Kansas State University’s Black Student Union is again the best in the Big 12 Conference, according to a press release from KSU Friday.
For the 10th time in 12 years, the university’s Black Student Union won the Clarence Wine Award for Outstanding Big 12 Council of the Year at the 41st annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government, March 1-3, at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
“The K-State BSU represents what is great about Kansas State University,” said Adrian Rodriguez, associate vice president for student life for diversity and multicultural student affairs. “They demonstrate every day that by unifying our voice and striving for what is right and just, monumental things can be accomplished.”
Rodriguez said the Black Student Union is a model student organization for all other Big 12 and university Black Student Unions as well as other multicultural student organizations. Through leadership, active membership and collective voice, the Black Student Union continues to further the agenda for equity and justice at Kansas State University, he said.
“It is an amazing honor being named the most outstanding Black Student Union in the Big 12,” said Darrell Reese, president of the Kansas State University Black Student Union and junior in mechanical engineering, Plano, Texas. “It shows how hard we work as a Black Student Union advocating for the needs of our multicultural students, but it also shows how much we care about each other within our BSU because we are so much of a family.”
In addition to the Clarence Wine Award, two Black Student Union members were recognized at the conference.
Bryan Davis, senior in management information systems, Topeka, and 2017-2018 chair of the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government, was awarded the Mordean Taylor Archer Most Outstanding Executive Board Member award.
Jeffrey Matthews Jr., freshman in open option, Kansas City, Missouri, also was elected as 2018-2019 assistant treasurer for the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government. He will automatically become treasurer for the council for 2019-2020.
“It is an honor to serve as the advisor to our K-State Black Student Union,” said Brandon L. Clark, program coordinator for diversity and multicultural student affairs. “Their hard work and passion for social justice continue to be rewarded by the Big 12 Council and celebrated by our university.”
