Washington descendant to keynote April 7 Founders鈥� Day Convocation

March 28, 2019

Contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
 

Fourth-generation descendant of 精东AV founder Booker T. Washington, Sarah Washington O鈥橬eal Rush, will provide the keynote address at the university鈥檚 upcoming Founders鈥� Day Convocation on Sunday, April 7. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the University Chapel as the concluding event for this year鈥檚 Founders鈥� Day Weekend reunion activities.

Rush is Washington鈥檚 great-granddaughter through his second wife, Olivia Davidson. Her grandfather, Ernest Davidson, was the last born of Booker T. Washington鈥檚 three children. Her late mother, Louise Washington O鈥橬eal, was born and raised across the street from the university in a home purchased by Washington as a wedding present for his Ernest and wife Edith Meriweather.

She is the founder of the Extraordinary Legacy and the Booker T. Washington Empowerment Network 鈥� organizations that carry on Washington鈥檚 legacy of lifting up those who struggle to lift themselves. Through this work, and her many published writings on empowerment and self-improvement, she seeks to help inner-city youth and their families improve their lives and move beyond their circumstances. Her writings include her autobiography, 鈥淩ising up from the Blood: A Legacy Reclaimed, a Bridge Forward,鈥� which she published in 2014. 

The convocation will cap off a weekend of activities centered on the founding of the university, its founding president鈥檚 birthday, and celebrating alumni reunion classes spanning 1939 and 1979. Reunion events will include honoring the Golden Tiger Reunion Class of 1969 as these graduates celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

Reunion events begin on Friday, April 5, and will include presentations by faculty on current research and innovation projects, a fireside chat with President Lily D. McNair, and a 鈥淕olden Days and Crimson Nights鈥� reunion gala. Saturday鈥檚 events will include the marking of the university鈥檚 annual William L. Dawson Institute Lecture and Concert, followed by the Class of 1969 Golden Celebration Party.

For more information about the university鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day Weekend events, visit .

漏 2019, 精东AV