Pink Panache
Scholarship Gala
Since 1960, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Epsilon Omega chapter has sponsored fundraisers to raise money for scholarships. In 2000, our chapter adopted the theme “Pink Panache.” Sister Judy Sigler suggested the name and chaired the event for many years. The Pink Panache would become our largest annual scholarship fundraising event. The theme has allowed our event to take on many forms over the years: dance, art auction, silent auction, game night, and a book reading/signing. The Pink Panache has allowed the Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter to give a substantial number of scholarships totaling over $200,000.
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Since 2013, citizens from Champaign, Danville, and Urbana communities have been recognized for outstanding service to their respective communities. In 2015, Sister Patricia McKinney Lewis suggested the name The Winding Ivy Awards for the community awards. Criteria for each Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. international program target was established and became the basis to select honorees.
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Epsilon Epsilon Omega is proud to co-sponsor the Pink Panache fundraiser with Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation, Inc., which is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
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The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter and Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation extend sincere gratitude to all the 2024 Pink Panache Scholarship Benefit Gala supporters. Our scholarship benefit gala was a huge success. Your financial support will provide college scholarships for our future female leaders.​​
Pink Panache 2025
Step into an evening of style, inspiration, and impact at our annual Scholarship Gala. Please help us celebrate the achievements of our outstanding community champions while enjoying fine dining, entertainment, and heartfelt moments.
Reserve your seat now and be part of an unforgettable night that blends glamour with giving.
2024 Community Impact Recipients
The Winding Ivy Community Foundation, in partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter, annually awards community members for their exemplary community service efforts with a Winding Ivy Community Impact Award. The 2024 Winding Ivy Community Impact recipients are listed below.
Dr. William Maurice Patterson
Award: Youth Leadership Development (Posthumous Award) ​
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Dr. William Maurice Patterson and The Hip Hop Xpress for Dr. Will Patterson, affectionately known as Dr. P, was a passionate educator dedicated to empowering diverse young minds and combating societal inequities, especially in Black communities. He believed in the transformative power of art, science, technology, and business in higher education, creating innovative courses that merged popular culture with social entrepreneurship. His work fostered student agency and bridged cultural and generational divides. His foundational ethos was that Hip Hop culture was intrinsically linked to nurturing the next generation of Black innovators and creators, a philosophy he lived daily as a father to three gifted young adults—his own geniuses—and a mentor to many. His legacy projects include the Ghetto Genius Universe and the Street College program at STEAMGenius.org, as well as the Hip Hop Xpress—a mobile classroom connecting communities through music and art.
Renowned for his dynamic teaching style, he challenged students to think critically about the intersection of culture, technology, and entrepreneurship. His influence extended far beyond academia, earning recognition from numerous organizations, including a major grant from the University of Illinois.
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As a husband, father, brother, and mentor, Dr. P nurtured the genius in everyone he encountered, embodying the values of love, respect, and community engagement. His legacy continues to inspire, and as he often said, “And it don’t stop!”
Tracy Dace and DREAAM Academy
Award: Target II: Empower Our Families ​
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Tracy D. Dace is the Founder and CEO of DREAAM, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering boys and young men, ages 3 to 24, by disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. Since its founding in 2015, DREAAM has created pathways to success in academics, life skills, and leadership for hundreds of Black boys in Champaign County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DREAAM expanded to serve girls and families, further strengthening its mission to uplift entire communities.
Affectionately known as "Mr. Tracy," Dace has grown DREAAM from serving 10 boys to over 450 children and young adults by 2023. He leads a team of 30 employees, manages numerous grants and collaborations, and works nationally to advance DREAAM’s impact. Prior to DREAAM, Dace held leadership roles in education and community outreach, and he remains an active voice in justice and family support. A proud native of Mississippi, Dace holds degrees from Alcorn State and the University of Mississippi. He serves on multiple boards and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.® In his free time, he enjoys travel, music, and outdoor activities, always driven by his commitment to the futures of young people.
Dr. Barbara Suggs Mason ​
Award: Uplift Our Local Community and Social Justice
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Dr. Barbara Suggs-Mason, a Champaign native, is a distinguished alumna of Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, where she pursued music education, voice performance, and education policy. With both master’s and doctoral degrees, she has built a stellar 35-year career in public education, serving as a Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent across Illinois. Her outstanding contributions earned her the Illinois State Board of Education’s Award of Merit. ​
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Dr. Suggs-Mason now co-leads the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail with her cousin Angela Rivers. This project reflects her passion for the arts, history, and education, highlighting the contributions of African Americans in the county since Reconstruction. Committed to educating youth about their rich heritage, she believes deeply in fostering historical pride and understanding among the next generation. Through her work, she continues to inspire young people to recognize the legacy and history they inherit.
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Today, she is delighted to continue this program with her cousin Angela Rivers, aiming to make history accessible and esteemed among the community’s youth, helping them recognize the “pride in the shoulders that they stand on.” Through her work, she continues to inspire the next generation to appreciate and honor their own legacies as much as the broader historical narratives captured by the heritage trail.
Angela M. Rivers
Award: Uplift Our Local Community and Social Justice
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Angela M. Rivers is an accomplished artist and educator with nearly four decades of experience in esteemed cultural institutions across the U.S. She holds a BFA in Painting from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a Certificate of Arts Administration, with further studies in art education and history. Angela has held roles at prestigious institutions such as the DuSable Museum, the Chicago History Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago. She also taught African and African American Art at Eastern.
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Angela’s deep ties to Champaign County fuel her commitment to historical research, co-chairing the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, which highlights the cultural contributions of African Americans since 1832. She also collaborated on the documentary A Home of Their Own, exploring housing discrimination at the University of Illinois. Angela remains a key advocate for cultural and historical education, reshaping community perspectives and celebrating diverse heritage.