Morehouse College News

Institutional Advancement * Division of Communications * 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314

ATLANTA, GA., Feb. 12, 2001 — In the midst of Black History month, when the accomplishments of African Americans are regularly being saluted, Morehouse College is hosting its 13th annual “A Candle in the Dark” Gala to acknowledge the accomplishments of stellar African-American men.

Gala Honorary co-chairs include educators and philanthropists Dr. William H. Cosby, Jr. and Dr. Camille O. Cosby and Delta Air Lines Chairman and CEO Leo Mullin and his wife, Leah Mullin. The Gala will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Only Morehouse graduates receive Bennie Awards, named after former Morehouse president Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays. Candle Awards are given alumni and others who have made significant accomplishments in their professions or community.

This year's Bennie honorees include: Dr. Ezra C. Davidson, Jr. '54, distinguished physician and educator; Charles “Chuck” H. James III '81, President and CEO, C. H. James & Co.; The Honorable Howard F. Jeter '70, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria; and The Honorable Horace T. Ward '49, U.S. Federal Judge and civil rights attorney.

Candle honorees include: Harry Belafonte, award-winning actor and entertainment legend; Ray Charles, world-renowned rhythm and blues legend and songwriter; Dick Gregory, civil rights activist and comedian; and Rev. Dr. C. T. Vivian, civil rights strategist.

Ranked the number one college in the nation for educating African American students by Black Enterprise magazine, Morehouse College is the nation's largest private liberal arts college for men. Founded in 1867, the College enrolls approximately 3,000 students and confers bachelor's degrees on more black men than any other institution in the world. In addition to offering 36 majors in the humanities, natural and social sciences, Morehouse provides a number of programs and activities to enhance its challenging liberal arts curriculum, including the Leadership Center at Morehouse College, the Morehouse Research Institute, and the Andrew Young Center for International Affairs.

Prominent alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize laureate and civil rights leader; Dr. David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General; Sheldon "Spike" Lee, filmmaker and president of 40 Acres & A Mule Productions; Maynard H. Jackson, president of Jackson Securities and the first African-American mayor of Atlanta; and Nima A. Warfield, the first African-American Rhodes Scholar from an historically black college or university.

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Media Contact:

Thonnia Lee
404-215-2680
Tlee@Morehouse.edu