Catch our 2021 recap here!
New York City was the place to be last Saturday during this year’s Hillman Homecoming. Presented by Mastercard and sponsored by Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN) NY Metro Chapter, the event was created in 2014 to celebrate our HBCU culture and the alumni and supporters that keep their legacies alive. The annual event is not to be missed, but if your invite got lost in the mail this year, allow us to give you the rundown on everything that went down!
When it comes to HIllman Homecoming, you can expect the same homecoming energy that you would find on your own campus. Set at the famous 40/40 Club, music sets were rocked by entertainers like DJ Aktive, of Jimmy Fallon’s That’s My Jam and tours for Janet Jackson and Diddy. Virginia State University alum DJ Economix and DJ Two1Five were also on the turntables. They kept the good vibes going along with partner Tito’s Handmade Vodka, who kept the drinks flowing with a special list of signature cocktails. The event was hosted by celebrity North Carolina A&T State University alumnus Terrence J. There were also appearances from celebrities like Michael Rainey Jr. of hit TV shows like Power and Ghost, plus entertainer TravQue.
All the fun isn’t for nothing, as it’s all to give back to New York area high school students! Through the Puissance HBCU Scholarship, high school students planning to attend HBCUs in the fall will receive the financial support they need. 2021 marks this fundraiser’s fifth year, and a jarring $7,500 was raised! The nonprofit was founded by Howard University and Hampton University alumni, and has since grown to have alumni of N.C. A&T, Morehouse College, and Florida A&M University. Over $25,000 has been awarded to HBCU students all over the country, allowing them to enter their freshman year with the confidence they need to succeed.
