Feb. 14, 2025

Ferris State celebrates achievements of African American students, organizations with 30th Image Awards

B.L.A.C.K. Image Awards 2025 — This photo was taken in Ferris State University's Williams Auditorium during the B.L.A.C.K. Image Awards event on Saturday, Feb. 8.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —

Ferris State University proudly celebrated the achievements of African American students and organizations, honoring the impact they have on campus with this week’s B.L.A.C.K. Image Awards.

The Black Leaders Aspiring for Critical Knowledge organization works to unify young Black people with other cultures through the promotion of academic excellence.

Members of BLACK organize and participate in activities which promote and develop mental and growth opportunities.

The organization seeks to deconstruct stigmatizing racial stereotypes particularly as they relate to African Americans and aspire to achieve a level of knowledge and understanding specific to African Americans.

Members of the organization are held to the highest moral conduct standards of integrity, honesty, and dignity.

Amarion Briggs, a senior in the Music and Entertainment Business progam, said he was proud to earn the Malcom X Outstanding Student Leader.

Briggs, a Detroit resident, is active with B.L.A.C.K and his fraternity, Iota Phi Theta, Inc.

"This made me feel like the work I do actually matters," he said."I work hard to be a leader, and this encourages me to want to do more of these things."

Honorees are:

Prince Hall Fraternity Award - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Prince Hall Sorority Award - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Elijah McCoy RSO Award - You Beautiful Black Woman.
Jesse Owens Student Athlete Award - DeShonna Day.
LaMira King Award - Ni'Jah Rankin.
Barbara Jordan Award - Mia DeBerry.
Booker T. Washington Award - Emmanuel Ogua.
Marcus Garvey Award - B.L.A.C.K.
Mary Church Terrell Award - Hazelle Williams.
Mordecai Underclassman Award - Semmon Robinson.
Richard Allen Award – CRU.
Rosa Parks Award - Black Student Union.
Sidney Poitier Award - Bryann Hill.
Sojourner Truth Award - Dr. Kasey Thompson.
Thurgood Marshall Award - Josh Olszewski.
W.E.B. Du Bois Award - Rayona Charles.
Terri C. Houston Award - Janeiah Canales.
Malcom X Outstanding Student Leader - Amarion Briggs.
B.L.A.C.K. Award - Chris Sanders.
DuJuan Hayes Award - David Reed

The event was part of Ferris State’s Black History Month, organized by the Office of Multicultural Student Services. Learn more about additional events here.