Around 200 people filled the rows of the Ruth N. Halls Theatre in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center on Friday. Among the faculty, family and community members were about 70 students.
They were all there for one reason: a pin.
A small, circular gold and silver pin that represents not only belonging and identity, but also a responsibility and a shared commitment to building something bigger than oneself. For hundreds of NMBCC alumni, the pin marked the beginning of their journey at IU. Now, it marks the start for a new generation of IU students.
Each year, the NMBCC welcomes first-year and transfer students at the pinning ceremony. They walk across a stage and receive their pin from their mentor, someone who will guide and support them over the next four years. Gloria Howell, director of the NMBCC, said the tradition began in 2011 and is like a bookend.
“We do a Black congratulatory ceremony for graduates in the spring,” Howell said. “The first-year pinning is like the first bookend and then the congratulatory ceremony is the last bookend. It kind of brings their experience back to a full circle.”
Howell opened the ceremony, followed by Brian Richardson Jr., IU’s associate vice chancellor for administration and community. In his speech, Richardson reflected on the symbolism of the pin, calling it both a recognition of achievements and a call to action.
“You’re carrying with you now a legacy of excellence,” Richardson said. “It’s a reminder to give back and support one another. To lead with empathy and compassion, but also to seize the opportunity.”
After Richardson, the IU African American Choral Ensemble – currently celebrating its 50th anniversary – took the stage. They performed “I Open My Mouth to the Lord” by Clara Ward and The Ward Singers and “Shine the Light” by Raymond Wise. The songs reflected the new journey awaiting the first-year students in the audience.
The theme of new beginnings and legacy weaved its way through each person that spoke. Alonzo O’Shae Ross, assistant dean of students and director of the first-year and family experience programs, reminded students they are not alone during their time at IU.
“Some of us will be teaching you in your classes, but we’re also here to support and mentor you,” Ross said. “We are indeed your village. You have a community that has assembled that believes in you, sees you and is ready to lift you up.”
Ross acknowledged there would be both good and challenging days at IU. He encouraged students to treat both days the same and to view them as learning opportunities.
At the end of his time on stage, Ross left the audience with one bit of wisdom.
“Lead with pen,” Ross said. “With a pencil, you can write something down and simply erase. Make your time here count.”
The first 17 students to receive their pins were members of the Neal-Marshall Leadership Academy, a group that will have access to programming and events where they will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools to be effective leaders over the next few years. But the moment was not just a celebration — it was also a tribute.
Each year, the leadership academy chooses an “IU Black great,” after which the academy is named. This year, it was called the Dasani Cleveland Class of the Neal-Marshall Leadership Academy, after the creator of the NMBCC mantra. With Cleveland’s friends and family in attendance, Howell spoke fondly of her memories with the IU alumna who died in April at 23.
“She was always on fire, you could tell that by her red hair which I loved,” Howell said. “She was creative, witty, thoughtful and all of us marveled at how serious she was about her academics.”
Cleveland’s grandmother sat in the second row, displaying her mantra on a red NMBCC t-shirt.
“Ain’t no family like a Neal-Marshall family,” it read.
Music played as the rest of the students got pinned and shared a moment with their mentor. Mentors are staff, faculty, alumni and other community members who volunteered to be involved.
Freshman Ajani Lewis said his mentor already asked him to lunch. He looks forward to building a relationship with his mentor and others at the NMBCC.
“I think coming here, especially as a minority, finding a place where you really belong and feel safe and seen and heard is the most important to me,” Lewis said. “This pinning is like a symbolization of that, where you’re able to find people that really support you.”
Freshman Amiyah Patterson also emphasized the importance of community. She said the NMBCC was the first organization that stood out to her. Patterson said she felt as though it was the first organization to offer her a helping hand as she began to navigate her time at IU.
In the future, Patterson hopes to take advantage of the network she is making with people of all different backgrounds at the NMBCC.
“It’s really important to know where home is when you’re really not at home, which is kind of what Neal-Marshall is,” Patterson said.
