Pasadena City College’s Black Employees Association Awards Scholarships at 40th Anniversary Celebration

The Association of Black Employees (T.A.B.E.) at Pasadena City College recently held it’s 40th Anniversary Scholarship Awards Celebration – a lively breakfast to honor the best and brightest at PCC. This year’s celebration was co-chaired by Victoria Williams and Audrey Joseph.

In front of a festive and capacity crowd, T.A.B.E. awarded three scholarships to Esther Moore, Anne Kala and Jennifer Boone Wilson, who are pursuing careers in Nursing, Public Relations, and Sociology at University of Phoenix and Cal Poly Pomona.

T.A.B.E. also recognized Joyce Pennie (Jacqueline Dodds Memorial Award); Richard Caldwell (Ted James Footsteps Award); Dave Smith (Outstanding Alumni); Dr. Rueben Smith (Men of T.A.B.E. Award) and Del Yarbrough (Community Award).

The energetic morning included 2016 T.A.B.E. Scholarship Recipient and 2018 UCLA Graduate Sequoia Thompson, who served as the Mistress of Ceremonies; scrumptious breakfast delights by Castle’s Catering, festive soul music by a local DJ and a walk down memory lane of photos of the organization over the years. Dave Smith, Outstanding Alumni provided the heartfelt Keynote address. Attendee smiles and cheers revealed the rekindling of friendships via connections with current employees, T.A.B.E. retirees and community members. Guests parted the celebration with cheerful memories made in the playful photo booth.

Pasadena City College Trustees and Executive Committee members along with local elected officials brought greetings and proclamations to the audience. Local dignitaries and/or their representatives in attendance included Pasadena Vice Mayor John J. Kennedy, Pasadena Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Senator Anthony Portantino, and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. A few T.A.B.E. community partners in attendance were LA Metro African American Employee Association; Pacific Oaks; Pasadena AKAs; Pasadena Deltas, Pasadena Journal; Pasadena NAACP; PCC President’s African American Advisory Committee; PCC Foundation; and San Gabriel Valley NOBLE.

T.A.B.E. looks forward to continuing to support, advocate, mentor, and provide a system of growth and development for Black employees and students while strengthening its community partnerships. Dr. Christopher West serves as the 2018-2020 T.A.B.E. President. To connect with T.A.B.E. please visit https://pasadena.edu/faculty-and-staff/tabe/