A cherished Millikin tradition continues.

Millikin’s Black Student Union is hosting Millikin’s 56th Annual Ebony Ball this Saturday, April 19th, from 7-10 p.m. in the UC Banquet Rooms.

Black Student Union, or also known as BSU, has been the oldest minority organization at Millikin, having been founded in 1969. The Ebony Ball has been a yearly tradition to help celebrate Black excellence and bring Black Millikin students together.

“Ebony Ball is more than a night of elegance,” BSU President Ameena Harris said. “It’s a celebration of Black excellence, unity, and culture. Come shine, connect, and honor the legacy we carry.”

BSU has extended the due date for RSVPing to Thursday by 11:59 p.m.. The sign up can be found on BSU’s Instagram, @millikinbsu or their Facebook, Millikin Black Student Union. Attendees can bring up to two guests that they clarify on the RVSP forum.

The Ebony Ball will be free to attend with a motivational speaker, food, music, and 360-degree photo booth and backdrop for students to take pictures with their phones to commemorate the event. 

“The speaker usually goes through a rundown of their timeline of where they started, where they grew up and telling us about different setbacks that they may have had along the way,” A’Majeine Carson, Senior general member of BSU, said. “It is very motivational and encouraging to the black students that are there.”

This year’s Ebony Ball theme is Under the Stars, giving an ambience of elegance, starry nights, glitter, and whimsical glamour. BSU said when looking at theme options, they felt the theme “Under the Stars” would be a great way for students to show off their elegance.

If you have any questions about BSU or this year’s Ebony Ball, you can reach out to BSU on their Instagram, @millikinbsu, their Facebook, Millikin Black Student Union, or the club’s president’s Ameena Harris, at her email, [email protected].