Sapphire Jubilee Gala | Photo by Juila Kirk | The Wright State Guardian
Members of the Bolinga Black Cultural Center and the African American Alumni Society put on the Sapphire Jubilee Gala on Sept. 28 to raise money for scholarships.
About the event
The Bolinga Center and the African American Alumni Society held the fourth annual Sapphire Jubilee Gala. The event allows for African American students on campus to come together and enjoy traditional dishes, music and dancing with one another, while raising money for scholarships.
Bing Bingham, the coordinator of the gala, shared some details about the purpose behind the gala.
“We have the gala every year to raise money for our scholarship, but it’s also a fun time to connect with our community. My favorite part is the dancing,” Bingham said.
Quest Food Management Services has partnered with Wright State University for several years, providing catering for the event. In addition to this, they had student coordinators and a DJ to play music for the event.
Impact of the Gala
The Sapphire Jubilee Gala, although created to raise money for their scholarship, was a great way for students to build community with one another and learn about the resources available to them, such as the Bolinga Center.
The Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center is a resource for Black students, where they can attend special programs and participate in activities that connect them with other students who are similar to them.
The official Bolinga Center website offers insight into the purpose and passion of the organization.
“We offer programs, activities, and student services that educate the broader community about Black and African American culture,” the website reads.
African American Alumni Society
There are many different affinity groups to advocate for students. Some of these are location-based and some are identity-based.
The African American Alumni Society is identity-based and one of their big projects is their yearly scholarship, which started back in 2005.
This scholarship is awarded to 2-3 African American students each year. The Gala is one of their fundraisers to raise money to put back into the scholarship fund.
The AAAS is also dedicated to providing students with educational assistance and creating a community of African American students and staff at Wright State.
“The African American Alumni Society exists to provide assistance and support for the continuing success of Wright State University’s African American students, faculty and staff through diverse activities and services, and enriched camaraderie for its members” the AAAS website reads.
For all African American students on campus, make sure to check out these centers and see what resources they have to offer.
