Halifax Community College’s fifth and final Cultural Learning and Universal Enrichment Series to recognize Black History Month will be its 15th annual Saluting Our Local African American Heroes Ceremony.

The program is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Griffin Centre on the HCC campus.

“HCC’s Presidential Lecture Series strives to provide the Roanoke Valley community with a new perspective — one that will change how we see the past, present, and shape how we direct the future,” the college said.

The college will also livestream the event via its YouTube channel and on its website.

 The event will celebrate individuals of African descent who, at a minimum, demonstrate commitment and unique contributions within the Roanoke Valley community.

“This year’s class of local African American Heroes is being recognized for the continual positive impact that it’s making in the Roanoke Valley with their actions,” said David Forester, acting president of HCC. “The importance of this event is evidenced due to the fact that the African American Heroes celebration, as part of Black History Month, is now being held for a fifteenth year. I congratulate each of the African American Heroes based on their unique skills sets and achievements in transforming our local community and shaping a better world.”

Award recipients were selected from a slate of nominations which were vetted by a diverse committee of HCC staff. 

The 2022 Local African American Heroes include:

Roosevelt J. Banks,Sr., deacon at Cool Spring Missionary Baptist Church 

Laquitta Green Cooper, Northampton County clerk to superior court 

Empress Faison, Roanoke Valley Early College English teacher

Rev. Dawn Daly-Mack, registered nurse at Rural Health Group 

Dr. Tyrana Battle, assistant superintendent of Halifax County Schools 

Kingi Garner, HCC Student Government Association president

The Saluting Our Local African American Heroes ceremony is sponsored by Dominion Energy.