Local Organization Honors Dean Washington

Washington, pictured second from right at the awards banquet, was recognized for his contributions to education.

Nov. 15, 2017 - Samueli School Dean Gregory Washington was honored this month for outstanding contributions to education by the Orange County Chapter of 100 Black Men of America. The organization, devoted to empowering the African American community through education, mentoring, economic development, and health and wellness, recognized Washington at its 20^th annual awards gala for helping to develop a STEM academy for community youth.

Students at the academy learned about sensors and actuators, and worked on Raspberry Pi, building mobile bots in teams of two. Washington, who taught the academy’s first session, emphasized the African Americans and Latinos who helped develop these technologies. “It’s important to show these kids role models,” he said. “There are people of color in history who have done important things but sometimes we just don’t hear about them.”

Education is essential to the organization, whose mission is “to develop socially conscious, responsible and respectable African American males who recognize and can take advantage of life’s opportunities and confront life’s challenges with confident reassurance.”

Held at the Hyatt Regency Garden Grove on Nov. 4, the awards ceremony included a VIP reception and dinner.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” said Washington. “In this community, these students are truly underrepresented. Putting them in an environment where they have opportunities and roles models makes me feel good. I feel like I’m contributing to their long-term success.”

-Anna Lynn Spitzer