Contact: Pamela Cox
Interim AVP for Communications
Virginia Union University
(804) 257-5856
(804) 937-7936
Virginia Union University Masquerade Ball and Scholarship Gala Raised Nearly $365,000
(Richmond) – Virginia Union University held its 6th Annual Masquerade Ball and Scholarship Gala, hosted by Mayor Levar Stoney on Friday, April 13, 2018. The event, held to raise scholarship money for Virginia Union University students, raised nearly $365,000. Gifts are still being accepted at vuu.edu/GiveNow.
The Masquerade Ball and Scholarship Gala was held at the Richmond Marriott- Downtown with 650 guests in attendance. The emcees for the evening were Actress Jo Marie Payton (Family Matters/Proud Family), Comedian Micah “Bamm Bamm” White, and NBC-12 anchor/reporter Karla Redditte. 650 people attended the event held at The Richmond Marriott – Downtown. The Mardi Gras themed event was filled with music by members of the VUU “Ambassadors of Sound” Marching Band, the First Thursday Jazz Band, and The Katz Band.
Virginia Union honored three recipients of the Inaugural “Leadership to Legacy” award. The honorees were:
Dr. Kinney has devoted himself to the pursuit of excellence in theological training and ministerial preparation. He is revered, internationally, as a systematic theologian, academician and administrator - in a career that spans more than 40 years. This includes serving as professor, Dean of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, and as a Senior Vice President of the university. His service to academia is complimented by his role as the Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaverdam, Virginia, where he has served for more than 40 years.
Coach Dave Robbins led VUU’s Men’s basketball team from 1978 until 2008. His strategic coaching turned Virginia Union into an NCAA Division Two Powerhouse. Under Robbins’ leadership, VUU won 713 games and three National Championships in 1980, 1992 and 2005. His teams won 14 CIA A championships and garnered 21 NCA A tournament appearances. He produced four Division II players of the year, eight consecutive first team All-Americans, and five NBA players: Ben Wallace, Charles Oakley, Terry Davis, AJ English, and Jamie Waller. Robbins officially retired from Virginia Union University on April 15, 2008. He is a member of the Hall of Fame for Catawba College, Virginia Union University, CIAA, and in his hometown of Gaston County, North Carolina. In 2010, Robbins was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, and in 2012, he was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Altria and its companies have a long-standing history of Supporting HBCUs - through scholarship investments that directly support Virginia Union University as well as the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Since 1991, The Altria Group has invested more than $1.8 Million Dollars toward the education of VUU students. Of particular highlight is the partnership known as STEM EnRichmond, also known as SE. It is designed to engage Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics students, who have a passion for academics and community involvement.
For more information about the 6th Annual Masquerade Ball and Scholarship Gala, contact Pamela Cox at phcox@vuu.edu or (804) 257-5856.
*Photos are available at https://flic.kr/s/aHskzCRmiu