Uplifting Black Men Conference

On behalf of the Black Male Excellence Network, I want to extend my warmest appreciation and gratitude to everyone who made our 8^th Annual Uplifting Black Men Conference a success.

Thank you to Dr. Bryan K. Hotchkins for his uplifting and empowering keynote address. Thank you to President Sands for his continued support of the conference and being a champion for Black male success and achievement at Virginia Tech.

-Patrick Wallace, Student Success Center Assistant Director and Coordinator, BMEN Program

Thank you again to:

UBMC Conference Committee

• Kimberly Smith
• Karen Eley Sanders
• Brandy Faulkner
• Tremayne Waller
• Christina Fabrey
  Kory Trott
• Dalayna Gardner
• Latanya Walker
• Israel Oyedare
• Jaleel Patterson
• Sherlock Banks II

Presenters

• Tommy Amal
• James Pennix
• Chris McDonald
• Terrance Schoefield
• Eric Foster
• Khaseem Davis
• Eric Glenn
• Kory Trott
• Kwame Harrison
• Philip Wilkerson
• Jeremiah Brooks
• Lewis Townsend
• Rafael Patrick
• Jalen Neal
• Ellington Graves

Advisory Board

• Caleb Callender
• Jalen Neal
• Jaleel Patterson
• Calvin Pugh
• Jordan Best
• Bright Maloba Chia
• DJ Rose-Tyler
• Abdul Omotosho

Student Panelists

• Israel Oyedare (Facilitator)
• Calvin Pugh
• Dakotah Hamilton
• Jaden Payoute
• Caleb Callender
• Jalen Neal

Sponsors

Volunteers

• Caleb Callender
• Calvin Pugh
• Jaleel Patterson
• DJ Rose-Tyler
• Bright Maloba Chia
• Jalen Neal
• Kameron Freeman
• Jamal Ross
• Titus Cameron
• Hadja Bah
• Alexandria Rush
• Ishanti Usher

Raffle Donations

Departments and Colleges

• The Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Virginia Tech Athletics Department
• Academic Advising Initiatives
• The Student Success Center (SSC)
• The Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP)
• College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• University Studies and Scholarship Support
• Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets
• The Moss Arts Center

Local Businesses

• Macado’s
• Maroon Door
• The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center
• Hokie Shop University Bookstore
• Zeppolis
• New River Valley Office Supply
• John’s Camera and Record Shop

A special thanks to Dakotah Hamilton for delivering his poem “Umoja.” And to Jordan Best for creating this year’s conference design.