The partnership between the Monterey County chapter of the NAACP and CSUMB celebrated its 10th anniversary by honoring community leaders and social justice advocates. Three CSUMB students received awards in the Youth Black Excellence category, and two employees received African American Advocate and Champion awards.

Darchelle Burnett is president of the Black Students United and Native American Students United student organizations at CSUMB. She has been recognized for her fervent efforts to support Black and Native American students at CSUMB and to challenge the problematic historical narrative of the two ethnicities taught in public schools.

Bryant Taylor is a McNair Scholar and Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program fellowship recipient. In the summer of 2020, he studied under University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill professor Dr. Ariana Vigil and pursued research that challenges white supremacy. Like Burnett, he is interested in how the past influences the present, and his goal is to obtain a PhD in ethnic studies.

Jada Carter is a recent CSUMB graduate and McNair Scholar who diligently strives to connect and introduce underserved communities to nature and iconic spaces, such as the Ford Ord National Monument. They earned their biology degree in 2020 and describes themselves as a queer black scientist whose mission is “to create a science community that reflects our world.”

Rhonda Mercadal-Evans and Vivian Waldrup-Patterson are co-chairs of the university’s African Heritage Faculty and Staff Alliance. Mercadal-Evans, associate director for Advising, Career and Student Success, has worked to bridge underserved students with the community, providing students opportunities to obtain internships and grow their careers. Waldrup-Patterson, interim director for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, has supported Black students at CSUMB for years. Her goal is to ensure they have a smooth and supportive educational journey.