Thursday, April 30 | Vol. 30 No. 7
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026
WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER
The Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala Recognizes IE Black Leaders with Lifetime Achievement Awards
Dr. Antoine Hawkins
RIVERSIDE, CA - Alpha Phi Alpha Fra- ternity, Inc., Phi Upsilon Chapter's inaugural Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala recog- nizes Black leaders whose contributions have shaped education, public service, and commu- nity empowerment in the Inland Empire. The Gala is Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM, in the Grand Parisian Ballroom at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California.
This year's gala celebrates a distinguished co- hort of honorees. The 2026 Lifetime Achieve- ment Awards will be presented to Dr. Judy White, Ed.D. (Retired Riverside County Su- perintendent of Schools), Emmett Terrell (Re- tired Deputy Superintendent, Pomona Unified School District), and Dr. Norman Towels (Re- tired Assistant Superintendent, Val Verde Uni- fied School District). The keynote speaker is Antoine Hawkins, President of the California Association of African-American Superinten- dents and Administrators.
Additional honors include the Legacy of Im- pact Award, presented posthumously to Mari-
Dr. Judy White, Ed.D.
Charlotte Black on Black, Jr. and Reggie Webb; the Trailblazer of the Year Award, honoring Dr. Theresa Price and Dr. Eric Bishop, Ed.D.; the Public Servant of the Year Award, recognizing Vernon Jack- son and Bishop Kelvin Simmons; and the Yel- low Rose Award, presented to Charlotte Black.
"More than a celebration, the Golden Renais- sance Scholarship Gala recognizes the past achievements of the Black trailblazers who advanced our success in the Inland Empire. In addition, the proceeds from the event are a strategic investment in the future, directly ben- efiting our nationally recognized Go-To-High- School, Go-To-College Program, established in 1922,” said Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Upsilon Chapter President Terrance Williams.
“The Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College Program, expands scholarship opportunities and provides programmatic support for black male youth, helping them to gain access to col- leges and universities and improve their per- sistence, graduation, and long-term success,"
Dr. Theresa Price
Dr. Eric Bishop, Ed.D said Williams.
The theme of the Gala is the Harlem Renais- sance, featuring Cotton Club Revue enter- tainment, live jazz performances, a visual art showcase, a three-course fine dining experi- ence, the awards ceremony, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and more.
Tickets for the Golden Renaissance Scholar- ship Gala are available at the PhiUpsilon.net website for $150 per person. A commemora- tive souvenir program will be included, high- lighting honorees and featuring advertise- ments from businesses, organizations, and community supporters. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets, tables, and advertisements by May 15, 2026.
The Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala is sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Upsilon Chapter, the University of La Verne, the 10th House Education Foundation, the Alpha West Empowerment Foundation, the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, and other community stakeholders.