Aryana Noroozi
When the Phi Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., held its Inaugural Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala at the University of La Verne this spring, it was a successful first event that packed the Mission Inn ballroom and raised funds for hardworking scholars.
Founded in the spring of 2024, the chapter made history as the first Black Greek-lettered organization chartered at the university, and its founding members wasted no time making their presence felt in the community.
At the center of the evening was Heath Williams II, a University of La Verne student majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Organizational Leadership, and one of the chapter’s founding members. As Master of Ceremony, Williams guided guests through a night of scholarship, recognition, and celebration honoring the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.
The gala also honored community leaders across the Inland Empire and greater Los Angeles area, raised over $50,000 in scholarships, and drew more than 300 attendees from organizations and institutions across Southern California.
In the weeks following the event, The Black Voice News sat down with Williams to reflect on the night, the mission behind it, and what it means to build something from the ground up in service of those who came before — and those still to come.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
BVN:
What was the spark behind creating the Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala, and why was this the right moment for the Phi Upsilon Chapter to launch it?
HW II:
Our “Go to High School, Go to College” initiative is a 100-plus year old program established in 1922. It has a concentrated focus not just on collegiate participation and building the pipeline to increase college enrollment, but on empowering and advocating for socioeconomic and upward mobility through education. As the first African American intercollegiate fraternity in American history, nothing is more important to us than collegiate participation – and using the collegiate setting to enhance, advance, and expose young people to greater opportunities.
Collegiate attendance is a huge topic right now, especially when you look at the rates of under-enrollment across America and the challenges around retention – particularly among young Black men. One out of four Black men enrolled in college don’t make it past their freshman year, and approximately 65% of Black students enrolled do not graduate overall. We wanted to use our platform as a community service-based nonprofit organization to honor scholars and raise funds for scholarships.
BVN:
What drew you to a Harlem Renaissance-inspired theme, and how did that aesthetic connect to Alpha Phi Alpha’s broader mission?
HW II:
When we look at the Harlem Renaissance, it was truly a movement and it was also a rebirth. You think of literature, scholarship, and education, and so much took place within and leading up to that era. We wanted to interconnect that with our gala because, realistically, there has been a renaissance of educators and community leaders that have existed for quite some time in the Inland Empire and the greater Los Angeles area. We wanted to use our platform to pay homage to them.
It was more than just dressing up. It was about paying due recognition to those who contributed to the renaissance we are currently living in. I think it would be in ill form to move forward without acknowledging those who came before us — they are the reason we are here. They are the foundation. We are standing on the shoulders of giants, and as emerging leaders, it’s imperative that we recognize those who have come before us and who are actively walking alongside us as guides and mentors.
BVN:
You recognized several legacy leaders and honorees. How did the chapter decide who to celebrate, and what does it mean for your brotherhood to honor that generation?
HW II:
This was a very sentimental piece for the chapter. At our inaugural gala, we were honoring people who have made a profound impact – not just in one community, but across multiple communities at once.
When you look at the leadership of Emmett Terrell, who served as Deputy Superintendent of Pomona Unified School District and currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of La Verne – there are generations of people he has mentored, myself being among the most recent. Paying due recognition to those who carried the torch before passing it to you is just a part of home. Then you have Dr. Judy White and her service across the greater Inland Empire, and Theresa Price, whose work with the National College Resources Foundation has literally expanded around the world – creating pathways and counteracting barriers around access to education. These individuals haven’t just made a profound impact, they’ve pioneered solutions. They’ve created answers. And that is what has made it possible for us to serve in the capacity we do today.
BVN:
As the first Black Greek-lettered organization chartered at the University of La Verne, how has that responsibility shaped how you approach events like this?
HW II:
We are not only the first African American Black Greek-letter intercollegiate fraternity at the University of La Verne — we are founding members of our chapter, and members of the oldest African American intercollegiate organization in American history. So there are a lot of firsts. Being student leaders at this time has shaped for us a greater sense of responsibility when it comes to serving our community – and that responsibility expands beyond our campus.
It doesn’t minimize our obligation to our school, but when you see problems like collegiate retention that affect far more than just one institution, you answer the call. Whether that’s raising funds for scholarships, as we did that night, or through our mentorship programming – we’re answering the call to those who are relying on us, not just as leaders, but as advocates and allies.
BVN:
With this being the inaugural gala, what do you hope this event grows into, and what legacy do you want the Phi Upsilon Chapter to leave on campus and in the broader community?
HW II:
Our greater ambition is that we continue to be stewards of change and advocates on behalf of the community – and that the community itself continues to grow, not just externally but internally. We hope to continue building bridges within our community, bridges that lead to access and opportunity beyond it.
What we saw that night is that we have the capacity to advocate for change and growth. Our chapter motto is “Let us live so that we may be beacons of light,” and we hope that the work we’re doing continues to shine like a lighthouse – inspiring people not just to work alongside us, but to work at large. We had organizations from across the spectrum in that room — Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Links Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, the National Council of Negro Women, the California Association of Black School Educators, 100 Black Men of the IE, CASA, Pomona Unified, Banning Unified – the list goes on.
You can never take sole credit for a night like that. It truly takes community, and that’s what we hope the legacy reflects: lead with excellence, and continue to transcend –not for ourselves, but for our community.
BVN:
Events like this brought together multiple generations — students, educators, and community leaders all in one room. Why do you believe scholarship and service need to be a shared community conversation, not just an organizational one?
HW II:
It is the responsibility of the community to guarantee that the forthcoming generation has every possible resource and advantage necessary to succeed in the world ahead. We can never compromise the worth of education and where it can take you – and every individual deserves that opportunity, regardless of their current economic circumstances.
What we saw that night was a community unified and willing to make that contribution in the name of a good cause. We have to continue doing that – working alongside our collaborative community partners, but also alongside the next generation of students right now. Children in kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school – how are we serving them beyond their standard participation? Are we exposing them to mentorship and programming that enhances their educational experience? It is a communal obligation to invest in the next generation of community leaders. And we had over 300 people in that room – we hope the message of scholarship resonated with every one of them.
BVN: Now that the dust has settled, what’s a moment or reaction from the night that stuck with you — and what did this event teach your chapter about your impact on the community?
HW II:
It just reinforces that we are stronger together. Every individual we honored that night has acted as a mentor, a guide, a friend – and has served in leadership across multiple sectors of their lives. That is what packed the room. These individuals have meant so much to the communities they served, and the community showed up to see them acknowledged. That’s the message. How do we continue this tradition of honoring – so that we’re lifting as we climb and pulling others along as we go forward?
And sitting in reflection now – the one word I keep coming back to is gratitude. When you’re planning an event of this magnitude, your only hope is that it’s well received. To see the impact it made has given us a fresh gust of wind. Knowing that we successfully raised over $50,000 for scholarships has been a true blessing. We had California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony K. Thurman in the room, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez, and we received a certificate of recognition from the City of Riverside. The night was truly filled with victories. So as the dust settles — I’m just sitting in gratitude.
And I’ll add: save the date. The next Golden Renaissance Scholarship Gala is April 24, 2027.