Posted on April 10, 2008
This year’s NAACP Image Awards, themed “A Retrospective,” revolved around the idea that everyone in the community contributes to one big story. The awards recognize several pieces of one story.
“Our award ceremony is called, ‘History Meets the Future: A Retrospective’ because we are looking back and honoring and recognizing all the hard work students have done to bring multicultural events to the campus,” NAACP Historian Crystal Prigmore said.
The annual NAACP Image Award ceremony celebrates and recognizes students, faculty and staff members of the JMU community who work to increase multicultural awareness and diversity on the JMU campus.
This year, the Image Awards took place in the Festival Ballroom on Sunday. NAACP has held this event for more than 10 years to identify and recognize student leaders who promote diversity at JMU.
“[The] annual image awards recognizes multicultural students throughout the JMU community,” said junior Stephanie Reese, NAACP President.
“[It] takes a retrospective look at the entire semester and the accomplishments of multicultural students on campus,” NAACP Faculty Adviser Celeste Thomas said.
Each organization can nominate a member for an Image Award. Reese said NAACP does not nominate people because many people may go unnoticed for the work they do, so having organizations nominate people ensures everyone can be noticed. “Things like this reinforces that your work pays off and it shows,” Reese said.
This year, NAACP received 48 nominations for 17 awards ranging from Freshman Leader of the Year to the Unsung Hero Scholarship Award. The Image Awards also include awards for graduate students, staff, faculty and advisors.
In addition, there are two awards in honor of Harrisonburg civil rights activist, George Blakey and the first African American member of the JMU Board of Visitors, James Taylor. The Blakey Award is presented to a senior who has outstanding commitment to community service and the Taylor Award is presented to a freshman female who demonstrates outstanding leadership and academic scholarship.
Senior Karla Smith received the Blakey Award and freshman Brittnie Sykes received the Taylor Award this year.
The President’s Award recipient, Jerrica Browder said “[The award is] special because my sisters [Delta Gamma Rho] nominated me because of my dedication and now the whole campus can see what I have done for my sorority.”
Unsung Hero Award recipient, Chiquita King said “[The event] was well put together and very organized.” She continued to say that there is a spirit in the room because of so many great accomplishments.
King said it is nice to be recognized for doing something good and for something she loves doing.
Dr. Thomas said she was impressed with the NAACP executive board for everything they have accomplished this year in terms of having multicultural events and building diversity on the JMU campus.
“We have a strong foundation to continue to build upon in a positive way so we can continue to affect the JMU community in a positive way,” Thomas said.
