An educator and administrator for the School District of Philadelphia for 38 years, Eugene Golson '76 brought about an unwavering commitment to excellence from both his students and his staff. Passionate about arts education and wanting to engage his students in the creative world, he worked with the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) through his former school, Creighton Elementary, to help students, seniors, and special populations in schools and community site environments to encourage excellence in arts education practice. In addition to his work in the schools, Gene mentored students through his church and held various leadership roles, including President of  Ye Olde Philadelphia Club. Founded in 1926, the Club’s mission “is to establish representative behavior among African-American men and encourage its membership to be independently engaged and active in civic ventures.”  In 2015, he won the organization’s Appreciation Award, along with former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey (above left). Gene retired in 2017 and is now a counselor at Carson Valley Children’s Aid.