VCU Recognizes Student Achievement During 28th Annual 'Black History in the Making' Awards Ceremony

By Mike Porter

Academic leaders at Virginia Commonwealth University recognized the accomplishments of nearly three dozen outstanding black students during an awards ceremony Thursday evening in front of a packed house at the Grace Street Theater.   

The 28^th annual “Black History in the Making” awards ceremony honored students for outstanding achievement or service in academics, career, university or community.

“It’s quite a refreshing evening because we heard about the interesting and important work being done by students from many different disciplines,” said Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of African American Studies.   

Rev. Morris Henderson of the 31^st Street Baptist Church served as keynote speaker and challenged the recipients to act on their dreams.

“Do the things that you were made to do now, while you have the youth and vitality and vigor to do it,” Henderson said.

“Black History in the Making” was founded in 1983 by Daryl Dance, Ph.D., former VCU professor of English and a scholar in African American and Caribbean literature, as a way to recognize the achievements of black students. Dance served as the program coordinator during the 1983-84 academic year.

Since 1983, more than 550 students have been recognized by more than fifty departments and campus organizations.

The annual awards ceremony is sponsored by the Department of African American Studies and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.