Future Kings Scholarship Gala

The Future Kings Scholarship Gala is our premier annual fundraising event dedicated to empowering the next generation of STEM leaders. This year’s Gala will be held on April 25, 2026, at Magnoliya Grand Manor (7001 Infantry Ridge Rd, Manassas, VA 20109).

Each year, this special evening brings together community partners, educators, and supporters to raise funds for college scholarships awarded to graduates of the Future Kings program. These scholarships help young men of color from economically challenged communities pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Your support directly fuels our vision—to create a thriving workforce pipeline of 1,000 young men annually who are prepared to excel in lucrative STEM fields. Our goal is to empower at least 150 students each year to attend HBCUs and other leading universities through academic and financial support.

This year’s Gala promises to be a night to remember, featuring an inspiring keynote address. Join us for an unforgettable evening of purpose, impact, and celebration as we continue to Engineer Great Futures.

2026 Gala Keynote Speaker

Future Kings is honored to welcome General William E. “Kip” Ward (US Army Retired) as the keynote speaker for our 12th Annual Scholarship Gala. General Ward is a retired U.S. Army General and former President of SENTEL Corporation in Alexandria, Virginia. He currently serves as a Strategic Adviser to V2X in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a long-standing supporter of Future Kings.

General Ward is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, AND Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. His distinguished career and service have earned him numerous honors, including the Essence Magazine Leadership Award, the Black Engineer of the Year (also known as BEYA) Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Award of Distinction from Morehouse College, and the 100 Black Men of America Lifetime Leadership Award.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, General Ward was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate into the Regular Army in June 1971 through the ROTC program at Morgan State University. Over the course of his military career, he commanded at every echelon from Lieutenant to General.

General Ward made history as the nation’s first Black combatant commander. As the inaugural Commander of the United States Africa Command (otherwise known as AFRICOM), established on October 1, 2007. He led one of the Department of Defense’s six unified geographic commands, responsible for all U.S. defense and security activities across the African continent and its island nations.

A sought-after speaker, General Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Morgan State University and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia State University.

Gala Gallery