During the sixth annual Pioneer Breakfast on Feb. 23, the Cal State San Bernardino Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association honored local community members for their service and announced student scholarship recipients. This year’s event, which coincided with the celebration of Black History Month, introduced new branding, more scholarships and a change in the concept of the annual essay competition that CSUSB students compete in, said Anthony Roberson, the BFSSA Pioneer chair.

The theme, “Our Legacy Defines Our Future,” connected with the university’s vision of “We Define the Future.”  This year’s scholarship recipients were:

• Breeona Bright, Dr. Jean Peacock and Walter Hawkins Memorial Scholarship.
  
• Darnell Collins, Belva Holder Memorial Scholarship;
  
• Christopher Akwaja, Dr. Milton Clark Tenacity Scholarship;
  
• Malinda Hendrix, John Overton Memorial Scholarship;
  
• Chloe Patterson, Dr. Mildred Henry Scholarship;
  
• Austin Warren, Terrylin Monette Memorial Scholarship; and

The 2018 Pioneer honorees were:

• Denise Benton, Staff Award recipient;
  
• Edward Harrison, Administration Award recipient;
  
• Charlotte Black, Faculty Award recipient;
  
• Dia Poole, Alumni Award recipient; and
  
• Olivia Rosas, Lorraine Frost Ally Award recipient.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our current students to meet past CSUSB pioneers, alumni and community leaders,” Roberson said of the event, which also supports the annual African American Graduation recognition ceremony. “This is ultimately a history lesson of pioneers that made a huge impact at Cal State San Bernardino.”