Part of Walk the Walk Week, the Black Excellence Dinner ceremony highlighted the impact of Black excellence at the University and beyond.
Kaza-Zack Kazirukanyo, student government director of diversity and inclusion: race and inclusivity, emphasized the significance of the event in his opening remarks.
“For three years, this gathering has done more than unite students, faculty and staff,” Kazirukanyo said. “It has affirmed a lasting truth: that Black excellence is not simply a passing moment, nor a memory left to fade. It is the mountain wind rising with purpose, carrying voices that will not be silenced. It is the great wave, relentless in ambition, reshaping the shore with every surge.”
This year’s award recipients were selected from a pool of over 150 nominations submitted by students, faculty, staff and administrators. The student winners were Frances Ubogu and Isaiah Hall, who were praised for their dedication to community-building, leadership and academic excellence.
“She not only received the most nominations this year but also submitted the most nominations herself, uplifting and recognizing others in our community. That selflessness and humility are what make her a true leader,” Alyssa Ngo said. She is the director of student leadership in multicultural culture and student programs and services.
Hall, a student studying Africana studies and film, television and theatre, was recognized for using his creative talents to amplify underrepresented voices on campus.
“Through his work with Black@ND, his research and his leadership in clubs, Isaiah has sparked important conversations about race, identity and belonging at Notre Dame,” Ngo said.
The graduate student winners were Claire Scott-Bacon and Fr. Kenneth Amadi. Amadi, a Ph.D. student in theology, was recognized for his research on African Catholic traditions and his leadership in faith communities.
Scott-Bacon, an award-winning scholar and clinical psychologist, was celebrated for her mentorship of graduate students and advocacy for mental health services.
“She has provided over 1,200 hours of private mentorship for students while balancing her own groundbreaking research. Her impact on our community cannot be overstated,“ Ngo said.
The faculty winners were Gabriel Burks and Nyrée McDonald. Burks, an innovator in chemical engineering, was recognized for his research and his dedication to mentoring students.
“He is not just a professor — he is a role model, ensuring that Black students in STEM fields have the support they need to succeed,” one student wrote in their nomination letter.
McDonald was honored for her leadership in graduate student recruitment and diversity initiatives. Her efforts have led to record-breaking applications from underrepresented students.
The staff honorees were Shamar Cousin and Tiffany Russell. Cousin, known for his work in admissions and student outreach, has traveled across the United States and Africa to recruit students to Notre Dame. Since he began, applications from certain African countries have increased by over 200%.
Russell, a mental health specialist at the University Counseling Center, was recognized for her advocacy and support of Black students on campus.
The ceremony featured two keynote speakers: Alex Sejdinaj, founder of South Bend Code School and Don Wycliff, former editorial board member of The Chicago Tribune. Sejdinaj and Wycliff are both Notre Dame alums.
Sejdinaj reflected on her time at Notre Dame, recalling the challenges of being a Black student at a predominantly white institution.
“There were moments when I felt unseen, unheard and isolated,” she said. “But through community, I found strength. And today, seeing this room full of students, faculty and staff celebrating each other — it’s proof of how far we’ve come.”
Wycliff took a historical approach, detailing the progress Notre Dame has made in diversity since his time as a student in the 1960s.
“If you had told me that one day, Notre Dame would have Black deans, administrators and coaches of all three major sports teams, I would have laughed,” he said. “But here we are, proving that Black excellence is not only present at Notre Dame — it is thriving.”
As the evening came to a close, organizers encouraged attendees to continue celebrating Black excellence beyond just one night.
“This is not just about receiving an award,” Kazirukanyo said. “It’s about carrying the torch forward, uplifting others and ensuring that Notre Dame remains a place where Black students, faculty and staff are not only welcomed but celebrated.”
