HCC Black History Scholarship Gala raises record amount for student scholarships
Mar 4, 2019
More than $40,000 was raised for student scholarships from the 2019 Houston Community College Black History Scholarship Gala, which was held Saturday, February 23 at the Czech Center Museum Houston. The figure represents the largest margin of profit in the event's 13-year history.
The 2019 scholarship gala reported a gross income of $58,983 and a net profit of $40,015, according to HCC Foundation records. More than 238 people attended the event, which was sold out five days ahead of its February 23 date.
As one of Houston's premier Black History Month activities, the HCC Black History Scholarship Gala provides college scholarships for deserving African-American students and students of African heritage at Houston Community College. The program - operated under the auspices of the HCC Foundation - grants between eight and 10 scholarships annually. Scholarships pay for tuition and fees for most scholarship recipients for a full year.
"We are delighted to have set a record by netting more than forty thousand dollars this year," says Michael Edwards, J.D., chair of the HCC Black History Committee. "This amount represents a tremendous synergy between asking a small group of committee members and volunteers to be extremely cost-conscious and to work very hard to maximize income potential. We also thank our sponsors for seeing the importance of making an investment in the futures of truly outstanding students."
HCC Board Chair Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and HCC District IX Trustee Dr. Pretta VanDible Stallworth served as honorary chairs of the scholarship gala.
“The HCC Black History Scholarship Gala is a tremendous event that demonstrates the generosity of Houston,” says Dr. Evans-Shabazz. “And it is wonderful that our scholarship students are such worthy beneficiaries.”
“The scholarship gala fully lives its motto: ‘For Students, For Houston, For History,’ “says Dr. VanDible Stallworth. “I am proud that HCC has developed this fundraiser into a citywide event.”
World-class jazz guitarist Joe Carmouche was the featured entertainer. Dr. Lonnie L. Howard, President of Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, was the first recipient of the William W. Harmon, Ph.D. Distinguished Service Award.
The award is named in honor of the late Dr. William W. Harmon, a former president of Houston Community Central, highly respected higher-education administrator, and chair of the HCC Black History Committee. Several current scholarship recipients also were on hand to introduce key speakers and to express their gratitude for their awards.
For more information, please go to hccs.edu/blackhistory.