Bennett College’s Vondeleath Kersey Honored at Civil Rights Gala
Bennett College joined a distinguished roster of guests at the “From Sit-Ins to Stand-Outs Gala,” hosted by the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, to honor Bennett Belle VonDeleath Kersey, Class of 1961. Ms. Kersey received the 2025 Sit-In Participant Award in recognition of her pivotal role in the civil rights movement.
The annual event pays tribute to civil rights heroes and sheroes whose courage shaped a generation and continues to inspire lasting change. For the Bennett College community, the evening marked a powerful homecoming for Ms. Kersey—honoring her activism during the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins and her enduring commitment to justice, education, and public service.
While at Bennett, Ms. Kersey sang in the college choir, contributed to the Bennett Banner, and helped lead “Operation Door Knock,” a grassroots voter registration drive. She later joined fellow students in protest at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Greensboro—taking a stand against segregation during a time when speaking out came with profound risk.
Reflecting on her actions, Ms. Kersey has said she never imagined the enduring impact that single act of protest would have on the civil rights struggle. Yet her courage—and that of her classmates—helped change the course of American history.
A strong Bennett contingent was present at the gala to celebrate Ms. Kersey and recognize the legacy of Bennett Belles in the sit-in movement. Attendees included:
- Dr. Yardley Nelson Hunter ’75
- Dr. Teresa Hardee, Interim President
- Giena Gilchrist ’97
- Yolande Johnson ’83
- Debra Clark Jones ’84
- Martina Gibbs Dowdy ’11
- Unique Turner Butler ’08
- Roslyn Smith-McLean ’61
Following her time at Bennett, Ms. Kersey earned advanced degrees in history, sociology, and special education. She devoted her career to education and social work—uplifting others with the same quiet determination she brought to the movement. Today, she remains an active member of her community, a voracious reader, and a woman who still marvels at the honor of returning to Greensboro to be recognized for her place in history.
Here’s to VonDeleath Kersey—and to the bold Bennett Belles who helped bend the arc of history toward justice.
