The Black Women of Achievement named several University students of color Ebony Man on Friday night, but the man they chose as Ebony Man of the Year wasn’t there when the winner was revealed.
Black Student Union Co-Director Tremaine Thompson said he was upset to miss the ceremony.
“I’ve been on this campus for five years and going to this event for four years. I knew I was going to get an award, but I didn’t know this award,” he said. “This is a great acknowledgment. It’s very overwhelming, just because out of all the people involved on this campus they picked me.”
Thompson, 22, a sociology and electronic media major, also volunteers for a tutoring program at Jefferson Middle School.
Other winners included freshmen Cree Gordon and Michael Reta; sophomores Donnell Adair and Jontae Grace; juniors Ty Schwoeffermann and John Joo; seniors Kit Myers, Jordan Kent, Scott Lu and Khanh Le; and graduate student A.J. Peper.
Black Women of Achievement Outreach Coordinator Delia Pineda said the group accepts nominations for the awards from the community and then group members vote to award the titles. The winners represent a diverse group of excellent male students at the University, she said.
“It’s not just for African-Americans. It’s for students of color,” she said. “It goes by community service, involvement, leadership and grade point average.”
The event aims to honor male students of color for outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and community service while breaking down stereotypes about students of color, specifically black men, who are not often in the spotlight for academic or service work.
The event also included performances by students and a catered dinner, Pineda said.
Ashley Nesmith and Shante Stuart, Black Women of Achievement co-directors, said the event was a marked success for uniting the community.
“To see the different types of crowds come together and have a good time is great,” Nesmith said. “Everyone dressed up and took this seriously.”
The group has been sponsoring the event for more than a decade, Stuart said.
The members of the Black Women of Achievement will present Thompson with his award at the group’s meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Black Student Union in the EMU.

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