The university will continue its Sesquicentennial celebration with its first-ever
Black Excellence Gala to celebrate Black faculty, staff, students and alumni who have
been instrumental to TCU’s success. The sold-out gala and reception will take place
Sept. 8 at the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU. 
“We want the TCU community to enjoy this fantastic event that will celebrate the history and accomplishments of the Black community at TCU,” said Aisha Torrey Sawyer, director of diversity and inclusion initiatives and a member of the executive committee for the event along with Candice Payne, assistant vice chancellor of finance, and Tracy Williams, past president of the TCU National Alumni Board.
The event will be hosted by broadcaster Newy Scruggs ’23 MBA and L. Michelle Smith ’93 (MS ’95), best-selling author and Fortune 100 adviser. It will highlight both incredible performers and recognize outstanding accomplishments.
RECOGNITIONS
Sheree Pollock
Student Spotlight Award
Senior, Political Science Major
Zoranna Jones
Game Changer Award
Assistant Dean , College of Science & Engineering
Ann Tasby
Trailblazer Award
Director, Office of Inclusive Excellence; Instructor of Accounting, TCU Neeley School
of Business
Horatio Porter ’92 (MBA ’94)
Alumni Legacy Award
Fayneese Miller ’79 MS (Ph.D. ’81)
Pinnacle Alumni Award
PERFORMERS & STORYTELLERS
Cedric James
Bethany White
Tianni Robinson
Sasha Chapman
Christian Von Howard - Choreographer
Nate Hernandez
Word of Truth Alumni Choir
Ashley Tate
Angela Watson Modeste
Brian Dickson
Tiony Cooper