FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
Honorary Chair Terry Ellis
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Terry is the youngest of her parent’s five children. In
1988, Terry earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Prairie View A&M University, all the while
clinging to her dream of becoming a celebrated, worldwide recording artist. In 1989, Terry joined
the group
En Vogue, originally slated as a trio but the rules were broken when Terry revealed her
searing five octave range during an audition. And just like that…the magic began.
Terry celebrated worldwide success as the rise of En Vogue was hailed by Billboard Magazine as “The Supremes of the 90’s.” En Vogue was awarded an outstanding seven MTV Video Awards (more than any other female group in history); four Soul Train awards, two American Music Awards, One Billboard Award and a staggering seven Grammy Nominations!
In the fall of 1996, Terry released her first solo project, Southern Gal, which yielded smash hits “Wherever You Are” and “What Did I Do To You.” In 1997, Terry stretched herself beyond the borders of music and launched a very successful fragrance campaign for Southern Exposure, an, Eau De Parfum becoming the first contemporary celebrity to create, develop and distribute her own high-end fragrance.
Terry is also a mixed media artist, who works with a variety of mediums to create vintage art. She is notably recognized for her exquisite, hand-crafted, customized Gratitude Journals .
In addition to Terry’s contributions to the world of entertainment and artistry, she sits on the Board of Directors for The Sister Accord Foundation, which is dedicated to enlightening girls and women on the power of sisterhood and eradicating bullying and violence against girls and women.
Letter from Terry Ellis
Alumni, Colleagues, and Friends,
We are very excited to officially cement Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande as the ninth president of Prairie View A&M University. As part of her inauguration activities, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to invite you to join us in celebrating her leadership at the 2024 Presidential Scholarship Gala, hosted in her honor. This wonderful event will take place on the evening of March 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Westin Memorial City.
Prairie View A&M University, the oldest public Historically Black College and University and second oldest institution of higher education in the state of Texas, has a long-standing history of attracting and producing prolific leaders in every field of our burgeoning society. From our world-renowned agriculture program to our nationally top-ranked architecture and engineering programs, PVAMU continues on a trajectory to live out our mission of supporting and securing diverse talent and impacting global outcomes. Our pillars of success are underscored in the tenets of community and academic excellence, which is why it is no surprise that we are the fifteenth largest producer of undergraduates of African-Americans in the nation, and are the fifth “best value” institution in the State of Texas.
This momentous occasion cements the next phase of an expanded vision and continued leadership as we achieve new heights for our more than 9,000 deserving students and the imprints they will make on a world that awaits their skills and capabilities.
Together, we have the opportunity to lay the initial foundation to continue and expound upon this work by ensuring current and future PVAMU students have the financial support necessary to complete their education and launch their careers.
Please consider purchasing a table or securing an underwriting package in support of the Presidential Scholarship Gala to create unparalleled opportunities for today and tomorrow’s students, turned global leaders.
Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to celebrating the future of PVAMU with you on March 22. Please respond by February 16 to secure your table or underwriting package and recognition as a supporter of PVAMU.
To secure your table, please submit the Online Pledge Form or complete and mail the attached pledge form and remit with your sponsorship check by February 16, 2024. For mailed correspondence, please use the following address: The Prairie View A&M Foundation, P.O. Box 2879, Prairie View, Texas 77446. For interest in underwriting opportunities, please contact the PVAMU Office of Development at development@pvamu.edu
Ms. Terry Ellis ’88
Honorary Chair
Inauguration Scholarship Gala
Gala MC’s
Loni Love
Loni Love is a two-time EMMY, two-time NAACP Image & four-time Gracie Award-winning host, comedian,
actress, author, and philanthropist.
A talk show host known for her dynamic ability to provide in-depth meaningful conversation with a hint of levity, she has interviewed top A-List entertainers such as Vice President Kamala Harris, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Idris Elba, Melissa McCarthy, Jennifer Lopez, Tracee Ellis Ross and more. From 2015-2022, Loni was the cohost for the Nationally Syndicated Daytime Talk show, “The Real “on FOX. In addition, from 2020-2022, she was the cohost for E! Daily Pop and guest cohost for E! Nightly Pop.
In 2019, she became the first female host on the mainstage of the Essence Music Festival in the Superdome in New Orleans. For a lifelong road comic this was Loni’s largest audience of 50,000. In 2020, she also hosted the first-ever virtual Essence festival celebrating the magazine’s 50th anniversary.
A philanthropist, Loni is an ambassador for Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, NAACP, LA Mission, Dress for Success, Reach Higher, LA Regional Food Bank, Project Angel Food, Girl Scouts and the UNCF to name a few. She is a proud Detroiter and is a frequent speaker for organizations in her hometown. Loni was requested to give opening remarks for VP Harris in the organization Made To Save 2021 vaccine pop up event in Detroit. Loni also had a special moment as the 2020 commencement speaker for her high school alma mater, Cass Tech.
Loni believes in the power of education and is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Due to her work as alumni of PVAMU and constantly using her platform to promote HBCUs, Loni was awarded the rare honor of the Presidential Medal from PVAMU. She has been a longtime champion of women in STEM.
Eddie Robinson
PVAMU Alumnus
Eddie Robinson is a Mississippi native who began his media career while in the 10th grade in high
school. After graduating from Prairie View A&M University with a Mechanical Engineering degree,
he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he landed a project manager job for the 3M Corporation.
Inspired by a 3M colleague, he moved to New York City, receiving a Master’s degree in Media Ecology
from New York University. He spent much of his broadcast career in New York with outlets like CBS
News, WFAN, New York 1 and WNYC. Eddie then moved back to Houston to host the first-ever sports
talk radio show for the LGBTQ+ community on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. He later went on to focus
his efforts on anchoring for Houston Public Media, as the local news voice for NPR's Morning
Edition. He now serves as Host and Executive Producer for the award-winning radio broadcast and
podcast, I SEE U with Eddie Robinson. He's also a proud new dad of a baby son.
Special Performance
Avery*Sunshine takes no detours in creating melodious music for the masses. She makes the kind of music that undeniably satisfies the soul leaving her audience full and invigorated. Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, with her roots grounded in the church, the singer, pianist, and composer has created a signature sound that mixes soul, jazz, R&B, and gospel.
Avery’s sound is uplifting, vibrant, and exactly as her namesake suggests, full of sunshine. She brings people together through her riveting performances, candid and often humorous stage banter, and optimistic anthems about love and life.
Avery’s newest album, Four Songs & A Boot Leg, showcases her captivating and euphonious voice. The lead single “Lucky” has climbed the charts making it to the Billboard Top 30 Adult R&B National Airplay. Fans will be pleased to soak in the live portion of her album recorded in Atlanta in 2019, just before the pandemic. The quintessential artist that Avery is, she continued to work during the pandemic with the thought of mind that this project would raise spirits in a much-needed way.
Avery and her musical partner, guitarist, and husband Dana “Big Dane” Johnson empower and encourage audiences through their platforms. Besides the stage, the “Hey Sunshine Show” is another offering for fans who can join by visiting www.averysunshine.com. The collaborative brings exclusive content to fans wanting to delve further into the inspiration that is Avery*Sunshine.
In addition to Avery’s music, her creative spirit extends to her illustrious cosmetic line Lou*Mack Beauty. This endeavor is simply another way to connect and encourage, specifically women of color; to celebrate who they are and their lineage unapologetically.
Avery is currently rocking it out on stages all over the US as she has done at multiple international venues including Asia, Africa, Australia, and the UK. Avery’s aspiration is, “I am always striving to fill the space that I was created to fill. And I pray that the small space that I occupy in this world reminds everyone to SHINE no matter what”.
