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NEWS
| October 14, 2004
Crowning
Glory
As part of Black Student Unity
Week, the first Mr. Black UTA is named
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| The Shorthorn: Mark Roberts |
| Finance junior Morris Hill receives
the Mr. Black UTA award from ladies of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People on Wednesday night
in the Activities Building’s Lone Star Auditorium.
The First Annual Honoring Black Men on Campus Awards Show
included smartest man, most active group and Mr. Charming
awards. |
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By English
Young
The Shorthorn Staff
Morris Hill was honored Wednesday night as the first Mr. Black UTA
for his achievement, strong leadership qualities and involvement
on campus.
Hill, a finance junior, beamed as he thanked his peers for the honor,
his second award at the Honoring Black Men ceremony. Hill was also
named Most Active Male.
A crowd of approximately 200 people packed the Lone Star Auditorium
of the Activities Building. UTA’s chapter of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People sponsored the
event in conjunction with other organizations on campus as part
of Black Student Unity Week. The event also included awards for
students recognized as role models in the black community, part
of an effort to increase unity and cultural awareness.
The Mr. Black UTA award is not intended to rival the Mr. UTA award
sponsored by the UTA Ambassadors, said Natalie Freeman, coordinator
of the event.
To reflect this sentiment, NAACP members will review and likely
change the title of the award.
Students nominated recipients on several consecutive Wednesdays
at a booth in the University Center, which was chosen because it
is where many black students gather during lunch.
The awards ceremony was filled with many positive messages, including
a speech that encouraged black women and men to respect and take
care of each other in spite of some negative images of black culture
in music and television.
The statement received positive feedback from audience members,
who stood up and participated by hugging each other when the speech
encouraged them to support members of their community.
In addition to recognizing males on campus, the event also recognized
the achievements of its female presenters.
The Distinguished Gentleman award went to Fred Henry Jr. , assistant
dean of students and director of the Office of Multicultural Services,
who led male audience members in a motivational affirmation of commitment
to their families, pride in their identities and success in college.
Henry, who was also a past Mr. UTA, will have future Distinguished
Gentleman awards named in his honor.
“I was honored to represent the campus and did my best to
portray a positive role model to the campus as a whole,” Henry
said.
He also serves as adviser of several organizations on campus, including
the NAACP.
Black Student Unity Week events aim to encourage black students
to interact with each other and become involved on campus.
“I’ve never seen all of these people together before,”
said Keary Miller, accounting senior and Mr. Black UTA nominee,
gesturing to the audience. “Events like this bring us together
as a people.”
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