Newsroom

HABJ Holds 23rd Anniversary Dinner

Houston—April 4, 2009 – On Friday, April 3, 2009, the Houston Association of Black Journalists held their 23rd Anniversary Awards Dinner, honoring three of the nation’s top journalists, while raising funds to award scholarships to college students majoring in the field of communications.

National bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley was the recipient of the HABJ Spirit Award. Emmy award winning journalist Melanie Lawson received the HABJ Lifetime Achievement Award.

CBS News Correspondent Byron Pitts enjoyed double duties during the night, receiving the HABJ Pinnacle Award and was the dinner’s guest speaker.

Pitts, 60 Minutes’ only African American contributor captured the audience with his powerful recollection of the simple advice his mother gave him.

“Whenever I would tell her how rough things have been, she would always stop me and ask, ‘Did you pray yet’,” Pitts said.

He struggled to understand the advice his mother gave him at first, but he said once he began to pray that’s when he began noticing “the power of faith”.

“Be motivated no matter where you are in your life,” Pitts said. “It’s there where you see God.”

Pitts’ speech motivated Dontae McCray, a Prairie View A&M University communications student to continue to make the best of every opportunity he is given.

“His life story about how he said he couldn’t read until he was 12 and stuttered until he was 20 but still got to where he is right now has encouraged me to persevere and do well in my career,” McCray said.

McCray also loves the fact that HABJ is helping students and wanting them to do well in their careers.

“I came as a student volunteer and they were very thankful,” McCray said about the HABJ staff during the dinner. “I really appreciate HABJ for all the work they are doing for the future of journalism.”

Throughout the night, HABJ gave students the opportunity to work as press for the event as well as the opportunity to network with some of the best in the media industry.

“With this event I was able to participate in a more meaningful way,” said HABJ Education/Scholarship chair, Dr. Vera Hawkins. “And the results of that, is having students work up-close with people they admire.”

Hawkins role on the HABJ Executive Board is to form the committee that will decide who will receive the scholarships in 2009.

HABJ has awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to dozens of Houston area college students majoring in the field of communications.

“At the end of the day that’s what it’s really all about,” Hawkins said about HABJ and helping students.

>> Click here to see photos from the event