KAYLA DRAKE | Multimedia Producer

This week as February ends, so does Black History Month.

Black Student Union planned nine events in honor of Black History Month, and this week just two events are left: a hip-hop class and the first annual Black Excellence Dinner.

Alyssa Hawkins, vice president of BSU, said the events – spanning from a barber shop talk to a discussion on mental health within the African American community – were all intended to bring black culture to Lindenwood’s campus.

Hawkins, a junior, said she wanted to make hosting these events a habit because they help inform students at Lindenwood, which is 67 percent Caucasian and 8 percent African American.

The hip-hop class will teach a short choreographed routine in the Evans Group Exercise Room Feb. 26 from 8-10 p.m.

For the last day in February, BSU will host a red carpet dinner in the AB Leadership room from 6-10 p.m. Throughout the night, several minority students will be recognized for various awards and superlatives.

“We wanted to introduce the Black Excellence Dinner to celebrate the minority students on our campus and to invite the student body to engage with us in that celebration,” Hawkins said.

Students can still RSVP to the dinner.

Overall, Hawkins said BSU aims to create a culture of inclusiveness more than anything. Next fall, she hopes BSU will partner with more student organizations to host events.