Black History Month has closed out and, in honor of it, Sinclair is hosting a celebration of purpose with NIA awards and a GospelFest.
NIA is a Swahili word that means “purpose” and the event will recognize Sinclair faculty, staff, students and community members who have made significant contributions and achievements that, according to Crystal Echols, chairperson of Developmental Language Arts, embody the idea of NIA or purpose as it relates to the African-American community on and off campus.
“It also celebrates the influence of African-American music through gospel and spirituals which is the underlying influence of what we term as “pop’, “rock”, R&B”, Jazz, and nearly any type of American commercial music,” Echols said.
Nominations for the awards were selected from the Sinclair community and Echols said that anyone is welcome to submit a nominee.
Echols said that each nominee must be a current Sinclair faculty, staff, or degree seeking student, be African-American (with the exception of the Diversity Champion category), not be a former recipient of the NIA Award and demonstrate outstanding service within the community or at Sinclair.
The Diversity Champion category honors those outside of the African-American community who have given support.
“The Diversity Champion category was created to honor those outside the African-American community who have demonstrated support and leadership on issues of special interest to the community,” Echols said.
This year, the recipient of this award is Dr. Derek Petrey, the Director if the Center for Teaching and Learning and also a professor of Modern Languages.
According to Echols this celebration of purpose is a celebration of a piece of society and their history.
“It is an opportunity for people of color, as well as those of all heritages and/or races, to come together to recognize a part of society that has made great contributions to what makes this nation so unique and great,” Echols said.
“We celebrate with traditions handed down to us from the continent of Africa which include “pouring out libations (honor and remembrance) to our ancestors” and music (gospel) and theatre (story-telling). The year is special because it includes the Theatre and Music departments together.”
The NIA awards were established in 1990, but was originally called the Unsung Heroes Award. It was renamed in 2001.
“An ‘unsung hero’ is someone who performs good deeds but has gone unnoticed for his or her exceptional efforts. This coveted recognition has been awarded to individuals in five distinct categories – student, faculty, staff, community member, and Diversity Champion – who demonstrated leadership and good deeds with the ‘purpose’ of uplifting fellow African-American students on campus or citizens throughout the Miami Valley,” Echols said.
In 2010, NIA joined with the College’s first ever GospelFest under the umbrella of “Celebration of Purpose” to celebrate the African American community.
The award winners this year is student Lamar Dorsey, staff member Dr. Bobby Beavers of Academic Advising, faculty member Furaha Henry-Jones, an Associate Professor of English, Petrey was awarded the Diversity Champion and for Community Service, “Mama” Nozipo Glenn.
The event will be on March 3 and will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a meet and greet. The Celebration of Purpose will last until 8:00 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending can register online at scccelebrationofpurpose2017.eventbrite.com.
Laina Yost
Managing Editor