7th Annual Mosaic Gala Honors Diversity and Community on Campus

By Aisha Marilyn Abdulbary-Knotts | Staff Writer

The campus lit up on Saturday evening as students, staff and faculty gathered for the University of Lynchburg’s 7th Annual Mosaic Gala. This year’s theme, “Kaleidoscope,” held true to its name as the night was filled with color and highlighted the diversity that brings the campus community together.

Saturday’s event, held in Burton Dining Hall, was organized by Alexis Scott, Assistant Director of Student Diversity Initiatives, and hosted by Meg Dillon, Assistant Vice President for Student Support, and Aaliayah Osborne, a graduate assistant in advising.

The day began with cocktails, elegant conversations, singing of sweet music, and included a very popular 360-degree photo booth which found guests lining up with friends to take pictures.

The University of Lynchburg’s Dining Services offered a myriad of delicious food coupled with an open bar for soaring spirits.

Before the awards ceremony commenced, a powerful spoken-word piece delivered by poet Petrina Bryant opened the night and urged everyone to live boldly. After Bryant’s moving words, the audience erupted in laughter thanks to comedian PT Bratton, who shared stories of his upbringing and paid homage to his mother.

The awards ceremony honored deserving individuals and groups on campus who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and a passion to serve the Lynchburg community.

This year’s award recipients included:

Karen Zongrone – Patience and Fortitude Award

Kaizer Gutierrez-Wood – Always Becoming Award

Neurodiverse Student Alliance – Inclusive Excellence Award

Kaylin Harper – Community Engagement Award

Dr. Nikoleta Dells – Exemplary Mentor Award

Jenny Moran Serrano – Voice of Peace and Inclusion Award

Tristen Fellers – Distinguished Leadership Award

Olivia Upton – Mosaic Gala Award

Gender and Sexuality Alliance – Organization of the Year Award

Dr. Robert L. Canida II – Helen Mundy Witt Award

After the awards ceremony concluded, Petrina Bryant performed a second spoken word performance, which was an electrifying anthem of resilience and identity. The performance had several rousing appeals, from Beyonce’s “Say My Name” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Samuel L. Jackson’s “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” line from this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Bryant called for listeners to fight against oppression and to stay true to themselves; the performance was met with a standing ovation and cheers from the audience.

The gala proved to be an inspiring and colorful celebration of identity, leadership, and diversity built by the community at the University of Lynchburg.