BET Networks kicks off the New Year celebrating black excellence at its ninth annual BET Honors. Comedian Arsenio Hall will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

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Lee Daniels (Television and Film Award)

Academy Award nominated filmmaker and creator of the hit television show “Empire”

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Mellody Hobson (Corporate Citizen Award)

President of Ariel Investments, one of the largest African-American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the U.S. and current Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dreamworks Animation[/three_fourths][/row]

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Eric H. Holder, Jr. (Public Service Award)

The first African American United States Attorney General

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Patti Labelle (Musical Arts Awards)

Iconic Grammy Award-winning singer

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L.A. Reid (The Business of Entertainment Award)

Chairman & CEO of Epic Records and three-time Grammy Award winning music mogul

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BET.com will join the kudo-fest with the inaugural launch of  Next in Class, a digital celebration of  young leaders, innovators and influencers whose stars are rising in the fields of  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), philanthropy & social justice, music, fashion & style, creative arts & entertainment and education. Go to BET.com/NextInClass to vote for this year’s candidates.

“BET Honors” will be taped at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 23, 2015 and will premiere on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 8:00 pm during Black History Month on BET Networks.

For more information on “BET Honors,” visit http://www.bet.com/bethonors