Black Excellence Recognized at Gala
02/28/2023
Members of the Saint Louis University community gathered Friday, Feb. 24, in the Center for Global Citizenship for the first Black History Month gala.
The event, dubbed A Night of Black Excellence, recognized and celebrated the achievements and success of Black faculty, staff, and students within the SLU community. The event was hosted by the Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship.
A total of five awards were given out to 12 different people at the gala event.
Emerging Leaders
Three Emerging Leaders awards were handed out. The awards were given to rising undergraduate students for demonstrating exceptional leadership ability and contributions on campus.
- Amber Calhoun (Class of '25)
- Xavier Jallow (Class of '26)
- Ryan Tisdale (Class of '25)
Outstanding Graduate
Five students were recognized with Outstanding Graduate awards. Those undergraduate or graduate students exemplified “excellence, leadership, service, and character throughout their time at Saint Louis University.” All the students are members of the Class of 2023.
- Deborah Bush-Munson
- Manisha Ford-Thomas
- Sally Gacheru
- Aric Hamilton
- Dom Pryor
Dr. Jonathan C. Smith Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award
The Dr. Jonathan C. Smith Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award, named after SLU’s late inaugural vice president for diversity and community engagement, was given to members of the SLU community who were judged to have shown “tremendous dedication and commitment to supporting the Black community at Saint Louis University while facilitating major social change on campus and within the St. Louis community.”
- Danielle Joy Davis, Ph.D. (Professor in School of Education)
- Kimberly Enard, Ph.D. (Associate Professor in College for Public Health and Social Justice)
Black and Bold
The Black and Bold award was given to a member of the SLU community who “has lived their truth without limits to their Blackness at this institution and, through their actions, has encouraged others to be their truest selves as well.”
- Dana Guyton (Administrative Assistant in the Department of African American Studies)
Mkeka Award
The Mkeka Award award recognizes long-term faculty/staff members of SLU for “their service on campus and for paving the way for the rest of the Black community to thrive at SLU.”
- Karla Scott, Ph.D. (Professor in Department of Communication)