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THE BEE AWARDS

The Black Educator Excellence (BEE) Awards were conceptualized in 2022 by the Black Student Success Week Planning Committee to honor those who continuously uplift the Black community through leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.

We are excited to finally bring this idea to fruition in partnership with the African American California Community College Trustees and Administrators (AACCCTA), also known as “the Black Caucus”, as an expansion of their annual Leadership Awards Reception, further solidifying our collective commitment to recognizing excellence and amplifying Black voices in higher education.

EVENT INFORMATION

The AACCCTA’s Leadership Awards Reception will be held during the Community College League of California (CCLC) Legislative Conference on Monday, January 26, 2026, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Grand Hotel (1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA). Award recipients will be honored in an expanded ceremony hosted by the AACCCTA. Invitations to attend will be extended to the final nominees at the end of November 2025.

EVENT ARCHIVE

2025 Event Program

2025 Event Flyer

2025 Event Photos

Black Caucus 2025 Leadership Awards Reception, BEE Awards nominees and awardees

THE BEE AWARD CATEGORIES

These awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of Black educators and professionals within the California Community College system. Nominations for the 2026 BEE Awards are now open. Information for submitting a nomination can be found under Nomination and Selection Process.

2025 BEE Award Awardees

2025 BEE Award Honorees

 

This prestigious award recognizes a program or initiative that has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing and celebrating Black excellence. By fostering empowerment, equity, and inclusivity, this exceptional endeavor stands as a beacon of inspiration and a catalyst for positive change within the Black community and beyond. The recipient of this award will have exhibited an extraordinary dedication to uplifting Black voices, fostering educational and professional opportunities, and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential, thus contributing significantly to the collective pursuit of excellence within the Black community. Their impact will be evident through measurable outcomes, lasting change, and the embodiment of the values of equity and inclusivity.

The Black Educator Excellence Classified Professional of the Year Award celebrates classified professionals who exemplify outstanding service and dedication to enhancing the experience of Black students, faculty, and staff. This award honors a classified professional who utilizes their role to advocate for and lift up the Black community on campus. The recipient will have demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion, while also serving as an inspirational mentor and leader to empower and inspire Black students to excel. Their contributions to improving campus climate, advancing anti-racist initiatives, and building a nurturing, culturally-affirming environment for the Black campus community deserves distinguished recognition.

Whether through programming, advocacy or direct student support, these individuals uphold Black excellence as a vital part of strengthening the entire campus community. The award recognizes their transformational presence and tireless effort to actualize justice and affirm the brilliance of Black students and colleagues.

Instructional: The Black Educator Excellence Full-Time Faculty of the Year Award (Instructional) recognizes exceptional instructional faculty who have made outstanding contributions in teaching, mentoring, and service that promote equity, social justice, and Black empowerment. This award celebrates faculty members who center Black joy, knowledge, creativity, community and cultures in their work. Candidates should demonstrate excellence in pedagogy and curricular development that affirms Black students' identities and fosters their intellectual growth. The recipient will be an inspirational leader who motivates students and colleagues to reach their highest potential while advancing anti-racist, decolonized approaches to education.

Counseling: The Black Educator Excellence Full-Time Faculty of the Year Award (Counseling) honors counseling faculty who demonstrate outstanding practices supporting the wellness, personal growth, and emotional resilience of Black students and communities. This award recognizes faculty who center healing, empowerment, and anti oppressive approaches in their counseling, mentoring, advising, programming, and advocacy work. The recipient will exemplify commitment to advancing social justice, dismantling systemic racism, and creating nurturing spaces for Black students to thrive. Their inspirational presence, wisdom, and pioneering work around racial trauma, healing, and emotional emancipation exemplifies the epitome of Black excellence in counseling and student support services. This award pays tribute to the transformational contributions of counseling faculty who lead the way in promoting justice, resilience, and empowerment for Black students.

The Black Excellence Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding adjunct faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional teaching ability, leadership, and commitment to black student success. This annual award honors an adjunct faculty member who inspires students in and out of the classroom through innovative teaching practices, mentoring, and promoting diversity and inclusion.

The recipient will be an adjunct faculty member who identifies as Black/African American and has shown dedication to educating and uplifting the black student experience. Nominees must have taught at a California community college for a minimum of two years and excel in areas such as:

   • Developing engaging course materials and class activities
   • Employing creative and effective teaching techniques
   • Making themselves available to students outside of class
   • Serving as a caring mentor and advisor
   • Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion
   • Displaying leadership and initiative in their department

The Black Excellence Adjunct Faculty Award aims to recognize the outstanding achievements of Black adjunct faculty members who are committed to empowering students to reach their full potential.

The Black Educator Excellence Administrator of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of a Black/African American administrator at one of the California Community Colleges. This annual award celebrates an administrator who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to empowering Black students, faculty, and staff. The following roles will be considered an administrator: Directors, Managers, Deans, and VPs.

The recipient will be a Black/African American administrator who has created meaningful change on campus through their vision and dedication. The recipient has at least 5 years of experience in higher education administration and excel in areas such as:

   • Implementing groundbreaking initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion
   • Mentoring and advocating for Black students, faculty and staff
   • Developing programs and policies that foster a more inclusive campus culture
   • Promoting the recruitment and retention of Black employees
   • Displaying courageous leadership in addressing issues affecting the Black community

The Black Educator Excellence Hidden Hero Award honors an exceptional member of the California Community College community who has made significant but overlooked contributions to improving the lives of Black people within our system. This award celebrates quiet heroes who uplift and inspire through their selfless service, perseverance in the face of adversity, and commitment to empowering others.

The ideal recipient will be an unsung Black community member whose work has had an impact but has gone unrecognized. Their heroism may manifest through volunteering, mentoring, activism, philanthropy, or leading by example. While they shun the spotlight, their actions shine a light forward for the Black community.

The recipient is a changemaker who gives generously of themselves to uplift Black lives but do so quietly, without seeking praise or recognition. Their humility and selflessness distinguish them as true heroes advancing Black excellence. It is an opportunity to celebrate the best of our community while inspiring more unsung heroes to step forward.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Nomination Process

Nominations for the 2026 Black Educator Excellence (BEE) Awards closed on Friday, October 31, 2025.

Note: Awardees from previous years were not eligible for nomination in the same category where they were recognized. Nominees from previous years were still eligible for nomination. Refer to the 2025 BEE Award Awardees.

Selection Process

Nominations are submitted online via open submission process. Each nomination is reviewed by two members of the Black Educator Excellence (BEE) Awards Nomination Review Committee. The nominations are scored via standardized rubric and averaged to obtain an overall score. The nominations with the top three scores in each award category are identified as BEE Awards nominees.

The overall awardee for each award category will be determined via anonymous voting by the Black Student Success Week Planning Committee, The BEE Awards Planning Committee, and the BEE Awards Nomination Review Committee. They will be announced during the AACCCTA's Leadership Awards Reception. 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The 2025 Black Educator Excellence (BEE) Awards are powered in collaboration with Black Student Success Week and the African American California Community College Trustees and Administrators (AACCCTA) Caucus, also known as “the Black Caucus.”

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