CLEVELAND — The R. A. Clement Association will hold its 26th Biennial reunion, July 5-6, At the Historic Rosenwald School Building in Cleveland. The theme for this reunion is “Remembering and Preserving our Heritage, Continuing the R. A. Clement Spirit.” 

Thomas Powe, who currently resides in Stone Mt, Georgia, is a 1963 Graduate. Powe is the current President of  the R. A. Clement Association and he will preside throughout the weekend. Powe graduated as salutatorian of his 1963 class. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

Having retired as program supervisor and contracts manager from Southern Company IT Department, Powe currently serves as president of the Deer Creek HOA. 

The reunion will begin with a dinner on Friday, at 6. p.m, being catered by Bellys Catering. The speaker for the Friday dinner will be Attorney Tracea Rice, who received an R. A. Clement scholarship when she graduated from high school in 2006.

Since 1976, the association has awarded more than 100 scholarships to graduating seniors in Rowan county and others throughout the country. Saturday’s events include the annual meeting, cookout and reunion dance.  

Rice, daughter of Kevin Rice and Patrica Jones Rice, received her bachelor’s degree in computer and electrical engineering from North Carolina State University in 2011, and her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2019, where she was a member of the Order of Barristers National Honor Society and the Moot Court Board. Before law school, Rice worked as a patent agent, drafting and prosecuting patent applications related to a wide range of technologies primarily in the electrical, computer, and mechanical technology fields — including software, e-commerce, aerospace, appliance and tooling technologies and business method patents.

During law school, Rice received the 2019 Outstanding Student Award from the National Association of Women Lawyers — an award presented to a law student who contributed to the advancement of women in society and promoted issues and concerns of women in the legal profession. Rice also won multiple trial advocacy competitions at the national level and received the Robert Goldberg Award in Trial Advocacy — an award given to the student who showcased the highest aptitude and ethics in trial advocacy at Wake Forest Law School.  

Rice is currently employed by Winston and Strawn Law Firm, Dallas, Texas, where she uses her background in computer and electrical engineering to advise clients in intellectual property matters in various forums. She leverages her experience as a former federal judicial law clerk and her love for trial advocacy to passionately represent her clients from pre-litigation through case disposition. 

Rice has represented clients in high-stakes patent infringement disputes before federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and before the International Trade Commission. She has also represented clients in a variety of pro bono matters including employment litigation disputes.

Rice has represented clients from pre-litigation investigations through federal jury trials. 

Prior to joining the Winston and Strawn firm, Tracea practiced at an international law firm and was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Robert W. Schroeder III in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. 

Scholarships

The association continues to give the R. A. Clement, George Knox and William Hall Scholarships and to recognize current and past recipients at the reunions. The 2024 scholarship recipients to attend this event, include William Givens, Zana Smyre Rouse and Kerrington Sturdivant from West Rowan High School; Dorothy Karma Scott, Atkins High School; Ayzahane Wells, Salisbury High School; Amiyah Williams, North Rowan High School; Branden Knox, Triad Math and Science Academy; and Denez Chambers and Jakire Robinson, Anson County High School. Other past scholarship recipients attending the event will include Vera Avery, Mondalyn Carr, Edwina Steele and Cedric Cuthbertson. 

Restoration

The R. A. Clement Association, Inc. continues to work with the West Rowan Neighborhood Center Advisory Council, inc. in restoring R. A. Clement Rosenwald building in Cleveland. 

Tickets/reservations are available by contacting Catrelia Steele Hunter at 704-278-9149 or catreliavshunter@outlook.com.