The Greater Pensacola Chapter of the United Negro College Fund honored Lewis Bear Jr., chair of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees and president/CEO of the Lewis Bear Company, and Mamie Webb Hixon, assistant professor of English and director of the UWF Writing Lab, during its Inaugural Chairman’s Luncheon held today at New World Landing.
Both Bear and Hixon received the Champion Award, recognizing their dedication to education, students and the community. The luncheon served as a fundraising event to support scholarships for Pensacola area students who otherwise would not have the financial resources to attend college. More than 250 corporate and community leaders attended the event, and Lumon May, chairman of the Escambia County Board of Commissioners, served as the keynote speaker.
The UNCF Greater Pensacola Chapter was established in October 2013 to create a college-ready culture in Northwest Florida that provides students with support to succeed in college. UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization that supports students through scholarships and other programs. It currently supports more than 60,000 students at more than 900 colleges and universities across the country.
