Alabama A&M University News January 2012 A&M Announces Speaker, Chairs for Annual Black Tie Gala Huntsville, Ala. ---- Alabama A&M University will honor community leaders and businesses who have made significant contributions to the university and to student life at the 12th annual Black Tie Scholarship Gala. The event takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Von Braun Center-South Hall Ballrooms. Gala awards will be presented in recognition of achievements in the following categories: Company of the Year (small business); Company of the Year (large business); Advocate of the Year; Diversity Award; and the Koinonia Award, which recognizes an individual and/or religious organization that has created a mutually beneficial partnership with Alabama A&M and/or its students. "The Gala is one way we express appreciation to those beyond the campus who play a vital role in student academic, social and professional development," says Wendy Kobler, AAMU vice president for marketing, communications and advancement. "We're excited about the resounding support we continue to receive from our alumni, sponsors and other supporters." The 2012 Gala co-chairs are Miranda Bouldin, president/CEO of LogiCore of Huntsville, Ala., and John O. Hudson III, vice president for public relations, Alabama Power, Birmingham, Ala. The honorary co-chairs are alumni Dr. Bernice Richardson, former chair of AAMU's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Robert Holmes, former corporate administrator and AAMU trustee. Major General James E. Rogers, commander, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Command (AMCOM), Redstone Arsenal, Ala., will be the keynote speaker. Prior to his post at AMCOM, he commanded the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), Ft. Bragg, N.C. In that capacity he led over 10,000 soldiers, providing logistical support across the U.S. Central Command area of operations. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he earned a B.S. degree and was commissioned as a 2LT in the Ordnance Corps, Major General Rogers also holds a master's degree in industrial and operational engineering from the University of Michigan. Individual tickets for the Black-Tie Scholarship Gala are $100 each. Gala sponsorship options also are available. For additional information, call (256) 372-8344; e-mail blacktie@aamu.edu; or visit http://www.aamu.edu/blacktie. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.