University students gathered Thursday in the Union Theatre for the second annual LSU NAACP Image Awards to honor students who exemplify leadership, talent and activism in the community.
As ladies donning their evening gowns, and gentlemen looking dapper in their suit coats entered the theatre, the DJs played popular hip-hop music to get the crowd going. Throughout the night, when they came to the stage, award presenters would dance to their chosen “walk-out” song.
Using #LSUNIA, attendees were able to tweet out their pictures, thoughts and congratulations with the possibility of having their tweets read on stage.
Black Student Union president Destinee Merida, who received the Afro-Activism Award for her efforts to discuss progress in the community, said students have been coordinating the event since last year. The group, Merida said, made efforts to include the entire community in the event.
Between the award presentations, attendees were able to watch a variety of performances from groups like the Legacy Dance team, the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition step team and a gospel choir. One of the event’s own award recipients, junior Ashton Champion, who received the Nubian Queen award, sang Andra Day’s “Rise Up” during a slideshow of ”#BlackLSU” event pictures.
Monturious Howard, president of the NAACP at LSU, received the President’s Award, which was presented by Student Government president Zach Faircloth on behalf of LSU President F. King Alexander’s office.
After winning the Too Much Sauce award, which recognizes a highly charismatic student, marketing senior Jeremy Mason said that events like the awards ceremony provide an opportunity to celebrate growth and achievement.
“We need events like this to promote positivity and black excellence,” Mason said during his acceptance speech.
In coordinating the awards show, the nominations were certainly not limited to undergraduates or upperclassmen. This year, the Fresh off the Shelf award sought to honor mass communication freshman McCaala Nelson, who was actively involved in campus activities, excelled academically and showed promise for “Black LSU,” according to the event’s Twitter.
The upGRADed award went to graduate student Fallan Frank for her role as a mentor for undergraduates and her active work to better the community. To further include faculty and staff, Assistant Director of Sports Psychology and Counseling Service LaKeitha Poole received the Julian T. White award for the faculty member which supported the black community in the fullest.
Howard said the goal of the event was to uplift members of the community by providing an evening to honor their work.
“Celebrate in a way that uplifts life and uplifts your people,” Howard said. “I think we did that today, and I think that was the overall goal.”

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Chunfeng Lu

Graduate Assistant Fallan Frank receives the “upGRADed Award” on Thursday, Mar. 2, 2017, in the Union Theater.