- December 5, 2025
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Kimra Major-Morris, Kimberly R. Stewart and Natalie Jackson were a good-looking group.
Michael Felix and Worrell Valentine dressed up in their suits.
Joyce Odongo struck a pose in front of the Tech Sassy Girlz backdrop.
Tech Sassy Girlz members at Freedom Middle School showed their support at the fundraiser.
This was the fifth annual Tea and “Bytes” fundraiser for Tech Sassy Girlz.
Small, blue butterflies adorned the napkin rings.
Joe Kelley, 96.5 news director and host of Orlando’s Morning News, was the emcee for the event.
Monica May Ashford — grandmother of a Tech Sassy Girlz member at Olympia High, host of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and Star 94.5 news/community affairs director — thanked guests for their support.
Tech Sassy Girlz founder Laine Powell was overjoyed with the support garnered for Tech Sassy Girlz.
Mirlene Mathias helped man the registration table.
Violinist Pepina Dell’Olio played some lovely tunes.
Joyce Odongo and Regine Bonneau were happy to support Tech Sassy Girlz.
Liana Busby, Tech Sassy Girlz founder Laine Powell and Kharis Hughes were instrumental in putting on the event.
Michael Felix captured the event on his phone.
Felecia Hatcher, co-founder of BlackTech Week and Code Fever, was the keynote speaker.
Deborah Rios Barnes, market development manager for CenturyLink Central Florida, and Tech Sassy Girlz founder Laine Powell presented Lorinthian Gasken with a $1,500 scholarship for her daughter, Amari Assefa.
Jenisse Rios received a $5,000 scholarship from Ford.
Chaun Avery, Ford sales operations manager, and Tech Sassy Girlz founder Laine Powell presented Naia Butler, Jianna Best, Jenisse Rios and Samela Mynas (not pictured) with $5,000 scholarships from Ford.
Tech Sassy Girlz members at Freedom Middle School held up letters that spelled out “thank you.”
ORLANDO Five local girls received STEM scholarships from nonprofit Tech Sassy Girlz during a breakfast fundraiser on Friday, March 2. Held at the Orlando Science Center, the annual Tea and “Bytes” fundraiser garners support for TSG, which was created in 2012 “to empower middle- and high-school girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.” Scholarships were awarded by the Ford Motor Company and CenturyLink. Recipients included Amari Assefa, Edgewater High; Jenisse Rios, Colonial High; Samela Mynas, Oak Ridge High; Naia Butler-Craig, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Jianna Best, Cypress Creek High.
