As the nation’s largest HBCU basketball showcase descends on Indianapolis Easter weekend, the HBCU All-Stars pause to celebrate not just student-athletes but the local leaders who have shaped the Indianapolis community.
The HBCU All-Stars Awards Ceremony & Reception is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 2 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, located at 617 Indiana Ave.
The event, free and open to the public, brings together student-athletes, coaches and community changemakers for an evening honoring excellence, impact and legacy.
“The HBCU All-Star Game Experience is about far more than basketball — it is about creating pathways for students, student-athletes, coaches and celebrating the institutions and leaders who continue to shape our communities,” founder and CEO of HBCU All-Stars Travis L. Williams said. “This awards ceremony allows us to recognize individuals whose leadership reflects the core values of exposure, access, recognition, opportunities, resources, and results. We are proud to honor those who embody the excellence and impact that HBCUs represent across the country.”
This year’s honorees include a diverse cross-section of Indianapolis civic, health, business and cultural leaders. Patricia Payne of Indianapolis Public Schools will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Virginia Caine of the Marion County Public Health Department is named Pillar of Community Health. Maggie A. Lewis, City-County Council president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, receives the Positive Pathways Award.
Other honorees include Al London of Generations Bank (Access to Capital Award), Deborah Oatts of Nubian Construction Group (Building Our Community Award), Dennis Jarrett of 300 Cameras for 300 Kids (Community Lens Award), and Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson II of Eastern Star Church (Guardian of Light Award).
The ceremony also recognizes contributions from the sports and business sectors. Jimmie McMillan of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway receives the Leader in Sports Award. Tony Pearson of Eli Lilly is the recipient of the HBCU Game Changer Award. Corey and Nichole Wilson, representing the Pacers Foundation and IU Health, receive the United for Impact Award.
The Voice of the Community Award goes to Robert Shegog and Shannon Williams of Recorder Media Group and The Mind Trust, recognizing their ongoing commitment to amplifying Black voices in Indianapolis.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged at bit.ly/3Ng54C1.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
