Dionne Warwick is honored at Bowie State University with the renaming of the school’s performing arts center in her name.
The Dionne Warwick Theater, which debuted on Saturday morning, took over what was commonly referred to at the HBCU as the Main Stage Theater inside the school’s Fine and Performing Arts Center Building.
Brent Swinton, Bowie State University’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement, said the name change makes sense.
Warwick joined the school’s President Aminta Breaux in a cutting-ribbon ceremony to kick off the start of the new theatre, according to the website.
Warwick, a five-time Grammy Awards winner, with recording hits such as “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk On By,” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” has been a strong proponent in promoting education and its importance in providing opportunities for people to better their lives.
She has established several scholarship programs, and in East Orange, New Jersey, her hometown, there is an entire school named after her.
“We are very grateful that Dionne Warwick recognizes the value of this storied institution, and for lending her iconic name to the Main Stage Theater inside of our Fine and Performing Arts Center,” said Swinton. “Given the rich history of artists and performers such as Myles Frost who have originated from this university, the naming is even more appropriate because of Ms. Warwick’s lifelong advocacy for higher education, healthcare and the arts.”
“The Dionne Warwick Theater will host concerts, plays and other performances with her name elevating the venue to another level,” he added.
Warwick has also been a strong supporter of the arts throughout her career. She has served on the boards of several organizations dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the arts, including the Apollo Theater Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. She has also been a vocal advocate for music education in schools and has worked to ensure that music remains a vital part of the curriculum for children around the world.
In addition to education and the arts, Warwick has been a longtime advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. She has served as an ambassador for the United Nations’ World Health Organization since 1987, and has helped raise millions of dollars for AIDS research and treatment through her philanthropic work.
About four months prior, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant gifted the oldest Maryland HBCU $500,000 through the Durant Family Foundation for a new basketball court, and it was presented as sponsorship for scholarship opportunities.
The court was a token of his appreciation; as a teenager, Durant played ball there.
