The University of the District of Columbia marked a historic milestone Thursday as students, alumni, faculty, staff and community partners gathered at the Theater of the Arts for the 2026 Founders Day Celebration, commemorating 175 years of access, opportunity and public service.
This year’s theme, “The Shoulders Upon Which We Stand,” invited the university community to reflect on the people and purpose that shaped UDC and continue to guide its work today as the District’s only public university.
Chief Academic Officer April Massey presided over the ceremony and opened the celebration by connecting the moment to the vision of abolitionist and suffragist Myrtilla Miner, whose efforts helped expand access to public higher education in Washington, D.C.
“The shoulders upon which we stand represent generations of faculty, students and leaders who carried this institution forward,” Massey said. “Our responsibility now is to continue that work for those who come next.”
The program began with the presentation of colors by the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Ceremonial Honor Guard Unit, followed by the National Anthem performed by the UDC Chorale and an invocation delivered by the Rev. Jeffery Fleming, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Board of Trustees Chair Warner H. Session welcomed the Firebird community and reflected on the university’s longstanding role in expanding opportunity across the city.
“For nearly two centuries, UDC has stood as the District’s only public university, a gateway to opportunity and a catalyst for mobility,” Session said.
President Maurice D. Edington reminded attendees that Founders Day is both a celebration and a moment to look ahead.
“Founders Day is not only about what we have achieved,” Edington said. “It is about what we choose to build next.”
Honoring Faculty Legacy and Student Perseverance
A highlight of the Founders Day Celebration was the recognition of emeritus faculty, the university’s highest faculty distinction. Anika Spratley-Burtin, interim dean of the School of Education and Learning Sciences, read the names of all 44 emeritus faculty members, honoring decades of teaching, scholarship and service that continue to shape the institution.
Several emeritus faculty members also received individual recognition during the ceremony, including A. Segun Adebayo, Beverly J. Anderson, Shirley Jackson, Thomas J. Kakovitch, Beverly Jacques Anderson, Samuel Lakeou, Deborah Lyons, Shiela Harmon Martin, Rachel Monteith Petty and Sandra Grady Yates. Honorees were recognized whether present or acknowledged in absentia.
The celebration also spotlighted student achievement and the many paths that bring learners back to UDC.
Education major Hajja Muhammad, a mother of six who returned to school after a 30-year absence, attended the ceremony believing she was there to assist with the program alongside her youngest child. Instead, she was surprised with a scholarship recognizing her academic success and commitment to becoming an educator.
“I truly thought I was just here to help,” Muhammad said. “Receiving this scholarship was completely unexpected. As a parent and a student, it means everything to know that the university sees the work we’re doing and believes in our future.”
Architecture senior Jacori Schoolfield was also recognized for academic achievement and leadership, including national design competition honors and his work supporting preservation efforts at the National Building Museum.
A Keynote Grounded in Lived Experience
Schoolfield introduced keynote speaker Fernando Lemos (’93), founder of Mi Casa Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on developing and preserving affordable housing for working families. He was joined on stage by his wife, Beatriz “B.B.” Otero. A political refugee from Paraguay, Lemos shared his journey to Washington, D.C., and the role UDC played in shaping his future.
“UDC had a generational impact on my life and my family,” Lemos said, recalling that his four-year-old daughter often attended class with him while he completed his degree as a part-time student. “Today, she is a graphic designer, a reminder of how education can change the trajectory of an entire family."
Lemos also spoke about arriving in the United States with limited English and credited UDC faculty for their patience and encouragement as he adjusted to a new country and academic environment.
Over the past four decades, Lemos has helped develop and preserve more than 2,000 affordable homes across Washington, D.C., expanding access to stable housing for families throughout the region.
Recognizing Service and Leadership
The Founders Day Celebration continued with the presentation of annual awards honoring members of the university community and partners whose work reflects UDC’s mission.
Student Humanitarian and Civic Engagement Awards were presented to Makayla Ollivierre, Khadijah Talib and Taylour Coleman. For their sustained support of UDC students and programs, Pathmaker Awards recognized Associate Chief Academic Officer Scott T. Krawczyk, alumna Sandra G. Yates and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
The Distinguished Alumni Legacy Award was presented to Maryland state Sen. Nicholas P. “Nick” Charles II. University awards honored Sandra Jowers-Barber, Raysa Leer-Gray, Jeannetta Bowman-Clayton and Ayanna Kelley-Stephens for excellence in education, service, leadership and lifetime achievement.
Edington also presented the Myrtilla Miner Award for Exceptional Service to Society, the university’s presidential medal, to Beverly L. Perry in recognition of her distinguished public service and civic leadership.
The Founders Day Celebration concluded with acknowledgements of the many university teams who supported the event, followed by the singing of the alma mater by the UDC Chorale and a closing benediction.
As the ceremony ended, attendees were invited to continue participating in anniversary events planned throughout the year, celebrating UDC’s history while looking ahead to the next chapter of its mission.
The celebration continues Feb. 20 with the UDC 175 Legacy Gala in Georgetown. While tickets for the event are sold out, community members can still support students by making a donation toward scholarships.