ATLANTA – Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta City Councilmember C.T. Martin will rename Harwell Heights Park in honor of the late, legendary Dr. Mary Shy Scott.
Dr. Scott, a longtime Atlanta educator and motivational speaker, served as the 23rd International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. from 1990 to 1994. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is hosting its 67th bi-annual Boulé in Atlanta, which has attracted more than 20,000 members.
“Dr. Scott was one of those individuals in the community that everyone knew and loved and she knew and loved you back,” said District 10 City Councilmember Martin, who represents the community in which the park is located. “She provided extensive quality and nurturing service and care to children across Southwest Atlanta with over 30 years of dedicated service to the Atlanta Public School system. She would have been proud to have a place where children gather, named in her honor.”
Park festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 8, with the official dedication commencing at 2:30 p.m. The park is located at 3114 Collier Drive N.W. in Atlanta. Participants in the event will include members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., members of the Atlanta City Council and the Reed Administration.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. donated $50,000 for the refurbishment of what will be known as the Dr. Mary Shy Scott Memorial Park. The Department of Parks and Recreation invested additional funding to update the baseball field, basketball court, pavilions, benches, parking lot and city park sign.
A native Atlantan and Spelman alumnus, Dr. Scott was initiated into the Kappa Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in 1953. From 1982 to 1984, Scott served as the Regional Director of the Atlanta branch of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 1986, she was elected First International Vice President, and in 1990 she was elected the Sorority’s 23rd International President.
Under Dr. Scott’s leadership, the Sorority initiated an international chapter in London, England and completed a $4 Million building project for the sorority’s international headquarters in Chicago. She received a $15.5 Million contract from the U.S. Department of Labor to operate the Cleveland Job Corps Center, which offered youths age 16 to 21 training in alternative programs for education. She capitalized at $1 Million the Sorority’s Educational Advancement Foundation, which annually awards scholarships to deserving students.
During her presidency of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Dr. Scott led a delegation to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1991 to both install and dedicate the first non-military commemorative plaque honoring unsung WWII hero Doris Miller at Pearl Harbor.
Aside from her leadership roles in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Dr. Scott worked as an educator, elementary school music specialist and motivational speaker.
Dr. Scott’s influence extended beyond the Sorority to the city of Atlanta. She was a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Atlanta City Council. The Dr. Mary Shy Scott papers, a collection of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc. records gathered by Dr. Scott, are held at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.
“Dr. Scott was a pillar in the Collier Heights community,” said the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, Andrea Boone. “The residents of Collier Heights wanted to honor her for her dedication to Atlanta’s youth, yet her impact goes far and beyond.”
“Hailed as a pioneer, visionary, civil rights activist and leader, Dr. Scott’s contributions to our city and to the world are unmatched and unparalleled,” Councilmember Martin said.
Her accolades, accomplishments and recognitions include 37 citations and awards, 42 keys to cities and 58 proclamations.
Dr. Scott received the Prominent American Personality Award from the President of the Republic of Benin, Africa. In 1990, Scott received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr. Mary Shy Scott died on April 15, 2013
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NOTE: Satellite parking and shuttle service will be available to and from St. Paul of the Cross Church located at 551 Hartwell Road, Atlanta, GA 30318.
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