Campus event to honor black achievement

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By Kendall Gottler

A UK student group will honor the achievements and endeavors of black undergraduates, faculty and staff during an awards ceremony Wednesday.

UK’s Black Student Union is hosting the 28th annual Lyman T. Johnson Awards and Recognition Banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Student Center. The awards ceremony is themed “What Is Your Legacy?”

Joshua Watkins, the committee co-chair of the Black Student Union, said the group hosts the event as “a tribute to tradition,” as well as a way to honor academic success.

“We are encouraging everyone to come out so we can show the things we do to promote black academic success,” Watkins said.

The theme, “What Is Your Legacy?”, is an important part of the ceremony, committee co-chair, Ebony Blackmon said, and the group wants attendees of the banquet to think of the meaning.

“When you leave the campus, what do you leave behind?,” Blackmon said.

William C. Parker, who died last year, started a scholarship program for minority students at UK who might not have the chance to attend otherwise. He will be recognized during Wednesday’s ceremony.

“We wanted to take an opportunity to recognize and honor his legacy,” Blackmon said.

There are 150 confirmed guests attending the awards ceremony tomorrow night.

“I’m pretty excited. This is the best turn out we’ve had in a few years,” said Travis Darden, president of the Black Student Union.

Tickets for the event are $10 per person at the door. Group seating is also available at $56 for an eight-person table.