Media Advisory

For Immediate Release

Who: Photographer Benedict J. Fernandez ’87, best known for his photographs of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the last year of King’s life, will be presented with the college’s Citizen Laureate Award.

Walter Dean Myers ’84, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, will be presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Emil Moxey, Ph.D., emeritus professor and mentor in community and human services and social sciences at the college’s Brooklyn Office, will be presented with the Heritage Award.

Laurel Massé ’05, founding member of the musical group Manhattan Transfer, originally scheduled to be presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award in February, cannot attend the rescheduled event. She received her award at the college’s recent Hudson Valley Center graduation.

Live jazz performed by the Mansoor Sabree ’00 Jazz Ensemble and the Marcus McLaurine ’09 Quartet, featuring Dee Daniels, with an introduction by Joe Washington, faculty mentor emeritus and jazz historian, begin the evening.

What: “Made in America: An Evening of Art, Music and Literature” celebrates African-American history and achievement. The event honoring Empire State College alumni and faculty, originally scheduled for February, was postponed because weather conditions made travel hazardous.

Where: Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, Brooklyn Public Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

When: Friday, June 28. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and award presentations begin at 7 p.m.