Inaugural Awards Given During Black History Month Ball

Aiken, SC (03/20/2018) — During the University of South Carolina Aiken's inaugural Black History Month Ball, several awards were given, recognizing student, organizational and faculty achievements.

"Black History Month offers a special occasion for highlighting the contribution that students, faculty, staff and organizations make toward the success of students of color at USC Aiken," said Taifha Baker, assistant director of student life for diversity initiatives.

"The first ever Black History Month Ball during Black History Month was an opportunity to recognize the students and reflect on the events during BHM."

Dr. Melencia Johnson, sociology professor at USC Aiken earned the university's first Black History Month Champion Award. This inaugural award, instituted by the Black History Month Steering Committee, was designed to honor members of the campus community who made significant contributions to the educational, social, political, religious, intellectual, or economic development of students of color at USC Aiken.

"[Dr. Johnson] is not afraid to talk about the way in which race effects someone's life chances, but [she] also makes it a point to remind students that not all hope is lost. She goes out of her way to ensure that all students, minority and non-minority alike, feel as if they are capable, brave, and significant in an academic setting," said Amethyst Marroquin.

Johnson has taught several classes that address issues, challenges and opportunities discussed throughout the country today. These include: Queer Studies: Crime and Justice; the Sociology of Delinquent Youth Behavior; Race, Class, Gender: Crime and Justice; Sociology of the Black Experience; and Girls' Delinquency.

"She also goes out of her way to help teachers across America learn how to better facilitate topics of race in the classroom. Last year, she gave a presentation on "Teaching [Black Lives Matter] to Predominantly White Students" for the American Society of Criminology," Marroquin said.

Marroquin added that Johnson also works with others in her department on how to facilitate the conversation of race, and recently published Just Talking about Life: Using Oral Histories of the Civil Rights Movement to Encourage Classroom Dialogue on Race with her colleague Dr. Philip Mason.

"A great teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. It is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Johnson not only does this for her assigned students - but for all students here at USC Aiken," said Marroquin.

Timothy Behling, a business marketing major from Aiken, S.C., earned the institution's inaugural Student Award for Commitment to USC Aiken Students of Color.

"Tim does a lot for the greater good and representation of the USC-Aiken black community," said Shekinah Hampton.

Behling serves as a Chancellor Ambassador and in his "free time," established a non-profit. His organization, Success Team, mentors youth, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.

The student organization, C.U.R.L.S., earned the first Organization Award for Commitment to the USC Aiken Students of Color. The acronym stands for Confident, Unique, Regal, Leading Society.

"C.U.R.L.S. is an organization that provides an opportunity for women of color to learn more about their natural beauty with an emphasis on how to care for and maintain their natural hair," said Baker.

The group not only discusses hair care tips for natural hair for both men and women but also hosts a plethora of empowerment events.

"C.U.R.L.S has done a lot for the USC Aiken black community by providing an outlet for black women and men to come together and talk about problems that face us," said Hampton, a biology major.

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