Sixty years ago, Washington Rakama '64 walked across the Commencement stage and into history when he received his Guilford diploma. Washington became the College’s first Black graduate that spring.

On April 26-28, the Black Alumni of Guilford College celebrated Washington and the thousands of other Black alumni who graduated after him, commemorating their history and shared legacy during the group’s Black Alumni Weekend.

More than 50 alumni took part in the weekend celebration. Tonya Handford ’10 was one of them. Tonya lives in Greensboro and frequently drops by the College just to sit in the rocking chairs outside the Hege Academic Commons.

“It’s always so relaxing,” she says. “But it’s more special to be here when (BAGC) gets together. You’re around friends and those friends know why it’s important we meet like this to celebrate Guilford’s diversity.”

The weekend was packed with activities ranging a lunch recognizing longtime Guilford employee Doug Gilmer and his impact on students, a tour of the Underground Railroad, health and business sessions, a community blood drive and a block party on the quad.

Jill Bradshaw Soto ’86 wants more Black alumni to get involved in BAGC. “When I was a student there weren’t as many students like me on campus, but that’s changing and we want to support the next generation of Black alumni,” she says. “Guilford’s diversity makes it such a wonderful puzzle and we (BAGC) are a part of that puzzle. We make Guilford whole.”

Black students comprise 25 percent of Guilford’s spring 2024 undergraduate student headcount and 28 percent of the graduate student headcount.

The next Black Alumni of Guilford College event is the annual Pinning Ceremony May 14 in the Carnegie room of Hege, at which time this year’s graduating seniors of color will be honored.

For more information on anniversary-year events or about joining the BAGC, contact Toiya Hancock ’93, President of the BAGC, at blackalumniofguilfordcollege@gmail.com.