The 25th Annual Unified Government Black History Scholarship Banquet was held Feb. 18 at the Jack Reardon Convention Center.

Among the highlights of the program was a presentation of scholarships to local universities. In addition, a special award was presented to local business Wilson’s Pizza for making a positive impact on the community.

The Mistress of Ceremony for the banquet was Shay Moore of Hot 103 Jamz and entertainment was provided by Mo’ Betta Band.

The annual event is sponsored by the Unified Government as part of their ongoing efforts to celebrate the county’s diverse cultural heritage through community events.

This year, thanks to the support of the Kansas City Public Library and Kansas City Kansas Community College, and in recognition of the program’s 25th anniversary, the keynote speaker was educator, lecturer, and diversity trainer Jane Elliott, who is well-known for her Blue eyes, Brown Eyes experiment.

Elliott also delivered a free lecture on Fri., Feb. 17 at KCK Memorial Hall