On Oct. 18, at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, the June Archer & Eleven28 Entertainment Group honored Dwight Bachman, public relations officer at Eastern Connecticut State University, at the “100 Men of Color Black Tie Gala and Award” event.

The ceremony is named for musician, author and motivational speaker June Archer, and recognizes the contributions men in business, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment and service have had an impact in communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The city of Springfield, MA, declared Oct. 18, 2019, as "Dwight Bachman Day," in his honor. Bachman was also recognized as the “Valedictorian for the 100 Men of Color Class of 2019.” During his remarks, he recalled the words of his mentor, the late David Carter, former president of Eastern and chancellor of the Connecticut State University System. “You always walked away from him knowing that you had grown a little; had learned a valuable lesson,” said Bachman. “In the middle of a little matter that he thought I could have managed better, he said, “’You can handle this. I know you can! I believe in you!’” Bachman encouraged his audience to use the same words of affirmation with young people in their own lives.

As a public relations officer at Eastern, Bachman has spent more than 30 years promoting the value of a college degree and encouraging educational access and opportunity for underrepresented populations. “Dwight has served Eastern with distinction,” said Edward Osborn, Eastern’s director of university relations. “Through his efforts, the University has enhanced its reputation and gained public awareness and approval of its liberal arts mission.”

Bachman is also a frequent contributor to the African American press, writing feature stories that celebrate the lives of African Americans pursuing excellence. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Connecticut Invention Convention; Willimantic, CT-based Project Genesis and as a deacon in The First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield.

The first African American radio/television reporter for KWWL-Radio/TV in Waterloo, IA, Bachman also served as a reading and study skills instructor at Cornell University. Following graduate school at Cornell, Bachman served as manager of Howard University’s ACTION Program and editor of the university’s “Urban Research Review” newsletter.

Bachman returned to broadcasting, serving as a reporter, editor and news producer at radio and television stations in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Stamford, CT, New York City and West Hartford.

In 2002, the Independent Newspaper Publishers of America (INPA) named “ECSU Returns,” for which Bachman served as editor, as “Best in the Nation” newspaper insert. In 1978, the Washington D.C.-based Capital Press Club’s nominated Bachman to receive the “Washington Journalist of the Year” Award. In 1977, Washington D.C.-based WTOP All-News Radio nominated Bachman to receive the George Peabody Award for researching, writing and producing an eight-part series on the highly celebrated Allan Bakke Affirmative Action case.