The African-American Cultural and Research Center and the African-American Alumni Association and UC gave her that title Wednesday as they honored her as the university's oldest living African-American alum.

The ceremony took place at the African-American Cultural and Research Center in Sander Hall.

She came into the center in a wheelchair to a standing ovation from 150 students as Eric Abercrumbie, director of the center, called out: "Welcome to the Queen Mother.''

Georgia Beasley at a Living Legends ceremony at University of Cincinnati when she was 96. Beasley has since turned 101. Enquirer file

Beasley, who graduated from UC in 1925 with a bachelor's degree in home economics, turned 101 on Sept. 13.

To the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sigma Omega Chapter, Beasley epitomizes the profile of an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman: knowledgeable, experienced, responsible, committed and trustworthy, said Iva Brown, president of the sorority.

Beasley was the first African-American to graduate from Withrow High School. She was awarded a scholarship from the Omicron chapter of the sorority and was one of five African-American students attending UC in the early 1920s.

"Things were a lot different when I entered the university in the 1920s,'' she said . "But prejudice never bothered me because I knew what I wanted to do and I did it.''

Healthy smiles

Nolaune Davis, 11, a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, was among the thousands of kids who learned about dental care during the Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 to Promote Good Oral Health.

Nolaune is the son of Latonda Carter of Avondale.

The club joined with Crest to promote the festival-like Smile for Life Day at the U.S. Bank Boys and Girls Club, Avondale, last Wednesday.

"We have a dental clinic in the building, which offered an opportunity for the children to see what goes on in a clinic,'' said Amy Leroux, director of community affairs for the clubs. "We showed X-rays of good and bad teeth. ... The idea was to inject the fear factor and encourage them to brush more.

"We also showed them what could happen if they ate too much candy."

Acts of Kindness

Six local Masons were elevated to the 33rd degree, the highest honor of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, during the annual meeting of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council Sept. 21 in Milwaukee.

The degree is awarded for outstanding service to Freemasonry or for significant contributions to humanity that reflect credit upon the organization.

Locals who were among 129 selected for the degree were: Jerome R. Clark, Batavia; Robert G. Graham, Springfield Township, Hamilton County; Lloyd R. Naylor II, Winchester; Timothy O. Ralston, Georgetown; Thomas R. Schuck, downtown Cincinnati; and Joseph I. Sykes Jr., North Bend.

"I feel extremely proud to receive this honor,'' said Graham, a retired vice president of customer relations for Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. "I am particularly proud to be involved in Freemasonry because of the charitable work we are able to do."

Graham said he was particularly proud of the learning centers for dyslexic students that the organization supports. The organization has 40 such centers across the country, Graham said.

"We offer one-on-one tutoring to people suffering from dyslexia,'' Graham said. "I have also been involved with our program with the Burns Institute. To see some of the cases of burned children and be able to help means a lot to me."