UCLA Black Alumni Association Hosts 2026 Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship Gala
The Californer/10341384

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- The UCLA Black Alumni Association (UBAA) hosted the 2026 Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship Gala on March 7, 2026, bringing together alumni, community leaders, scholarship recipients, and distinguished guests for an evening of celebration, reflection, and purpose.

The gala honored the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Winston C. Doby, a nationally respected higher education leader who dedicated more than four decades to expanding student access, advancing diversity, and strengthening support services at UCLA and throughout the University of California system. The event served as both a tribute to his enduring impact and a reaffirmation of UBAA's commitment to supporting future generations of students.

Guests from sports, entertainment, medicine, law, technology, higher education, and public service joined alumni, family members, and supporters for an unforgettable evening centered on scholarship, service, and community. A special highlight of the night was a surprise appearance by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who recognized the honorees and scholarship recipients and added to the celebration's significance.

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Hosted by UCLA alumnus, comedian, writer, director, and producer Chris Spencer, the evening blended humor, inspiration, and elegance. Following an invocation by Coach Wedney Gladney, guests enjoyed a full-course dinner accompanied by music from the Jacques Lesure Trio.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivered the keynote address, offering remarks focused on community, legacy, and sustaining support for scholarship recipients and their families. Her message underscored the evening's central theme: that investing in students requires not only financial support, but also mentorship, encouragement, and collective action.

The 2026 honorees represented excellence across media, athletics, law, higher education, health care, and public service, including Natasha Tash Gray, Jordan Chiles, Mandla Kayise, Cheryl M. Lott, Esq., Dr. Yolanda Gorman, Dr. La Tanya Hines, and The Elegant Bruinettes, UCLA Sports Dance Team.

The evening also offered a moving moment of reflection on the leaders, educators, and advocates whose work continues to shape opportunity for Black students. In a tribute to her uncle, Camille Willard Bent said, "When Proposition 209 reshaped higher education in California, my uncle was at the forefront of navigating what came next. He understood immediately what was at stake for Black students. He knew access would narrow and representation would decline. Instead of retreating, he leaned in."

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More than a fundraiser, the Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship Gala was a vibrant expression of shared history, community power, and hope for the future across Los Angeles. It honored trailblazers whose work continues to open doors while celebrating the scholars who will carry that legacy forward.

About the UCLA Black Alumni Association

The UCLA Black Alumni Association empowers UCLA African American alumni, students, faculty, and the broader community through advocacy, mobilization, and service that create greater educational opportunities and resources for the African American community.

For more information, visit www.uclablackalumni.org/about.