Visions of Excellence Ball
The Black Student Alliance seeks to honor seniors of color who have made significant contributions to the Georgetown community. We host our annual Visions of Excellence Ball to recognize fourteen graduating Georgetown seniors who have exemplified Georgetown’s heritage of service and excellence in the areas of academic achievement, leadership, community service, fine arts, campus service, and athletic scholarship. In addition, we recognize one member of Georgetown faculty or staff, one outstanding alumnus who has made significant contributions to our community during the year, and a junior who has shown exemplary dedication to campus involvement.
Visions of Excellence Ball Awards
Academic Achievement
The Academic Excellence award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have demonstrated academic excellence throughout their Georgetown tenure. When considering candidates for this award we take into account GPA as well as rigor of major curriculum and their willingness to educate their peers.
Campus Leadership
The Campus Leadership award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have shown tremendous leadership capabilities at Georgetown. These students have served the community through leadership positions in minority organizations or groups. These students have gone above and beyond the call of their leadership duties to benefit the black community.
*Campus Impact
The Campus Impact award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have channeled his or her passions to affect change at Georgetown and create a lasting legacy that positively influences the minority community. These students may not be leaders in the traditional sense, but they have contributed to the community in a meaningful way by leading by example and sharing their talents.
Community Service
The Community Service award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have dedicated their time at Georgetown to serving the greater Washington, D.C. community. These students embody the ideals of social justice and works to help others in any capacity. This person can serve through an on-campus organization or independently.
Fine Arts
The Fine Arts award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have dedicated time and artistic skill to the Georgetown community. These students are exceptional talented in the areas of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, drama, dance, film, photography, conceptual art and graphic design. This person has cultivated work in one or more of these aforementioned areas and has shared their talents with the black community.
Campus Ministry
The Campus Ministry award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who are passionate about campus ministry. These students also work to encourage their peers’ spirituality. These seniors are devout, welcoming and willing to share their experiences and testimonies with others.
Athletic Achievement
The Athletic Achievement award seeks to honor outstanding student athletes. These student-athletes have successfully balanced their academic life with the demands of Georgetown Athletics. These student-athletes have managed to excel in his or her sport or activity.
Faculty/ Staff
The Faculty award seeks to honor a Georgetown staff or faculty member who has advocated for and positively affected the black community in a profound way.
Alumni
The Alumni award seeks to honor a Georgetown alumnus who has actively engaged and positively affected the black community in a profound way.
Junior Impact Award
The Junior Impact Award seeks to honor a junior who has managed to successfully balance their campus involvement, academic life and contribute to the black community in an impactful way. This person has invested time into creating a presence in the black community and has shown tremendous promise for the remainder of their Georgetown tenure and beyond.
* In 2014, the Campus Involvement award was changed to Campus Impact to better represent a student that is active on campus in a non-traditional way.
Edited by Esiwahomi Ozemebhoya'15 and Esther Owolabi'15
Academic Achievement
The Academic Excellence award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have demonstrated academic excellence throughout their Georgetown tenure. When considering candidates for this award we take into account GPA as well as rigor of major curriculum and their willingness to educate their peers.
Campus Leadership
The Campus Leadership award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have shown tremendous leadership capabilities at Georgetown. These students have served the community through leadership positions in minority organizations or groups. These students have gone above and beyond the call of their leadership duties to benefit the black community.
*Campus Impact
The Campus Impact award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have channeled his or her passions to affect change at Georgetown and create a lasting legacy that positively influences the minority community. These students may not be leaders in the traditional sense, but they have contributed to the community in a meaningful way by leading by example and sharing their talents.
Community Service
The Community Service award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have dedicated their time at Georgetown to serving the greater Washington, D.C. community. These students embody the ideals of social justice and works to help others in any capacity. This person can serve through an on-campus organization or independently.
Fine Arts
The Fine Arts award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who have dedicated time and artistic skill to the Georgetown community. These students are exceptional talented in the areas of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, drama, dance, film, photography, conceptual art and graphic design. This person has cultivated work in one or more of these aforementioned areas and has shared their talents with the black community.
Campus Ministry
The Campus Ministry award seeks to honor a male and female member of the graduating class who are passionate about campus ministry. These students also work to encourage their peers’ spirituality. These seniors are devout, welcoming and willing to share their experiences and testimonies with others.
Athletic Achievement
The Athletic Achievement award seeks to honor outstanding student athletes. These student-athletes have successfully balanced their academic life with the demands of Georgetown Athletics. These student-athletes have managed to excel in his or her sport or activity.
Faculty/ Staff
The Faculty award seeks to honor a Georgetown staff or faculty member who has advocated for and positively affected the black community in a profound way.
Alumni
The Alumni award seeks to honor a Georgetown alumnus who has actively engaged and positively affected the black community in a profound way.
Junior Impact Award
The Junior Impact Award seeks to honor a junior who has managed to successfully balance their campus involvement, academic life and contribute to the black community in an impactful way. This person has invested time into creating a presence in the black community and has shown tremendous promise for the remainder of their Georgetown tenure and beyond.
* In 2014, the Campus Involvement award was changed to Campus Impact to better represent a student that is active on campus in a non-traditional way.
Edited by Esiwahomi Ozemebhoya'15 and Esther Owolabi'15
All of the awards are voted on by the Visions Nominations Committee except for the Junior Impact Award which is decided by the seniors on the BSA Executive Board.
Adrinka Symbols
Adinkra are visual symbols, originally created by the Akan, an ethnic group of West Africa, that represent concepts or aphorisms. The symbols have a decorative function but also represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment. There are many different symbols with distinct meanings, often linked with proverbs. In tradition, every year an adrinka symbol representative of the graduating class is presented during the award ceremony of the Visions of Excellence Ball and also placed on the physical awards.
Adinkra are visual symbols, originally created by the Akan, an ethnic group of West Africa, that represent concepts or aphorisms. The symbols have a decorative function but also represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment. There are many different symbols with distinct meanings, often linked with proverbs. In tradition, every year an adrinka symbol representative of the graduating class is presented during the award ceremony of the Visions of Excellence Ball and also placed on the physical awards.