Students were recognized for outstanding academic achievements during the annual event.
Ƶ recognized the academic excellence, leadership and service of students at the 32nd annual Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards on Saturday, April 12 — a vibrant community celebration affirming the presence and contributions of Black students at Ƶ.
From the beautiful voice of Carrington Black ’28 to the empowering charge from Nicholas Rugbart ’25, the ceremony offered a powerful reminder of student impact and community support.
Established in 1993, the awards program was renamed in 2006 to honor the first Black student to attend Ƶ, Glenda Phillips-Hightower ’63, and the first Black student to graduate from Ƶ, Eugene Perry ’69. The Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards continues to honor their legacy by uplifting students whose academic and co-curricular achievements exemplify excellence across disciplines.
The afternoon opened with remarks by Abdul-Malik Harrison ’21, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education (CREDE), and an invocation from the Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement. The ceremony also included opening remarks from President Connie Ledoux Book, introduced by Murphy Davis ’26, vice president of the Black Student Union.
“We were excited to gather as a community to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and success of our students,” said Harrison. “We thank the Ƶ community for supporting our efforts to foster an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.”
Several members of the Ƶ Black Alumni Network (EBAN) participated in presenting the awards, including Kelia Evans ’11, Regina Crawley ’98, Ruby Thornton Bracy ’99 and Alex Bohannon ’17, current EBAN president.
Awards presented included the Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards, Academic Excellence Awards, the Ƶ Experiences Awards, Black Student Union awards that comprised the Janice Ratliff Community Service Award and the Wilhelmina Body Community Awards, and the Black Alumni Scholarship Award.
Academic Excellence Awards
During the program, 237 undergraduate students and 27 graduate students were recognized for cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the fall semester. In addition, Black students with the highest GPA in their respective cohorts were also recognized:
- Undergraduate Class of 2028: Kendyl Bloomer
- Undergraduate Class of 2027: Emmy Jones
- Undergraduate Class of 2027: Veronica Kowalewski
- Undergraduate Class of 2025: Donelle Leak
- First-Year Law Student: Kristian Ellis (1L)
- Second-Year Law Student: Karrington Wallace (2L)
- Flex Law Student: Kayla Price
- Third-Year Physical Therapy Student: Raya Coley
- Second-Year Physical Therapy Student: Clarke Oliver
- Physician Assistant Studies Students: Samir Halalou and Tiye Jones Amen Hetep
- Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing Student: Carmen Mesa
- Master of Arts in Higher Education Student: Emma Calhoun
- Master of Business Administration Student: Ayo Onasanya
- Master of Science in Business Analytics Student: Jazlyn Jefferson
Ƶ Black Alumni Network Scholarship Award
Jordyne Lewis ’28 and Madisen Williams ’25
The Ƶ Black Alumni Network (EBAN) strives to unite and represent the interests of Ƶ’s Black alumni and students by fostering empowerment, connection and celebration within Ƶ’s Black community. In 2007, EBAN established a scholarship fund to help make an Ƶ education accessible to Black students. This fund reached a significant milestone in 2023, achieving a $1 million endowment, further strengthening its ability to support future generations.
Ƶ Experiences Awards
Presented to students nominated by faculty and staff for excelling in one or more of the five Ƶ Experiences: Global Engagement, Undergraduate Research, Internships, Service and Civic Engagement and Leadership.
- Global Engagement Award: Mya Lee ’26
- Undergraduate Research Award: Khairi Morrow ’25
- Internship Award: Marques Walker ’25
- Service Learning Award: Sofia Barnes ’28
- Leadership: Jayla Martin Beasly ’25
Janice Ratliff Community Service Award
Abdul-Malik Harrison ’21
The Janice Ratliff Community Service Award is named in honor of Janice Ratliff, a former advisor of the Black Student Union, a long-time employee of Ƶ and a well-known advocate and community figure. This award goes to a staff member who the Black student body recognizes as an advocate for the Black student experience, whose contributions to the community, whether big or small, always substantially impact the Black community on multiple levels.
The Wilhelmina Boyd African & African American Studies at Ƶ (AAASE) Award
Khairi Morrow ’25
The Wilhelmina Boyd AAASE Scholar Award was created in the Spring of 2008 to honor the work and contributions of Professor Wilhelmina Boyd’s 18 years of service to Ƶ and African & African-American Studies. The award recipient must be a graduating senior with an African & African-American Studies minor, a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA in the minor of 3.2. In addition, the recipient must demonstrate a commitment to African & African-American Studies as demonstrated through coursework, citizenship/community engagement, scholarship and student activities/leadership.
Wilhelmina Boyd Community Service Award
Shaina Jones
The Wilhelmina Boyd Community Service Award is named in honor of the late Wilhelmina Boyd, an associate professor of English and the founder of Ƶ’s minor in African and African American Studies. This award goes to a faculty member who the Black student body recognizes as an advocate for the Black student experience and a champion of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the curriculum.