She's carrying on a tradition of involvement

I first met Bennie Allison on Youngstown's baseball sandlots. He was a smooth fielder, could hit and had a great arm.
He made the baseball team; I was cut.
We crossed paths again at East High School in the eighth grade. He was smart, had a great jump shot and displayed shifty moves on the football field.
I played clarinet in the marching band.
Ben left East for Ursuline High School, where he went on to have illustrious careers on the football field and the hardcourt. He earned a basketball scholarship to Ohio State University, and later became Dr. Bennie W. Allison.
I earned no scholarship to OSU, but I did graduate with a degree in broadcast journalism.
But this column is not about Ben and how he overshadowed me in our formative years.
I am writing about the accomplishments of the daughter of Ben and Fawn Allison -- Ashley Allison.
Named vice presidentof national sorority
This talented young woman, a senior at OSU, was installed earlier this summer as second national vice president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at the Deltas' national convention in Las Vegas.
Ashley has served as president of the sorority's Epsilon Chapter at Ohio State.
As national second vice president, the Youngstown native will have the opportunity to formulate policy for the sorority, and help develop new avenues for service.
DST is one of the country's most prestigious public service organizations, with chapters throughout the world and a membership exceeding 250,000 college-educated women. Most of its members are black women.
Her desire to serve others was something handed down from her parents and grandparents.
"We just instilled in her the values our parents gave us -- giving back to the community, working hard, and getting a good education," said Fawn Allison, who is director of the Women, Infants and Children program for the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership.
Organizational skillslearned as a child
As a child, Ashley belonged to the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and Jack & amp; Jill of America, Youngstown chapter.
Jack & amp; Jill was founded in the 1930s as a nonprofit family organization by mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 19. It dedicates its resources to improving the quality of life for all children, particularly black children.
The organizational skills she learned as a youth put her in good stead when she arrived at college.
"When she was at OSU, she helped get buses together to take students to Cincinnati to a rally in support of affirmative action," Fawn said.
Ashley is majoring in journalism. In 2003, she was the only black on the OSU homecoming court.
She also has been a part of student government at the university and has served as a counselor for incoming students.
Like her father, she is an Ursuline High graduate.
Studied the culturesof African nations
She has not limited her time to accomplishments in this country, however.
She has just completed traveling to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia to study the culture of those African nations.
"The trip was extremely humbling. The native people were very nice, very affectionate, loving and understanding," Ashley said. She added it truly made her appreciate what we have in this country.
She is the granddaughter of Catherine Allison and Betty Walls, all of Youngstown. Her mother and grandmother are Deltas, and her aunt is Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent of Youngstown City Schools.
Ashley is a great example to young people of how hard work, discipline and perseverance can allow you to accomplish your goals.
I hope that she can find a job in the Mahoning Valley, if that's possible and if that's her desire, and serve as a future leader in our community.
ebrown@vindy.com