UHV Observes Black History Month

UHV is partnering with the Black History Steering Committee and Victoria College to host a poster contest, parade and festival. All events are free to attend and open to the public. Each year, the steering committee uses the national theme for the poster contest and asks area fifth-grade students to submit their interpretation of the theme, says the Victoria Advocate. This year's theme is "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington." Winners of the poster contest will be announced during a reception at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the UHV University Center Multipurpose Room, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. Prizes for the winners include scholarships to UHV and summer camp waivers from Victoria College. The event will feature entertainment by the Victoria East High School Hip Hop Team.

On Feb. 9, the steering committee will host a parade and festival for the community. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Patti Welder Middle School, 1604 E. North St. and end at the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St. At the end of the parade is the festival at the community center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event includes vendors, food and live music. Money raised from the festival by the Black History Steering Committee will go toward scholarships for area students. For more information about the parade, contact DeAnn Vilchez at 361-237-4636. For more information about the festival, contact Sherilyn Shelton at 361-827-2784.

For more information about the UHV lectures or to share local African-American history stories, contact Tomek at tomekb@uhv.edu or 361-570-4363.