Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
Inside one of the expanded rooms at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia, several hundred Tuskegee University alumni, friends, and students gathered this weekend and raised nearly $30,000 for the endowed scholarship fund supporting students from the metro Atlanta area.
The Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club hosted its 18th Annual A Golden Time of Day Scholarship Jazz Brunch and Day Party. The event began with a parade of guests entering the room as Ball N Parlay set the tone for an energetic and celebratory atmosphere. Throughout the program, live jazz and easy-listening music provided a fitting backdrop for the occasion and its mission.
“What you all do makes a meaningful difference, helping ensure that these students can walk across the stage in four years with a diploma in one hand and opportunity in the other,” said Dr. Rolundus Rice, Vice President of Student Affairs and Chief Operating Officer, who offered greetings and supported the fundraising efforts led by Dr. Kimberly Manning ’92.
This year, 25 students from across the metro Atlanta area were recognized for their hard work and awarded scholarships. In addition, Tiffany Boazman received the Community Impact Award; Dr. Farrah Harden Latham received the Healthcare Excellence Award; and Dr. Ashley Randall received the Entrepreneurship Award.
Tuskegee University Trustee John Doug Chambers was honored with the Innovation in Education Award, while Trustee Carla Whitlock received the Alumni of the Year Award. Alumna Dorothy Jordan Gaithers ’44, now 105 years old, was also present and recognized.
Since its founding in 1995, when it awarded scholarships to just four students, the chapter has supported more than 300 students.
Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO of Tuskegee University, expressed his deep appreciation for the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club and its longstanding commitment to the institution and its students. He reflected Tuskegee’s enduring legacy and its connection to Atlanta, recalling Booker T. Washington’s historic address to the Atlanta Compromise in Piedmont Park some 131 years ago.
“I am deeply grateful for the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club and for the example you have set through your service and generosity,” Dr. Brown said. “Your commitment reflects the very spirit of Tuskegee—investing in students, believing in their promise, and helping to open doors of opportunity.”
Dr. Brown also highlighted the success of recent graduates, noting that more than 70 percent of the Class of 2026 had secured employment prior to graduation and 55 percent graduated with academic honors.
“These outcomes are possible, in part, because of supporters like you who continue to invest in our students,” he said. “You are helping to ensure that their hard work leads to meaningful opportunity.”
He also noted that 27 percent of incoming freshmen this fall are from Georgia, underscoring the importance of the Atlanta region to Tuskegee’s future. Georgia is the largest contributor when measured by state to Tuskegee enrollment.
“More than a century ago, Booker T. Washington offered a simple but powerful proposition—that education prepares individuals to contribute meaningfully to society,” Dr. Brown said. “You are carrying that vision forward. Your support affirms that when we invest in students, we strengthen not only Tuskegee, but the communities they will go on to serve.”
© 2026 Tuskegee University
