Black Alumni Reunion Receives University Diversity Award

Posted on April 7, 2017

The Black Alumni Reunion, the largest GAA-sponsored affinity group, has received a University award for the group’s efforts to support diversity.

UNC’s unit of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs presented the Black Alumni Reunion with a University Diversity Award in the Community Member/Organization category at a Wilson Library ceremony April 4. The Rev. Ryan Spurrier, campus minister for the Wesley Campus Ministry, also received a Community Member/Organization award.

The University’s highest recognition for diversity efforts, the awards recognize individuals or organizations across eight categories for exemplary service or scholarship in promoting diversity, equity, social justice, community engagement or cultural awareness at the University and among alumni and the larger community. This is the ninth year of the awards.

The awards consider recipients’ efforts to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented groups and/or social justice; demonstrate a sustained commitment to the advancement of cultural diversity and inclusion at UNC or in the community; implement or sponsor an event that cultivates diversity and inclusion; and demonstrate respect or inclusive treatment when interacting with others.

The Black Alumni Reunion’s Light on the Hill Society Scholarship serves as a tribute to Carolina’s early African-American graduates of the 1950s who integrated the University and as a vehicle to support current African-American undergraduates. Since 2005, Carolina alumni and friends have made tax-deductible gifts to the fund, ranging from a few dollars to several thousand, the largest being $350,000 from NFL star Julius Peppers ’02. To date, the program has awarded 55 scholarships: 43 Light on the Hill Society Scholars and 12 Julius Peppers Scholars.

Among BAR’s other programs are its annual awards to recognize outstanding African-American alumni, faculty and a senior student, given during the annual reunion weekend that coincides with Homecoming.

Among other University Diversity Award recipients were:

• Alumni Award: Kenneth Ward ’84, executive director of College Bound;
• Department/Unit Award: UNC Center for Civil Rights;
• Faculty Award: Mark Katz, the Ruel W. Tyson Jr. Distinguished Professor of Humanities and director of UNC’s Institute for the Arts & Humanities;
• Graduate/Professional Student Award: Stephen Krueger, a master’s student in the School of Information and Library Science;
• Special Recognition Award: Christopher Wallace, manager of the Communiversity Youth Program;
• Staff Award: Dexter Robinson ’06, an academic adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences; and
• Undergraduate Student Award: Johnny Vang, a biology major from Hickory, who is community chair of the Health Careers Club; member of the Diversity Executive Committee Member of the Student Government Association; and active with Health on the Block, CHEOPS and N.C. Health Careers Access Program.