One hundred seventy-five years after Myrtilla Miner opened a small school in Washington, D.C., determined to expand educational opportunities for those denied it, supporters of the University of the District of Columbia gathered to carry that mission forward, this time at a sold-out gala celebrating the university’s past while investing in its future.
The evening officially launched UDC175, a yearlong anniversary celebration honoring the institution’s evolution from Miner Normal School to the District’s only public university. Alumni, students and civic leaders gathered in a grand ballroom, joined by partners and longtime supporters, not simply to commemorate history but to support the university’s next chapter.
By night’s end, the gala surpassed its $1 million fundraising goal, generating more than $1.4 million in philanthropic support for scholarships, workforce programs and student success initiatives. University leaders described the historic milestone as the beginning of what will become an annual scholarship gala beginning next year.
Emceed by journalist Lesli Foster, the program traced UDC’s origins to 1851 and the founding of Miner Normal School.
While the evening honored that history, the focus remained firmly on students and the university’s role as the District’s workforce engine and talent pipeline. Guests were encouraged throughout the program to participate directly in that mission, using QR codes placed at tables to support scholarships, academic programs and workforce innovation in real time.
Board of Trustees Chair Warner Session described UDC as central to the District’s educational equity and economic vitality, while Foundation President Doug Firstenberg emphasized philanthropy’s role in helping students enroll, persist and graduate.
A defining moment came during a giving segment led by Vice President for Advancement Richard Lucas and First Lady Tonya Edington, who served as co-hosts of the evening.
Lucas called UDC a uniquely positioned institution — a land-grant university, historically Black university, community college and research hub serving students at every stage of their educational journey.
Tonya Edington brought the focus back to the students themselves, noting that many are first-generation scholars, adult learners and career changers working toward new opportunities.
When UDC thrives, she said, the District thrives alongside it.
Together, they encouraged guests to give, noting that every contribution supports scholarships and workforce pathways that help students persist to graduation and enter meaningful careers.
When President Maurice D. Edington took the stage, he connected the university’s history of access with its current period of measurable transformation.
“As a former first-generation college student, I can think of no greater calling than to lead a university whose mission is centered on access and opportunity,” Edington said. “That role is not abstract. It changes lives.”
Edington called UDC the District’s talent pipeline and outlined progress under the university’s strategic plan, Delivering on the Promise, including enrollment growth, expanded student support services, reaffirmed accreditation and new investments supporting research and workforce innovation.
“Our commitment is access with excellence,” he said. “And excellence requires investment.”
During the program, Edington also presented an award to Mayor Muriel Bowser in recognition of her leadership and continued support of the university and its students.
Partnerships between the university and industry came up repeatedly throughout the evening. Pepco, the gala’s title sponsor, highlighted a longstanding collaboration with UDC through internships, workforce initiatives and STEM programming. Plans for a new Pepco Power Laboratory at the Van Ness campus, where students will gain hands-on experience with renewable energy technologies, were highlighted as an example of how partnerships translate into real-world learning opportunities and career readiness.
The program also recognized alumni and partners whose contributions have strengthened UDC’s mission through awards honoring leadership, philanthropy and community impact.
Some of the evening’s most memorable moments came from student speakers whose stories reflected the impact donors were being asked to support.
Asha Moore-Smith, a graduate of UDC’s digital media program, described how mentorship and scholarship opportunities helped shape her academic and creative journey. Civil engineering senior Toluwalase Adetosoye said a full-ride scholarship transformed a future that once felt uncertain into one defined by research and professional opportunity.
Both credited UDC with helping them turn potential into power, a phrase echoed throughout the anniversary celebration.
Late in the program, Vice President of Advancement Rodney Trapp returned to the stage to announce a series of major commitments, including significant investments from CareFirst and Consys, Inc., that pushed total giving beyond expectations.
“For this inaugural gala, we aimed for $1 million because our students deserve bold ambition,” Trapp said. “Tonight, we have exceeded $1.4 million.”
The announcement drew applause and marked what university leaders described as a turning point in philanthropic engagement.
“That is belief,” Trapp said. “That is partnership. That is momentum.”
Academic leaders said the evening underscored how philanthropy directly supports student success and degree completion.
“The 175th gala was an amazing evening of intentional focus on the outcomes of our students and the ways the university is striving to close financial gaps that threaten their paths to degree,” said Chief Academic Officer April Massey.
“Across the evening, there was a palpable excitement around building the financial resources that are a critical component of the success platform necessary for moving our students to graduation and high impact careers.”
Beyond scholarships, university leaders said the evening reflected a broader investment in how students learn and succeed at UDC.
“The gala reminded us that investing in student success is one of the most powerful commitments we can make as a university, CAL Director Fatma Elshobokshy said.
“When we invest in our students, we strengthen teaching and learning across UDC. We support the systems and professional growth that empower faculty to design meaningful, high-quality learning experiences across all modalities. It signals that together we are building the infrastructure that empowers students to think critically, address real-world challenges, and graduate ready for the workforce. While this investment is crucial to student success, it is our collective efforts that allow us to scale innovation and keep academic excellence at the heart of the UDC experience.”
As the evening concluded, Lucas and Tonya Edington returned to thank sponsors, volunteers and student ambassadors before inviting guests to continue celebrating during a post-gala reception.
As additional anniversary events unfold across the city, engaging alumni, students and community partners, plans are also underway for next year’s scholarship gala, building on the momentum of an evening that honored the university’s past while investing in its future.
One hundred seventy-five years after Myrtilla Miner opened her classroom doors, the mission still feels familiar: expanding access to education while preparing students to lead, innovate and serve across the District.