BHM Scholarship Brunch
to Honor Outstanding UCSD Students

Actor, minister Clifton Davis to give keynote address

February 13, 2008

By Jan Jennings

A keynote presentation by actor and minister Clifton Davis, the awarding of the Joseph and Mary Watson Black History Month Scholarship, performances by local choirs, and recognition of outstanding African American students will be among highlights of the sixth annual Black History Month Scholarship Brunch at the University of California, San Diego.

Clifton Davis

The brunch will begin at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 23 in the UCSD Faculty Club and is open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase at the UCSD Box Office.

“The brunch is the highlight, really the pinnacle, of our Black History Month (BHM) activities at UCSD and brings together the university and San Diego communities to celebrate black history and culture and also to raise funds for undergraduate scholarships,” says Renee Barnett-Terry, dean of Student Affairs at Revelle College and brunch coordinator.

UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will give opening remarks and introduce keynote speaker Clifton Davis. Davis is an actor, singer, composer, producer, minister, and currently executive director of Sunoco Welcome America, an organization whose task is “to make sure everyone has fun in Philadelphia in the week leading up to July 4th,” America’s birthday.

Davis is best known for his five-year stint as Rev. Reuben Gregory on the television series, Amen. He appeared in the Disney film, Halloweentown High, and the Al Pacino film, Any Given Sunday. Davis also appeared on Broadway in Hello Dolly, Jimmy Shine and in his Tony Award nomination performance for best actor in the musical, Two Gentlemen of Verona. Among other musical credits, he received a Grammy nomination for Never Can Say Goodbye.

“We are fortunate to have such a talented keynote speaker who will address the theme of our entire month’s celebration, UCSD Honors Black History Month: Rethinking American Identity,” Barnett-Terry says.

In his ministry career, Davis served as associate pastor at the Loma Linda University Church and is co-founder and former co-pastor of the Welcome Christian Center in Huntington Beach. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., and a master of divinity degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. He also has an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Lincoln University.

Among other key elements of the 2008 BHM Scholarship Brunch:

• Last year former vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Joseph Watson, was honored at the brunch and a scholarship was renamed for him and his wife. The first Joseph and Mary Watson  Black History Month Scholarship will be awarded this year.
• The Outstanding Contributions to Higher Education Award will honor the late Floyd Gaffney, UCSD professor emeritus of Theatre. Previous honorees include Watson; Willie Brown, professor emeritus, biology; Cecil Lytle, musician and former Thurgood Marshall provost, and Bennetta Jules-Rosette, sociology professor and director of UCSD’s African and African American Studies Research Project (AAASRP).
• Local choirs performing include the UCSD Gospel Choir, the La Jolla Country Day School Choir, the Greater New Victory Christian Center Choir, and the North Park Baptist Church Worship Team.
• Outstanding African American undergraduate and graduate students will be recognized and a silent auction will be held with proceeds benefiting undergraduate scholarships.

For further information on the brunch contact Barnett-Terry, chair emeritus of the UJIMA Network, at (858) 534-3492, rbarnett@ucsd.edu or Pamela Frugé, current UJIMA chair, at (858) 534-4875, pfruge@ucsd.edu. UJIMA is a collective of black UCSD faculty, staff, students, and alumni and the planning committee for UCSD’s monthlong Black History Month celebration which began Feb. 1 and concludes Feb. 29.

Media Contacts:
Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404
Jan Jennings, 858-822-1684