Photos: Second James A. Welton Legacy Gala Highlights ‘The Legacy and Achievement of Black Students’

February 27, 2026 Elly Cantoni News, Photos 0

A young man dressed in a suit with a yellow ribbon and purple and yellow flowers as a boutonniere stands at a microphone, speaking. The microphone stand is inscribed with “Albion College” and a crest.
Detroit junior Terrell Wright speaks at the gala before inviting guests to serve themselves dinner. There were a total of 16 speakers at the event (Photo by Elly Cantoni).

Themed in green and gold, the second annual James A. Welton Legacy Gala took place in the science atrium on Saturday. 

The event was organized by the Black Student Alliance (BSA), and featured speakers, dinner and awards ceremonies.

Chicago junior Tatiyana Oliver said the gala originates from “honoring the first Black male graduate from Albion College, along with honoring the ones that came before us.”

According to past reporting by the Pleiad, James A. Welton, alumnus 1904, was a young scholar who made many contributions to the college, including being Albion College’s first Black graduate. Along with serving as the class treasurer by his junior year, Welton was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and the debate team.

Executive Director of Special Programs Ari McCaskill acted as faculty advisor to the students planning the event. 

“The college wanted to hold an event that coincided with Black History Month to highlight the legacy and achievement of Black students who had attended Albion College,” McCaskill said.

According to planning chair and Hudsonville sophomore Ashanti McKnight, the event is intended to honor Welton’s legacy and the Black student body on campus. McKnight added that attendees were also invited to consider all that they have accomplished and hope to accomplish in the future.

“It’s a way to bring everybody together,” McKnight said.

BSA event coordinator and Detroit junior Ja’Nice Williams said it was her goal to “make everybody comfortable.” 

According to Williams, despite budget issues and delays in the arrival of supplies, they “improvised” with the help of BSA volunteers and the Office of Student Engagement & Activities.

According to Williams, the dilemma facilitated “unity” among everyone who helped set up the gala and “helped everyone get to know each other better.”

Ashanti McKnight was a member of the Pleiad during the spring 2025 semester.

Two young women smile at the camera, with one in a light blue suit holding a white rose and an award. To her right is a woman in a black dress. The lighting is dim as they stand in front of a window.
Mount Holly, N.J., first-year Paris Ford receives the “Rising First-Year” award. Detroit senior Bria Jackson stands beside her (Photo by Elly Cantoni).
A round table is decorated with a dark green tablecloth with various gold details, such as pitchers and plates. On top of the table is a card labeled “Table 3.” Behind the card are 3 glass bottles, each containing water with ice, iced tea, or lemonade. Around the bottles are white rose petals and event pamphlets.
Table settings at the gala included decorations of dark green and gold. The drinks provided included ice water, iced tea and lemonade (Photo by Elly Cantoni).
Two women in black dresses stand at a pedestal with a microphone. The woman on the right is speaking into the microphone. Beside them is a man in a red suit holding white roses.
Jackson and Detroit senior Hailey Manson-Wilson present awards to various nominees. Beside them is Albion senior Jay’Shon Russ, holding roses to give to the winners (Photo by Elly Cantoni).
A group of five people sits around a table dressed for a formal event. A backdrop of colorful balloons and a reflective wall is shown behind them.
Attendees of the gala pose for a photo while sitting at a decorated table. Ford, the winner of the “Rising First Year” award, sits on the far right (Photo illustration by Elly Cantoni).
About Elly Cantoni 7 Articles
Elly Cantoni is a first-year writer at Albion College. She is currently studying as a psychology major, an english minor, and is on a pre-law track. She loves to discuss current events and many other unique topics including: dinosaurs, Chipotle, and her love of the Oxford comma and why the AP style should start utilizing it.

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