Saturday, May 1, 2021
This annual event honors contributions to diversity and inclusion that align with the mission of the USC Black Alumni Association (BAA). This year’s scholarship benefit is extra special, as BAA is celebrating 45 years of uniting, uplifting and empowering Black Trojans!
Our gala will be held on a virtual event platform, where guests can interact with each other while watching the live program. The event begins at 5:30 PM PDT on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
This year, BAA will honor:
- Kenneth Frank ’89 – Outstanding Alumnus
- Sam “Bam” Cunningham ’73 – Legacy Award
- Cassandra Mayfield-Anderson ’74 – Donor Vanguard Award
- Lika Dozier ’99 – Outstanding Mentor Award
- The Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray ’02 – Kilgore Service Award
BAA thanks you for your support and looks forward to your attendance at their 45th Annual Scholarship Gala!
Be a part of our celebration of Black Trojans!
Benefit Sponsorship Packages
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring the 45th BAA Scholarship Benefit. Your contribution enables us to provide scholarships and professional development programming to Black USC undergraduate and graduate students. Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals, companies and USC schools. This is a great marketing/branding opportunity while supporting our Black Trojans!
Signature Sponsor – $8,000
Wine package delivered to your home
Full-page digital advertisement during gala
Full-page print advertisement in printed program
Logo recognition on event collateral, BAA website and event platform
Gold Sponsor – $5,000
Wine package delivered to your home
Full-page print advertisement in printed program
Logo recognition on event collateral, BAA website and event platform
Cardinal Sponsor – $3,000
Wine package delivered to your home
Half-page print advertisement in printed program
Logo recognition on event collateral, BAA website and event platform
Bronze Sponsor – $2,500
Individual admission for 10 guests
Logo recognition on event collateral, BAA website and event platform
Individual Admission with Wine Package – $250
Print Advertisement
Full-Page – $500
Half-Page – $250
Gala contributions are tax-deductible, except for $70 if your sponsorship/ticket comes with wine. Individual admission (no wine included) is 100% tax-deductible.
For more information, please contact Gary D. Brown.
Congratulations to our 2021 honorees!
Outstanding Alumnus—for outstanding leadership, distinguished service to the USC Black Alumni Association, and exceptional achievements that have impacted local, national and global communities.
Kenneth Frank ’89
CEO, Turning Technologies
Legacy Award—for inspirational excellence and accomplishment, demonstrative of the soul and spirit of USC Black Alumni aspiration.
Sam “Bam” Cunningham ’73
Retired NFL Legend
Donor Vanguard Award—in recognition and appreciation of transformative support for USC Black Alumni Scholars, and the mission of the USC Black Alumni Association.
Cassandra Mayfield-Anderson ’74
Outstanding Mentor Award—for outstanding mentorship, steadfast student advocacy and unwavering service to the USC Black Alumni Association.
Lika Dozier ’99
Kilgore Service Award—for selfless servant leadership to USC Black students and alumni, exemplifying the vision of our founder, Rev. Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr.
Reverend Cecil “Chip” Murray ’02
This annual event honors important contributions to diversity and inclusion that align with the BAA mission. Although the event format and/or venue varies each year, the scholarship benefit always recognizes outstanding USC Black alumni and noted civic leaders. Past scholarship benefits have included a celebration of the work of groundbreaking Black architect Paul Revere Williams (USC Class of 1919), as well as such stage productions as Speak of Me as I Am (the story of Paul Robeson); The Langston Hughes Project: Ask Your Mama, a multimedia presentation featuring USC Thornton School of Music professor Ron McCurdy and actor/musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner; Dreaming of Harlem Under a Southern Sky, a play with music by USC School of Dramatic Arts professor Gabrielle Pina; benefit performances by recording artists Howard Hewitt, Gerald Albright and Anthony Hamilton; and such noted presentations as “The Kinsey Collection,” Bernard and Shirley Kinsey’s private collection of paintings, sculptures and documents chronicling the Black experience in America from the 1600s to today.
2019 BAA Scholarship Event
Tensie Taylor ME ’14
Associate Director, USC Black Alumni Association
Tensie Taylor serves as the associate director of the USC Black Alumni Association. In this position, she manages the BAA’s Legacy Through Leadership alumni mentoring program, plans, coordinates and oversees programming and events, and also oversees social media for the BAA to include the BAA’s Young Professionals group.
A North Carolina native, Taylor earned a BA in communication—media concentration—and a minor in psychology from North Carolina State University (NCSU) in 2009. She then went to work for the University of North Carolina (UNC) General Administration, where she assisted then UNC President Erskine Bowles and served on committees to increase student retention and graduation rates.
In 2011, Taylor returned to NCSU to work as a diversity program coordinator for her alma mater’s Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. In this role, she created programs to educate faculty, staff, students and NCSU community members about diversity and relevant issues.
A USC Rossier School of Education alumna, Taylor earned a master of education in postsecondary administration and student affairs in 2014. While in school, she served as a USC Rossier graduate assistant, as well as a student ambassador for USC’s Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs, and as a mentor for the Product of My Dream program.
In her free time, Taylor enjoys reading, singing, playing the piano and trumpet, volunteering and mentoring young people. Her favorite quote is by Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”