2008 Woodie Awards
GBCC hosts awards ceremony
Micah Spayer
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
The Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center hosted its fifth annual African-American Achievement Awards ceremony Thursday in the University Union Heritage Room.
Certificates were handed out to a number of students, ranging from Organization of Community Service to the Dr. Essie Manuel Rutledge Award. Each category was a different opportunity for students to be recognized for individual success, such as volunteering among the community or being a "quiet influence."
"This event is focused on making sure that more African-American students are recognized and receive the proper acknowledgment for their achievements," said Belinda Carr, director of GBCC.
The evening's festivities also included a performance by the Heritage Ensemble Singers, whose energetic gospel style evoked several "Amen"s.
Dr. Jack Thomas, Western Illinois University provost and academic vice president, addressed the challenges African-American students may have to face.
"You have to sweat in order to be successful," Thomas said. "Whether it's on the field or in the classroom, you have to push to be ahead and achieve greatness."
Junior broadcasting major and former Student Government Association senator-at-large Tony Thomas said the ceremony was designed to honor African-American students and the work GBCC has done at Western.
"We try to do the best we can in order to work together for our students, whether it's improving student finances or simply bringing our community together," said Tony Thomas, junior broadcasting major and former Student Government Association senator-at-large.
The GBCC is an organization that provides cultural and academic enhancement to African-American students within Western Illinois University.
To learn more about the GBCC and what it offers Western students, visit gbcc.wiu.edu.
Certificates were handed out to a number of students, ranging from Organization of Community Service to the Dr. Essie Manuel Rutledge Award. Each category was a different opportunity for students to be recognized for individual success, such as volunteering among the community or being a "quiet influence."
"This event is focused on making sure that more African-American students are recognized and receive the proper acknowledgment for their achievements," said Belinda Carr, director of GBCC.
The evening's festivities also included a performance by the Heritage Ensemble Singers, whose energetic gospel style evoked several "Amen"s.
Dr. Jack Thomas, Western Illinois University provost and academic vice president, addressed the challenges African-American students may have to face.
"You have to sweat in order to be successful," Thomas said. "Whether it's on the field or in the classroom, you have to push to be ahead and achieve greatness."
Junior broadcasting major and former Student Government Association senator-at-large Tony Thomas said the ceremony was designed to honor African-American students and the work GBCC has done at Western.
"We try to do the best we can in order to work together for our students, whether it's improving student finances or simply bringing our community together," said Tony Thomas, junior broadcasting major and former Student Government Association senator-at-large.
The GBCC is an organization that provides cultural and academic enhancement to African-American students within Western Illinois University.
To learn more about the GBCC and what it offers Western students, visit gbcc.wiu.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Brian Hayes
posted 4/18/08 @ 10:26 AM CST
The event is always nice, as it recognizes those African American students who have a modicum of academic excellence (3.0 GPA), in addition to others who are awarded recognition based on voting by their peers in acknowledgment of their leadership and community activities. (Continued…)
Brian Hayes
posted 4/30/08 @ 1:05 AM CST
And I'm still trying to figure that how that happened.
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