Cover Stories USC Black Alumni Association Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence through Education
Founded in 1976 by Rev. Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr., The USC Black Alumni Association is a leadership network established to strengthen the legacy of educational attainment and excellence of USC black students. The BAA provides scholarship assistance, career mentoring and cultural advocacy through alumni volunteer involvement, philanthropy, and social enterprise.
On March 10, 2016 USC’s Black Alumni Association celebrated over 40 years of providing resources, guidance and support so desperately needed to help African American Students navigate the challenges and pressures of earning a college degree at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities. While the event was a black tie event, it also had the feeling of a family reunion with classmates who had not seen one another since graduation. Old friends once again were together reminiscing about their undergraduate and graduate school days now in the past.
University President C.L. Max Nakias kicked off the night by celebrating the work and generous gift of former USC students Dr. Verna and Peter Dauterive. The Dauterives, who met on the campus of USC, presented the university with a 30 million dollar gift which has now become the Dr. Verna and Perter Dauterive Hall on the University Park campus. The gift at the time of its award was the largest gift by an African American to any institution of higher learning in the country.
The mistress and master of ceremony for the evening were USC alumnus and football star Rodney Peete and his beautiful wife, actress Holly Robinson Peete. The night’s honorees were past USC Black Alumni Board President and current California State Assemblyman Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr., Ms. Julia Wilson CEO and founder of Wilson Global Communications, Dr. Deara Okonkwo, Neftalie Williams, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Ph.D. who received the Eme Visionary Award and Director John Singleton who received the Legacy Award.
Former USC BAA Scholar and President of the Northrop Grumman Foundation Sandra Evers-Manley was the keynote speaker. Ms. Evers-Manly not only inspired the crowd with her speech of how USC BAA supported her, but she gave insight on how her meeting former NAACP Board Member and founder of the NAACP Image Awards Willis Edwards helped guide her path in life. She also inspired the room when she announced that she was personally making a donation to the BAA of $400,000 to continue the legacy of success for the organization. “USC has been good to me and all of my success in life is based upon my faith in God, my family and the many lessons and blessing I received here during my time as a Trojan,” said Evers-Manly.
“We are so honored to have received such an amazing gift from my friend and classmate Sandra Evers-Manly. The night was a huge success and through her gift and the support of our many corporate sponsors, Alumnus and friends the BAA will be able to continue the work we have been doing for our kids in helping them to graduate from USC,” said USC BAA Executive Director Michèle G. Turner.
BAA Scholars are represented in nearly 100% of USC schools, which also include the Keck Medical School, Gould School of Law, and the Ostrow School of Dentistry. The BAA scholarship is awarded based on both financial need and merit considerations. It is applied for and awarded annually. BAA scholarship awards are matched on a 2:1 basis for undergraduate students—where for example, a $500.00 contribution would become a $1500.00 scholarship award, with the match available for the first $1,000 awarded per student. While the matching award is not available for graduate scholarships, the USC BAA is one of the few USC organizations to offer scholarships for graduate level students.
Scholarship awards are only provided through the generosity of donor contributions to our annual scholarship fund or specific named endowments.
In addition to providing scholarships, the BAA is intentional about networking and opportunities for competitive access for our students and alumni. There is specific programming by BAA Committees that focuses directly upon workforce success and leadership for future alumni, especially offered through our "Legacy Through Leadership" initiative programs.
“The theme of our 40th year celebration, “Legacy 360°,” celebrates past, present and future leadership and achievement of black alumni at USC, laying a foundation for the narratives of our next 40 years,” said Turner.
The evening closed with the USC marching band performing the schools fight song with everyone in attendance standing and flashing the tradition USC “V” fingers for VICTORY….. FIGHT ON!