group of students and community members lie on the ground outside of the Allen Street Gates on Thursday morning for Transgender Day of Remembrance. The group represented the 15 transgendered people who were killed in the past year. NAACP to host artist, awards for minorities Bobby Valentino is set to per form for students at the first ever Image Awards. By Alexa Agugliaro COLLEGIAN' STAFF WRITER Penn State's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host the first-ever Image Awards at 8 p in. Sunday in HUB Alumni Hall. Event coordinator .Jasmine Rushum (junior-broadcast journalism and sociolo gy) said the purpose of the night is to honor minority students who have culti vated a positive image at Penn State and improved the diversity climate on cam pus. The night will consist of musical per formances from students and also from R&B singer Bobby Valentino, best known for his collaborations with Lil' Wavne. Rushum, a member of The Daily Collegian's Board of Directors, said Valentino was chosen as the night's musi cal guest in part because of his recently launched foundation - the Bobby V Fbundation, which encourages people to value and to pursue higher education. “He seems to really care about college, and we felt it was important to have someone with a positive image." Rushum said. “He also has connections with NAACP and was very willing to come." NAACP National Secretary Jenneba Jalloh said Bobby Valentino's musical performance will be a nice incentive for attendance, but she doesn't want the pur pose of the Image Awards to fade. “We're recognizing the students who are making a difference in the communi- ty and hoping that other students will be motivated to continue to do that work," Jalloh (junior-telecommunications) said. The night's theme of "Man in the Mirror” is meant to send the message that students should hold themselves accountable for their actions. Jalloh said. "We have to learn to see the image of what you wish to be portrayed so others can act on it,” she said. "We need to take initiative.” NAACP member Samantha Burton said she expects to see a large turnout at Sunday's event and hopes a tradition will begin and catch on for future years. "We just want everyone to have a good night and hopefully stand up and make a difference with us,” Burton (junior-com munications of liberal arts and sciences) said. Rushum said tickets are on sale at HUB-Robeson Center tables today. They will be sold at the door at $lO for students and $l5 for non-students. To e-mail reporter: amas4s3@psu.edu If you go What: NAACP First Annual Image Awards Where: Alumni Hall When: Sunday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. Details: Tickets are on sale today and are $lO for students and $l5 for non students. Dinner will be served for attendees. Tickets are on sale at the HUB- Robeson Center and will also be sold at the door. L O Veteran to raise money for families of soldiers A former Marine Corps sniper and Penn State student is raising money to help his fellow soldiers. Corey Read said his goal for the next four months is to raise $3,500 for a chari ty that is close to his heart. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides support to the chil dren of special operations personnel killed in combat or training missions. To reach that goal. Read (junior-inter national politics) said he will host pasta dinners, sell rubber bracelets on campus and run the Boston Marathon in April. "My intention is to raise awareness of the organization that provides support to the men of the special operations com munity.” Read said. "I wanted to work with a charity that really meant some thing to me." After graduating from Tunkhannoek Area High School in 2005, Read served in the Marine Corps as a small unit opera tor until 2009. He served as a school-trained sniper in Fallujah. Iraq and worked in Counter Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden region. Because he understands the danger of the Special Operations Forces' daily rou tine, Read said he wants to raise money to take care of the children of fallen sol diers. “We work in small units operating great distances behind enemy lines." Read said. "We will do numerous 72-hour missions or longer. These missions are conducted far away from any friendly forces." Since the 9 11 terrorist attacks, the United States has demanded much from its Special Operations Forces. About 60.000 Special Operations personnel are serving in more than 26 countries, according to a statement issued by the Warrior Foundation. These are the people that you never Penn State Undergrads Apply Now for a week that will change your life Explore Law Lewis Katz ILiilding • University Park By Eddie Lau COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Mav 16 - 20, 2011 Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 I 5 “They’ve given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This is just a great way to give back to them.” Corey Read (junior-international politics) hear about they are the first ones in and last ones out and what they do, by its nature, is confidential," said Wendy Bourland. communications and events manager for the Warrior Foundation. Founded in 1980, the Tampa. Fla.- based organization offers college scholar ship grants, family counseling and covers immediate financial needs for special operations personnel severely wounded in operations. Bourland said. The Warrior Foundation currently pro vides scholarship grants to more than 760 children, she said. "If it wasn’t for this organization, the dream of college for my son might not have been realized," said Terry Buege. the widow- of Senior Master Sergeant Paul Buege. who was killed during the Battle of Khafi in January 1991. Buege said providing a good education for their children was the primary goal of her late husband. The Warrior Foundation, she said, made this possible. As of press time Wednesday, Read raised $585. about $2,900 short of his tar get. But he said he is positive that he can meet his goal by April. For those who support the cause. Read said they can make their donation at first giving.com psutheywereoursoldiers or write him a check. "My unit is still overseas and there are still troops overseas dying. They've given the ultimate sacrifice for their country." Read said. "This is just a great way to give back to them." io e-mail reporter: tolslos@psu.edu