The annual Black Excellence Award Ceremony brought alums, faculty and students together to award honorees while also raising funds for the Suffolk University Black Alumni Network Scholarship Fund.
Before the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to grab refreshments, talk with one another and enjoy music from Deejay Skinny.
“This is one of my favorite Suffolk community gatherings,” said Suffolk University President Marisa Kelly. “Not only because it’s always a fun night, but because this event is the celebration of inclusive excellence, which is so central to our mission. Inclusion is not a single initiative or a single moment, it is a daily practice and it is absolutely a shared responsibility.”
Soulfully Versed, a student-led a capella group, opened the ceremony with a performance that kicked off the event’s series of presentations and recognitions.
“It makes me feel good that our group gets included in these things so that we can see what goes on on campus. It’s an honor, especially in events like these, because our group is so diverse,” said Breeyah Coulanges, a freshman and Soulfully Versed member.
At Suffolk, celebrating Black excellence goes beyond recognition; it’s an investment in the future. Yolanda Burrell, chair of the committee that selects award recipients, said this event not only represents Black students, but also serves as an opportunity to raise funds for SUBAN.
“If we don’t show up and we’re not here, then the student who looks like me who is applying won’t say, ‘Wow, Yolanda’s in that position, I could be in that position,’ or ‘She’s the chair, maybe I could be the chair one day.’ It is also a fundraising event. This is our opportunity to network and also so into Suffolk students and the scholarship,” said Burrell.
The honorees were chosen due to their outstanding accomplishments and involvement around campus. One out of three student honorees, junior Adji Thaim, is president of Suffolk’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants and is currently interning at CBIZ, a national provider of financial and insurance services.
“I was nominated by Dr. Tracey Riley. A month later I found out I was selected for the award and it was a shock. It was a full-circle moment for my journey here at Suffolk. It feels good to be recognized alongside my peers and celebrate not just myself, but them as well,” said Thaim.
For Thaim, this ceremony also reflects Suffolk’s broader goal of inclusivity at a time when diversity, equity and inclusion programs are undergoing significant changes across higher education institutions.
“Events like this continue the Suffolk mission of diversity, equity and inclusion. It goes to show that Suffolk is there and they want to show up not only for their students of color, but their students of all identities,” said Thaim.
During the ceremony, faculty honoree Dr. Natasha Torkelson, assistant director for training and DEI and licensed psychologist and clinical supervisor at Suffolks Counseling Health and Wellness Center, commented on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“People are trying to silence all things, like DEI doesn’t exist, that in itself is meaningful. The opportunity to gather and see Black excellence in this way has a different meaning at this moment in time,” said Torkelson.
The event ended with the presentation of awards and recognition of the honorees, showcasing the work of students, faculty and alums and the continued efforts of support for the Black Alumni Network Scholarship Fund.
