Celebrating Black excellence
The first annual Black Excellence Awards Dinner hosted by the Quinlan School of Business honored four difference makers who embody the values of inclusion, equity, and leadership.
“I don’t have to tell you how important inclusion and equity are,” said Michael Behnam, dean of the Quinlan School of Business, during the dinner in April 2023. “Recent events have shown again and again that Chicago and its people must continue to fight the vestiges of institutional racism and the lack of opportunity felt in Chicago neighborhoods, particularly Black and brown neighborhoods.”
Honoring Black excellence
The 2023 honorees were:
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Student Leadership Award |
Sanaa Hill (BBA '23) A founding member of the Black Business Student Association, Hill is focused on scholarship and public service. After graduation, she will join Macy’s, Inc. Executive Development Program in New York City to prepare to be a full-time assistant merchandise buyer. |
| Graduate Student Leadership Award |
LaShawn Holloway (MBA '23) Holloway is an inspiring leader for the Baumhart Scholars MBA program and beyond. She is the first director of Chicago partnerships at Braven, a nonprofit focused on solving the education-to-employment gap in higher education. Other nominees: Jonathan Goodell (MBA '23), Rodney Orange, and Caitlin Osei (BA '23) |
| Distinguished Alumni Award |
Ahmed “Flex” Omar (BBA '05) Omar is a community builder, role model and mentor, and bridge between communities. Omar has been recognized as a 40 under 40 gamechanger and founded the Muslim American Leadership Alliance. At Loyola, he is executive vice president of the Black Alumni Board and spearheaded the creation of the Mamie Till-Mobley Scholarship, which has raised more than $200,000. Other nominees: Kemena Brooks (MBA '22), Genesis Emery-Foley (BASC '11), Jonathan McGee (MBA '22), Myla Skinner (MBA '22), Chad Tredway (BBA '06), and Nneka Ude (MBA '11) |
| Community Leadership Award |
Jahmal Cole A champion of social justice, Cole’s work is helping create a more interconnected Chicago by providing education programs and volunteer opportunities to Chicago’s underprivileged youth. He is the founder and CEO of My Block My Hood My City, which is Chicago’s fastest growing social impact organization. It seeks to inspire youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time. Other nominees: Natrina Kennedy (BS '17, MPI '20) and Dorri McWhorter |
Dinner attendees included representatives of the Black Business Student Association, Loyola’s Black Faculty/Staff Affinity Group, Loyola University Black Alumni Board, Quinlan’s Black Excellence Awards Committee, Quinlan’s Leadership Team, and other allies.
Celebrating progress and hope
Dean Behnam closed the Black Excellence Awards Dinner on a note of optimism.
“The efforts we celebrated tonight are moving Chicago and Quinlan toward greater inclusion, equity, and belonging. Our work is far from done, but nights like this leave me hopeful and inspired.”
