Legacy at Rice University is not just something to look back on — it is something actively built, carried and expanded. That idea that started with a few members of the Association of Rice Black Alumni (ARUBA) led by past ARUBA president Angela Berry Roberson came into focus during the inaugural ARUBA Weekend, a recent four-day gathering that brought together alumni, students, faculty and university leaders for reflection, reconnection and a shared vision for what comes next.
The event marked more than 60 years of Black student life at Rice, honoring the pioneers who broke barriers while reinforcing a central theme: Continuing the Legacy.
The weekend opened with a welcome reception at the Wiess President’s House hosted by President Reginald DesRoches and his wife Paula. Alumni reconnected with classmates, mingled with faculty and staff and met current students setting the tone for a celebration rooted in both history and momentum.
Building connection and purpose
On April 17, ARUBA Weekend unfolded across campus and the city, blending social connection with purposeful programming. The morning started with the inaugural ARUBA Golf Classic at Hermann Park Golf Course, a vision led by ARUBA president Chaundra Frank to create a sustainable fundraiser supporting alumni engagement and student initiatives.
The tournament brought together alumni, students, staff and community partners, emphasizing relationship-building as much as competition. Alongside it, Rice letterwinner alumni and members of Rice Owls of Color United hosted a golf clinic, pairing students with alumni mentors — an experience organizers hope will become an annual tradition.
That emphasis on engagement carried into Friday’s campus programming, where alumni reflected on serving the university after graduation. During a leadership session moderated by the Association of Rice Alumni Board liaison June Marshall and panelists Brandy Hays Morrison, Ted Adams, Daryl Shorter and Aurra Fellows, the panel shared pathways to involvement across university boards and councils, highlighting the importance of representation and giving back.
“Pay it forward” emerged as a recurring message through mentorship, advocacy and sustained connection to the university community.
That idea was reinforced during the president’s town hall, where DesRoches outlined Rice’s priorities, including enrollment growth, faculty recruitment, research expansion and continued investment in financial aid. He emphasized that alumni engagement — through mentorship, service and connection — will help shape the university’s future.
A defining moment: Honoring history
The emotional centerpiece of the weekend came during the legacy luncheon, which reflected on the long arc of Black history at Rice. While a pivotal point in that history began in 1964 with the admission of Raymond Johnson, the university’s first Black student, speakers emphasized that Black contributions to Rice extended before 1964.
University historian Portia Hopkins highlighted how Black labor and presence helped build and sustain the institution long before integration — a foundation now more fully recognized.
The luncheon also honored trailblazers who shaped the Rice experience across generations, including Laura Branch Hamilton and Velma McAfee-Williams, one of the university’s earliest Black graduate students and a pioneering mathematician. Despite facing systemic barriers that prevented her from completing her doctoral degree, McAfee-Williams built a distinguished career as an educator and mentor.
Her story, speakers noted, reflects a broader legacy defined by resilience, perseverance and impact.
The luncheon also included reflections from alumni across the decades who shared reflections on community at the university. Across generations, one theme remained constant: The Black community at Rice has long been a source of strength and affirmation.
Mentorship and momentum
That sense of continuity carried into career-focused programming, where alumni and students connected through a panel and industry roundtables. Conversations centered on career paths, navigating change and leveraging the Rice network.
Career panelists included Erin Reed, Demetrius Austin, Dr. Ola Elechi, Darik Dillard and Edesiri Mushale with Kimberly Manney Smith serving as moderator.
For students, the message was clear: Success is shaped not only by credentials but by relationships, confidence and community. Alumni encouraged them to build networks intentionally, recognize their value and balance ambition with personal growth.
The weekend also made space to continue reconnecting at the reunion networking mixer, which brought alumni together for an evening of music and conversation, strengthening connections across generations.
Celebrating contributions and carrying legacy forward
The highlight of the weekend was Saturday’s Blueprint for Excellence Awards Gala. Eight ARUBA leaders were recognized for their contributions, achievements and impact on their profession, the university, their community and legacy. Honorees included Greg Gatlin and Ted Adams; Tanya Justice; Monique Shankle and Berry Roberson; as well as ARUBA firsts — Angela Ravin-Anderson, founder of ARUBA, Johnson and McAfee-Williams. The celebration was filled with fun, laughter and reflection but with the charge of continuing the legacy with the establishment of the sustainable giving initiative — The 1964 Circle to support the legacy beyond the weekend. The 1964 Circle received approximately $40,000 in donations and pledges to support the ARUBA Legacy Endowment (established during the 50th celebration of Black student life at Rice) and the Center for African and African American Studies.
ARUBA Weekend concluded Sunday with fellowship at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, followed by an informal brunch that extended conversations sparked throughout the weekend.
As the gathering came to a close, the focus shifted from reflection to responsibility. Speakers challenged attendees, particularly younger alumni, to remain engaged through mentorship, advocacy and service.
More than anything, the inaugural ARUBA Weekend underscored that legacy is not static. It is built through action, relationships, perseverance and opportunities created for future generations.
At Rice, that legacy of Black excellence spans more than six decades and continues to grow. Organizers say ARUBA Weekend will become a recurring tradition, ensuring the community continues to reconnect, reflect and recommit to supporting the next generation of Owls — because at Rice, legacy is not simply inherited. It is created together. To learn more about ARUBA, visit alumni.rice.edu/aruba.