Public HBCUs See Record Investments, Yet Still Battle With Funding Discrimination From States

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There are 50 public HBCUs, like Bowie State University and The University of Maryland Eastern Shore. They have thrived with in creating new programs and opportunities for students, but the funding is complicated. Independent donors have propelled these HBCUs, but it’s the states that need to show just as much enthusiasm. Learn why in the full story from Danielle Douglas-Gabriel at The Philadelphia Tribune below.

President of Bowie State University Aminta Hawkins Breaux at the student center on campus July 20, 2017, in Bowie, Md. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey

Bowie State University is creating seven new online degree programs in education, science and technology, while Morgan State University plans to add more than two dozen new degrees.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is expanding agricultural programs and funding scholarships for graduates from a local community college to continue their studies at the school.

The new efforts come as the schools and other public historically Black colleges and universities are benefiting from record government and philanthropic support. There is a deeper respect for the work they do with limited resources, and fights for fiscal parity within their state higher education systems are starting to pay off.

Maryland’s four HBCUs, for example, will receive $577 million over a decade, after the state recently settled a 15-year court battle over inequitable funding. Corporations such as Novartis, Apple and Google are providing tens of millions of dollars in grants to public HBCUs. And author MacKenzie Scott has given $580 million to 23 historically Black schools, many of which are public.

Still, higher education experts say there is no easy way to undo decades of state and federal neglect. Investments in public HBCUs is on the rise, but the legacy of inequity can complicate the reach of those dollars.

Eastern Shore President Heidi M. Anderson told a congressional committee in June that the average age of buildings on the campus is 44 years old and the school has more than $90 million in deferred maintenance. Tackling the backlog of repairs and renovations will require more time and more resources, Anderson said in an interview with The Washington Post.

“People say, ‘You’ve got $20 million from MacKenzie Scott, your alumni are giving at a higher level, you have this settlement from the state,’ but we’re still behind,” she said. “It means continual advocacy with legislators . . . in Annapolis and in D.C.”

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There are 50 public historically Black schools in the nation. Some are rural with an agrarian focus. Others are in urban centers and known for educating local teachers, nurses and engineers.

Public HBCUs are more reliant on federal, state and local funding than their majority-White counterparts, making those partnerships critical to their viability, according to research by Krystal L. Williams at the University of Alabama. That reliance also makes the schools more vulnerable in economic downturns and when states withhold support.

States have a fraught history with their HBCUs. The disparities in funding are well documented and have led to lawsuits in Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina. Funding shortfalls, small endowments and limited access to capital have created inequities that are visible on many campuses.

A 2018 Government Accountability Office report identified extensive need for repairs and replacement of aging facilities at public and private HBCUs. State HBCUs reported average deferred maintenance backlogs of $67 million and a dearth of resources to address them.

“Public HBCUs’ ability to optimize federal, state and private dollars are bound by issues of infrastructure, capacity, academic offerings, organizational agility . . . and relationships with state actors,” said Terrell Strayhorn, director of the Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University. But “these aren’t intractable problems.”

Some states are taking steps to help.

Virginia upped its appropriations for its two public HBCUs – Norfolk State and Virginia State universities – in the state budget signed this year. The legislature is providing money for technology upgrades and other capital improvements.

“While it’s awesome to have people recognize and understand our value, we hope that recognition continues,” said Makola M. Abdullah, president of Virginia State University. “Our institutions have been providing incredible value for the state, and all we’re asking is if you continue to invest . . . we’ll continue to provide that value.”

Abdullah chairs the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Council of 1890s Institutions, which advocates for the 19 HBCUs founded on federal land like VSU and Eastern Shore. Although states are obligated to match federal dollars for all land-grant universities, the historically Black ones are often shortchanged. But Abdullah has noticed a greater willingness among states to fix the problem.

Take Tennessee, where a recent audit found the state shorted its Black land-grant Tennessee State University as much as $544 million from 1957 to 2007. Earlier this month, a bipartisan legislative committee tasked the state’s higher education commission to submit recommendations by September to rectify the disparity.

Some Tennessee lawmakers are looking to Maryland’s $577 million HBCU settlement as a model.

Maryland will provide Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Coppin State University and Bowie State a total of $57.7 million annually for 10 years starting in fiscal 2023. The funding is considered supplemental and not meant to supplant state appropriations. It can be used for scholarships, faculty recruitment and new academic programs to make the four state universities more competitive.

There are limitations. The money cannot be used to upgrades facilities, even though many of the academic programs being added would benefit from better infrastructure.

“I can build out these new, innovative academic programs, but I’m putting them into facilities that are not conducive for today’s learners or those new programs,” said Aminta Hawkins Breaux, president of Bowie State. “So that only gets us half of the way there.”

Bowie State and Eastern Shore, like many HBCUs that received donations from MacKenzie Scott, invested the money in their endowments and have been using the earnings to fund scholarships. Breaux said when she arrived at Bowie State in 2017 there was less than $10 million in the endowment, which today stands at $31 million.

“If you won the lottery today, you wouldn’t go out and spend it all,” Breaux said. “We’re looking at the short-term needs and helping students get through their education . . . but I also want to make sure Bowie State remains viable for future generations.”

Breaux is encouraged by the state’s recognition that HBCUs are economic engines, and thankful for allies like Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, D, who played a vital role in ending the legal battle.

Anderson said funding Eastern Shore and other public HBCUs is a matter of investing in the communities they serve. Students in the agricultural school regularly work with local farmers, while those pursuing health-care degrees at the university fanned out in Somerset County to administer coronavirus vaccines. Building out these partnerships and programs requires sustained commitments from the state and federal government.

If anything, Black colleges have more allies in philanthropic circles, statehouses, Congress and the White House trying to help.

President Biden is proposing unprecedented investments in HBCUs through his two-part economic plan, including billions of dollars to modernize campuses, boost research and cover some tuition for the neediest students. The administration is also asking for an increase of $600 million more for minority-serving institutions, historically Black and tribal colleges, and community colleges in the 2022 budget.

It’s not yet clear how much federal funding will head to historically Black schools, as Biden’s budget and economic proposals go through Congress. Still, HBCU advocates are encouraged by the administration’s opening gambit and confident that bipartisan support from lawmakers will deliver results.

“We’ve had very positive feedback from both parties,” Harry L. Williams, president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which supports public historically Black colleges. “There are challenges on our campuses where we need those dollars to improve facilities just as states need them to improve their roads.”

Strayhorn at Virginia Union, a private HBCU, sees federal investment as one of the best ways for small Black colleges without name recognition to gain financial footing. Philanthropists are largely familiar with schools like Howard University, but less so with St. Philip’s College in San Antonio.

A number of lesser-known HBCUs are plagued by financial instability, dwindling enrollment and low graduation rates. Strayhorn said some of those problems are a matter of location and a shrinking population of college-age students – the same issues facing small liberal art schools – but others are the result of the legacy of discrimination.

In the absence of Biden’s proposals, members of Congress are exploring other routes to supply HBCUs more funding. A group of lawmakers, led by Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.), has introduced legislation, dubbed Ignite HBCU Excellence, to invest in infrastructure, while Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) is pushing to make permanent agricultural scholarships for students attending land-grant HBCUs.

Williams at Thurgood Marshall is confident that the public interest in Black colleges is sustainable. Calls for racial justice following nationwide protests delivered record donations and other outpourings of support, but even as public attention may have waned the interest among philanthropists, corporations and policymakers remains, he said.

“This is not a fad,” Williams said. “We are now at a place where it is structural.”

Grambling State Forgives $1.5M In Student Debt

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It truly pays to be a student attending Grambling State University! First, the university just forgave $1.5 million in student debt! GSU is also considering making history with the first HBCU gymnastics program! Learn more about both opportunities in the exciting Ebony article below!

Credit: Grambling State University

Grambling State University is looking to make history as the first Historically Black College and University to offer women’s gymnastics. Plus, it has set aside $1.5 million to forgive student debt.

According to a report from The Associated Press, after Grambling hosted a gymnastic conference full of 100 Black and brown gymnasts for the Brown Girls Do Gymnastics conference, Raven Thissel explained interest in creating a full gymnastics program on its campus. 

“Our university leadership is looking at young gymnasts in our community, and realizing and understanding the path from toddler gymnastics tumbling to the Olympics for a Black and brown gymnast is arduous. How can we make it a smoother one?

In one possible angle, the university’s plan to forgive $1.5 million worth of student debt can help. As a growing number of HBCUs have recognized how systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic has created financial and emotional challenges for today’s students and their families, canceling the debt means that it can impact the overall student experience, from mental health to retention to graduation.

For Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG), the 2015 founded organization by Derrin Moore provides “scholarships, coaching, training and other forms of support to athletes from underrepresented and marginalized groups,” which can also aid in more student-athletes choosing to go to an HBCU over a PWI (Predominantly White Institution). In addition to helping student-athletes develop, BGDG also provides workshops to assist parents with supporting their children and information on how to graduate from entry-level programs to the elite level.

“It’s just giving families a little edge,” Moore said. “We want to give them information so they can step into the gymnastics arena and be confident and advocate for their girls.”

More than half of the 18 women invited to last month’s Olympic trials were Black and Black women make up nearly 10% of the scholarship athletes at the NCAA’s Division 1 level. Also as celebratory is that more than 10% of USA Gymnastic members self-identify as Black.

hanks to powerhouses and all-around GOATs like Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas, this uptick in student-athletes with gold medal aspirations can be a boon to HBCU athletic programs.

“Simone [Biles] has opened the eyes to so many women of color saying, ‘Hey, you can do this, too.’ It’s not just little skinny white girls that can do it. Anyone can do it,” Cecile Landi, Biles’ co-coach alongside husband Laurent, said. 

For those looking to capitalize on the opportunity of the BGDG, whether applying directly through the organization or choosing to utilize Grambling University’s student debt absolution, one must have their debt be their own and not that belonging to a third party. 

Grambling joins a litany of other HBCUs that have announced a debt forgiveness plan and aims to use funds from the “American Rescue Plan Act” to aid interested parties.

2021 White House HBCU Scholars Announced

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The eight cohort of HBCU Scholars has just been announced, and it a solid list of over 80 students! Learn who the scholars are, and why the scholars program is so important in the full story from The U.S. Department Of Education below.

The 2019 HBCU Scholars

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative) today announced its eighth cohort of HBCU Scholars. This program recognizes 86 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, civic engagement and much more.

Currently enrolled at 54 of our nation’s HBCUs, the scholars were selected from an applicant pool of over 200 students who submitted completed applications that included a transcript, resume, essay, and letter of recommendation. Applications also required the signature of their university president, adding a level of prestige to this application process.

“The HBCU Scholars announced today all have demonstrated remarkable dedication to their learning and exemplify the talent that our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities have nurtured for generations,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The students who hold this honor are committed to creating a more just and equitable society through their civic engagement. They are leaders and change-makers in their communities, and I cannot wait to learn from them as they serve as ambassadors both for the White House Initiative and their institutions of higher education.”

“As President of the State of Florida’s first Historically Black College or University I am exceedingly pleased to support the tremendous work of the Initiative in its most recent selection and recognition of the nation’s highest achieving scholar students from across our 105 historic institutions,” said Edward Waters University President & CEO, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr. “The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholars Program’s longstanding commitment and emphasis upon platforming the very best and brightest amongst our students and showcasing their exceptional high scholarship and demonstrable leadership on a national stage speaks directly not only to the continuing contemporaneous relevance of HBCUs but equally underscores the uncontroverted depth of extraordinary talent that our institutions continue to produce and possess.”

Over the course of an academic school year, the HBCU Scholars selected through this program will serve as ambassadors of the Initiative and their respected institution. The Initiative will provide scholars with information about the value of education as well as networking opportunities. Scholars can also share these resources with their fellow students.

Through their relationships with community-based organizations, and public and private partners, all of which are gained through this recognition, scholars will also share promising and proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to achieve their educational and career potential.

This cohort of HBCU Scholars will also participate in national and regional events and monthly classes with Elyse Jones, HBCU Scholar Program Coordinator, Initiative staff and other professionals from a wide range of disciplines. All HBCU Scholar events are designed to connect HBCU students with non-profit, business, and federal leaders to discuss professional development while identifying challenges and providing equitable solutions to barriers that HBCU students face when preparing and entering the 21st century workforce.

“Supporting the next generation of student leaders who will continue their education and graduate from HBCUs has been the highlight and joy of my career with the Initiative” says Elyse Jones, HBCU Scholar Program Coordinator. “It is my honor to announce these 86 students who will continue to make meaningful contributions to our country. Each student selected into this program has demonstrated their commitment to their academic achievements and improving their communities. I look forward to working with them as partners I can’t wait to see what they will do as leaders.”

Selected HBCU Scholars will be invited to the 2021 HBCU Week National Annual Conference, which will take place September 7-10, 2021. This year’s conference theme is “Exploring Equity.” During their time at the conference, they will participate in sessions about entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal and professional development. Most importantly, they will also have opportunities to engage with one another and showcase their individual and collective talent across the HBCU community.

More information about the  HBCU Scholars’ activities will be provided in the coming months as they serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative on Historically Black colleges and Universities.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Below is a list of the 2021 HBCU Scholars in alphabetical order by their hometown state, and including the city they are from, the school they attend and the school’s location. (Sorted by School Location)

ALABAMA

Athens- Michelle Dees—attends J.F. Drake State Technical College, Huntsville, AL

Mobile- Jerika Edwards—attends Dillard University, New Orleans, LA

Montgomery- Austin Smith—attends Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL

Montgomery- Lydia Williams—attends Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL

Pelham- Ayala Seaborn—attends Talladega College, Talladega, TX

Prichard- Kennedy Davis—attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL

Talladega- Ashton Hall—attends Talladega College, Talladega, AL

Tuskegee- Bruce Tyler—attends Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL

ARKANSAS

Little Rock- Aaron Slater—attends Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, AR

Marion- Spencer Jones—attends Dillard University, New Orleans, LA

North Little Rock- Alexandria Williams— attends Jackson State University, Jackson, MS

West Memphis- DeShawn Barnes—attends Lane College, Jackson, TN

CALIFORNIA

Hayward- Zauria Murphy—attends Bennet College, Greensboro, NC

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

District of Columbia- Chandler Nutall—attends Spelman College, Atlanta, GA

FLORIDA

Cocoa- Deben Peterson—attends Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, SC

Miami- Myrlandie Myrbel—attends Florida Memorial University, Miami, FL

North Port- Brianna Brooks—attends Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL  

Riverview- Naim Brown—attends Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL

GEORGIA

Acworth-Jacob Robinson—attends Hampton University, Hampton, VA

Acworth-Taylor Dorsey—attends Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA

Albany-Brianna Pendergrass—attends Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL

Atlanta- Alexandre Hurley—attends Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

Atlanta- Ashleigh Smith—attends Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL

Atlanta-Brandon Graham—attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

Atlanta- Jayla Ross—attends Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, PA

Atlanta- Raven Hollis—attends Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX

Atlanta-Valerie Bennett—attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

Augusta-LeShawn Doolittle—attends Paine College, Augusta, GA 

Augusta-Joshua Gayle—attends Voorhees College, Denmark, SC

Cartersville- Christy Turner—attends Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD

Jonesboro- Madison Stafford—attends Paine College, Augusta, GA

McDonough- Kerra Kelly—attendees Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Snellville- Sydney Nelson—attends Jackson State University, Jackson, MS

ILLINOIS

Harvey- Kristopher Bond—attends Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS

KENTUCKY

Frankfort–Chaundra Bush –attends Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY

LOUISIANA

Baton Rouge- Edrius Staff—attends Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Lafayette- Normandie Cormier—attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA

Ponchatoula- Noah Williams—attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA

Zachary- Kevin Taylor- Jarrell—attends Southern A&M University, Baton Rouge, LA

MARYLAND

Bowie- Paige Blake—attends Bowie State University, Bowie, MD

Bowie-Janine Jackson—attends Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

Ellicott City- Lauren Brown—attends Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

Hyattsville- Michael McGee—attends Bowie State University, Bowie MD

Silver Spring- Fottmatta Tunkara—attends Howard University, Washington, D.C.

MICHIGAN 

Detroit- McKinley Lowery—attends Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA

Inkster- Jayla Berry— attends Benedict College, Columbia, SC

MISSISSIPPI

Columbus- Ganesa Williams—attends Rust College, Holy Springs, MS

Jackson- Sydney Burks—attends Hinds Community College, Utica, MS

Pickens- Kalon Johnson—attends Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS

MISSOURI

Florisson- Jordan Braithwaite—attends Grambling State University, Grambling, LA

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte—Raven Hamilton—attends Shaw University, Raleigh, NC

Charlotte- Rachel Richards—attends North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC

Durham- Derrick Stanfield—attends North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC

Efland- Milosh McAdoo—attends North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC

Jamestown- Shemika Summer—attends Shaw University, Raleigh, NC

Raleigh- Efhe Ikharo—attends North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC

Winston-Salem- Varvara Papakonstantinou—attends Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC

NEW JERSEY

Camden-Inaaya Coleman—attends Delaware State University, Dover, DE

Ewing- Elijah Kelly—attends Benedict College, Columbia, SC

Jersey City- Kimberly Gardner—attends Howard University, Washington, D.C.

NIGERIA 

Ekiti- Iyunola Owoyemi—attends Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS

OHIO

Dayton- Demetrius Young—attends Kentucky State University, Frankfurt, KY

Dayton- Quintin Jordan—attends Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC

OKLAHOMA

Ardmore- Joseph Fields –attends Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN

Oklahoma City- Kiyana Akins—attends Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

PALESTINE 

Rafa Gaza Strip- Roulan Abunahla—attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia- Juliana Paul—attends Delaware State University, Dover, DE

Philadelphia- Stephen Brown—attends Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Philadelphia- Z’ Sakina Jackson—attends Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, PA 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Columbia- Albertus Cocklin—attends Allen University, Columbia, SC

Demark- Angelon Brooks—attends Denmark Technical College, Denmark, SC

Denmark- Quitasia Donaldson—attends Voorhees College, Denmark, SC

Lexington- Javonni Ayers—attends South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC

Rock Hill- Skylar Groves—attends Norfolk State University, Durham, SC

TENNESSEE

Memphis- Kelsey Henderson—attends Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN

Memphis- Doug McCollum—attends Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN

Nashville- Brittany Fitzgeral-Hall—attends American Baptist College, Nashville, TN

TEXAS

Dallas- J ‘Nya Thompson—attends Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR

Grand Prairie- Ebony Cormier—attends Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Houston- Dexter Maryland—attends Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

LeLand- Cassandra Walker—attends Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX

San Antonio- Darius Martin—attends St. Phillips College, San Antonio, TX

Southlake- Alexis Walker—attends Hampton University, Hampton, VA

VIRGINIA

Richmond- Kayla Jenkins—attends Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC

m—attends Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN

Nashville- Brittany Fitzgeral-Hall—attends American Baptist College, Nashville, TN

TEXAS

Dallas- J ‘Nya Thompson—attends Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR

Grand Prairie- Ebony Cormier—attends Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Houston- Dexter Maryland—attends Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

LeLand- Cassandra Walker—attends Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX

San Antonio- Darius Martin—attends St. Phillips College, San Antonio, TX

Southlake- Alexis Walker—attends Hampton University, Hampton, VA

VIRGINIA

Richmond- Kayla Jenkins—attends Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC

4 Members On Record-Setting N.C. A&T Track Team Reflect On Tokyo Olympics

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The North Carolina A&T State University has three athletes running in the Olympics on the 4×400 relay! After setting a world record, four initial athletes made N.C. A&T proud. Now, you can read as three of the athletes were interviewed by Meagan Jordan at Rolling Stone below!

Trever Stewart and Randolph Ross Jr., two of the members of A&T’s record-setting relay team, who are competing in Tokyo. 
Charlie Neibergall/AP; Thurman James/CSM/ZUMA/AP

Over the past year, North Carolina A&T State University’s track team has been making history for their record breaking performances. The men and women’s team are the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to rank in the top 5 of the NCAA Division I Championships. The men’s 4x400m relay team held the fastest world time this year with a time of 3:00.23. 

Now, all but one member of the relay team is going to the 2021 Olympics, despite all four qualifying initially for the games. Trevor Stewart and Randolph Ross Jr. — son of A&T’s track coach and former Olmypian Duane Ross — are representing the United States, and Akeem Sirleaf will be representing his home country, Liberia. Daniel Stokes initially qualified for the 4x400m relay team for his mother’s home country of Mexico, but only the top 16 teams get to compete —  and Mexico came in at 18. Despite all odds, A&T has proven itself to be a mecca of champions. “I’m elated for our athletes. They worked hard this year and it’s nice to see them be rewarded with those championship finishes,” says head coach Duane Ross. “An Olympian is what nearly every track athlete aspires to be. I’m honored to have helped these athletes reach that dream.”

Rolling Stone spoke to the four members of A&T’s 4x400m relay about life on the track, future dreams and even some of their favorite playlists. With a load of preparation required for the Olympics, including a 15-hour flight, reaching the athletes was a bit difficult. Between Zoom calls, texts and a noisy phone call with Stewart, who is already in Tokyo for the mixed relays taking place July 30th, here is an edited version of those conversations: 

Daniel, how did you feel when you received the news that despite qualifying originally, you weren’t going to the Olympics? 

Stokes: So, The Olympics only take the top 16 countries for the 4×400 relay. We [Mexico] were 16 but we dropped to 18 during the time of the NCAA Championships, because I wasn’t on the relay. Mexico called me to compete in the Bahamas with their 4×400 to get us into the top 16. We competed with several other countries to at least get a time of 3:02, which was the cut off for the top 16. We ran 3:02, but we didn’t run fast enough. Once I found out, after a few hours of being a little upset, I just had to accept it and let it go. With track and field, you have to be used to accepting things and letting them go because being so caught up can hinder your performance on the track. 

Akeem, what’s your story behind running for Liberia ? How did you qualify in the first place? 

Sirleaf: Originally, I was born in Africa, Liberia, and then I came to the States when I was five, and we moved to Philadelphia, and then my mom moved to Minnesota when I was in seventh grade. In 2016, after my freshman year in junior college, I qualified for the World Junior Trials in Clovis, California. I ran and competed and qualified to make Liberia’s team, but they disqualified me because they said I took too many steps on the line. I then got a call from Emmanuel Matadi, who is the captain of the Liberian team. He was like “We saw you, we saw your time and we saw that you’re Liberian. Would you consider running for Liberia?” I talked to my mom about it and she was like, “it would be a good opportunity for us to represent your native country and the family. But it’s what you want to do, we’ll support you no matter what.”[Then] I qualified for the 2020 Olympics in 2019 when I ran 45.4 in the 400m and then 20.3 in the 200m. 2019 was like my foot in the door, because prior to that, in 2018, I had to red shirt because I was coming from a Junior college and my credit didn’t transfer over. So, 2018 was just a learning process.

In 2019, you broke Liberia’s record with your 45.4 in the 400m and the 20.3 in the 200m. How did that feel? 

Sirleaf: To me, I feel like records are meant to be broken. Yes, you have the record now but you never know who is going to come and break it, so you just got to enjoy it while you can. 

Randolph, Your dad went to the 2004 Olympics and now you are in the 2021 Olympics. How does that legacy feel? 

Ross Jr. : It feels amazing and honestly it’s just a blessing being able to compete on that stage, just as he did. My dad set a pretty high standard, running in college and professionally and making the Olympics. Whenever I have kids, hopefully they go through the track program, it’ll be nice to say that me and your grandpa, along with your great aunt [on Randolph’s maternal side] were all able to compete in the Olympics. 

What does your playlist look like when you are warming up? Is there a certain playlist or song that puts you in the mood to run your race? 

Ross Jr. : My music is different everyday I compete. But if I had to pick an artist that would be most likely to pop up, it would be either J. Cole or Mac Miller. 

Stewart: It will be a lot of early 2000’s rock. But depending on the day it’ll be rock, hip hop and rap, it varies depending on how I feel. For rock, I listen to mostly Nirvana, my favorite song is “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” It’s definitely a warm up song. I had friends in college that all graduated before I did and pretty much they listened to a wide variety of music and they put me on to rock. 

Stokes: I listen to a lot of rap and R&B. I listen to rap warming up before races but I listen to R&B while waiting to warm up. My playlist consists of a lot of L.A. artists that most people don’t know but I got some G Herbo, Bino Rideaux, BlueBucks Clan, and Big Sad 1900.

Sirleaf: For my warm up lap, I like to listen to R&B, something slow to calm the heart rate. When I start doing my drills, that’s when I listen to Meek Mill and something to just get me right and get the blood flowing and have the energy. 

Daniel, your home state of California was the first to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. What is your opinion on Sha’Carri Richardson’s situation? Do you think weed should be tested as a part of athletes’ drug tests? 

Stokes: In my opinion, it was never that serious. I’m from L.A. where kids have been smoking since middle school and still became successful in anything they do. It’s legal, so I don’t see a problem with what she did. Weed shouldn’t even be on the banned list, it’s not performance enhancing at all. The track and field community needs to understand that the track world needs to change with the times. Many people don’t watch track because we are stuck in old ways from the rules to the actual meets. We want track to be on the level as MLB, NFL, and the NBA but the track committee is so old fashioned. The more we change with the times the better and more recognized track can be outside of the Olympics. 

Akeem, you had a slightly different opinion regarding Richardson. What is your opinion on the situation? 

Sirleaf: People have different ways of coping with a loss of a family member. Some people tend to look to drugs or drinking to get away. I feel like she should have had a better way to handle that situation instead of taking the easy way out and smoking. But if she would have had better company around her and people to protect her, she would have handled the situation differently and better. She’d still be running in the 100m for the U.S. instead of being disqualified. 

When do you run and how are you feeling leading up to it? 

Stewart: I run July 30th and the 31st and then again on August 7th and 8th. I’m feeling great. Just going to get some training and relax a little bit. I feel better than I did before I left. Before Tokyo, I was a little sluggish, a little stiff in certain areas and had a weird mindset going into it. But now that I’m actually here, I feel more relieved. 

Akeem, you are still in the states, when are you leaving for Tokyo ? 

Sirleaf: That’s the question I’m asking the coach. The 200m isn’t until later on in August, so I’m not really sure what dates I’ll be running. 

What event are you looking most forward to? 

Stewart: The 4×400 relay. I love all of my events, my event is just basically running a whole lap. So either way, if I’m on the track then I am happy. But I love the 400m because it’s just a lot of effort going into it and I have a whole history of running it. I first started running the 400m  in high school after they told me that I was too slow to run the 100m and the 200m, so they put me in distance and I didn’t have the lung capacity to run miles, so that’s when they put me in the 400m. My first race was disgusting, I ran a 0.51 but now I’m at 0.44 lows. My vision is to bring back two golds, in the mixed relay and in the 4x400m.

Sirleaf: I’m running the 200m and 4x100m. I’m looking forward to any event that can get me on that podium. I’m excited because not many people get the opportunity to do this and run for a country, so for me to be selected to run for my country means a lot and I’m just excited to get out there and compete. 

What contributed to your time drop? 

Stewart: Mainly compassion. I always had people like my mother, grandparents, and certain friends from high school that were behind me. Knowing that they were always there and that they wanted me to be the best that I could possibly be helped me become a better person, not just on the track but off the track as well. I knew I had to hold myself accountable for certain things.

Akeem, your times have also improved from the time of junior college up until this point. What contributes to this? 

Sirleaf: My junior college coach helped me get to that point, and Coach Ross just elevated everything. He helped with my recovery, with how I attacked the race and how I went into the race being confident in myself. Being with Coach Ross is a blessing. If any kid is looking for a home, definitely contact Coach Ross because if you want to do this for a living he will help you get to that point. 

How do you think A&T has prepared you for this moment? 

Stewart: A&T pushed me to be the best that I can possibly be and now it’s to the point where I know what I’m capable of. Time and time again, I’ve been told ‘you don’t know what you’re capable of but I can see it in you.’ So now that I see it in myself, I know I can go as far as I possibly want to. 

Ross Jr. : It just shows that our athletes have a future beyond the collegiate level. Some people were shocked when we performed the way we did at nationals, but this just shows that talent can come from anywhere no matter how small the school is. 

Sirleaf: The point of every school is to prepare you for the next level in your life and the next chapter. A&T is like a family, everyone greets you and welcomes you with open arms and just supports you through it all. 

Formerly Homeless Teen Accepted To Over 50 Colleges Chooses Spelman

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A future Spelmanite beat all odds to get to where she is today. Destiny Jackson thanked her community, but in fact her determination and hard work gave her over 50 college acceptances and more. Learn about her incredible story in the article by Fox 29 writer Shawnette Wilson below.

Credit: Fox 29

A Philly teen who got accepted into more than 50 colleges and universities is off next week to the one her dreams.

“It’s August 5th? When I take flight. Yeah,” said Destiny Jackson whose dream of going to Spelman College is just days away from coming true. It’s an Atlanta HBCU, Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  

“I’m nervous but I’m excited at the same time,” she said. Destiny chose Spelman out of more than 50 colleges and universities that wanted and accepted her. 

“It was like blessings on blessings and I didn’t think that I was going to be here but thank God I am,” she said. We introduced you to Destiny back in May. Today this bubbly teen with an infectious smile, laugh and tons of tenacity can’t believe what lies ahead. 

“It’s more than words can explain but I’m beyond grateful,” she said. Destiny launched a campaign to raise money to help with tuition and the community answered big. 

“I have to thank all the other people who donated to my Gofundme, who have been there, even thank you to people like you who interviewed me and got the word out there,” she said. This teen who says she suffered abuse, was once homeless and spent much of her life in foster care vowed to always work hard and excel academically. 

“Everything has to align with your goals. If it doesn’t make you it’s going to break you and breaking is not an option,” she said. Destiny graduated from Belmont Charter last month. She’s already planning her future. 

“That’s down the road for me to run for President of the United States but we’re going to start small so I’m going to run for president at Spelman College and I’m going to be part of the glee club,” she said. And she has this to say to other young people. 

“Just because you might be going through a dark moment but that don’t last too long so before you know it greater things are coming,” she said. 

Destiny has enough money to get to Spelman and begin her higher education but she still hasn’t reached her full goal. 

Her GoFundMe is still active if you’d like to help.  If you wish to donate, please click here.

How HBCU Funding By White Philanthropists Has Changed Over The Years

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HBCUs often have to fight for funding on the federal and state level. Thankfully, many generous philanthropists have given HBCUs the padding they needed to stay afloat in some instances, but always to thrive.Get the full story on how their method of giving has changed over time in the article below from Tyrone McKinley at The Conversation.

Attorneys George E.C. Hayes, left, Thurgood Marshall, center, and James M. Nabrit, all HBCU grads, successfully sought to defeat school segregation in court. AP Photo

Novelist and billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has so far given at least US$560 million to 23 historically Black colleges and universities. These donations are part of a bid she announced in 2019 to quickly dedicate most of her fortune to charity.

Scott’s gifts, including the $6 million she donated to Tougaloo College in Mississippi and the $45 million she gave North Carolina A&T University, vary in size but nearly all of the colleges and universities describe this funding as “historic.” For many, it was the largest single donation they had ever received from an individual donor.

Scott, previously married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is not making a splash just because of the size of her donations. She has an unusually unrestrictive get-out-of-the-way approach.

“I gave each a contribution and encouraged them to spend it on whatever they believe best serves their efforts,” Scott wrote in a July 2020 blog post.

She sees the standard requirements that universities and other organizations report to funders on their progress as burdensome distractions. Instead of negotiating detailed agreements before making a gift, she works with a team of advisers to stealthily vet a wide array of nonprofits, colleges and universities from afar before surprising them with her unprecedented multimillion-dollar gifts that come without any strings attached.

Scott is also supporting students of color through donations to the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which give HBCU students scholarships, and by supporting many other colleges and universities that enroll large numbers of minority students.

Her approach sharply contrasts with how many wealthy white donors have interacted with Black-serving nonprofits, including HBCUs, in the past. As a historian of philanthropy, I have studied the paternalism of white funders, including those who helped many of these schools open their doors.

Tycoon and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, shown leaving a train with his wife, philanthropist Laura Celestia Spelman Rockefeller, in the early 1910s, donated to HBCUs. PhotoQuest/Getty Images

HBCU origins

The first HBCUs were founded in Northern states before the Civil War, including Cheyney and Lincoln universities in Pennsylvania and Wilberforce University in Ohio. After the war, most HBCUs were established in Southern states. These institutions were lifelines for Black Americans seeking higher education during decades of Jim Crow segregation that locked them out of other colleges and universities. (Disclosure: I earned my bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University.)

Although many white philanthropists made large gifts to these schools, their support was fraught with prejudice. Initially, white funders pushed for HBCUs to emphasize vocational training, then called “industrial education,” such as blacksmithing, printing and shoemaking, over more intellectual pursuits.

White philanthropists including Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefellerhad poured millions from their fortunes into the proliferation of Black industrial schools by the early 20th century. The HBCUs Hampton University in Virginia and Tuskegee University in Alabama, which received donations from Scott, were leading models of industrial education for decades.

The vocational curriculum at these schools was promoted as preparing Black students to be skilled laborers and academic teachers. During this era, however, most graduates worked as unskilled laborers or vocational teachers.

White Southerners overwhelmingly approved of this arrangement, which left many HBCU grads on the bottom rung of society rather than making them educated citizens. Emphasizing industrial education at HBCUs preserved the superior economic status of white Americans and the racist system of segregation. But African Americans’ educational aspirations required much more.

W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent Black intellectual, was a leading critic of the funding HBCUs got from wealthy whites. He said: “Education is not and should not be a private philanthropy; it is a public service and whenever it merely becomes a gift of the rich it is in danger.”

In 1904, the HBCU leader Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Florida’s Daytona Normal and Industrial School for Negro Girls – now Bethune Cookman University – felt this pressure. She placed “industrial” in her school’s name to attract white funding. But she sought to give Black students a liberal arts education that she believed would support their full citizenship.

Decades later, the sociologist Charles S. Johnson served as Fisk University’s first Black president, starting in 1946. He sought to turn that Tennessee HBCU, founded in 1866, into a powerhouse of Black liberal arts education in partnership with white philanthropists and foundations rather than covertly.

HBCU leaders have, in short, faced a predicament for generations: When rich white donors offer big donations, can the money truly be used to support Black educational interests and goals?

Prejudiced backlash

When HBCUs secured funding early on, that money was often jeopardized because of bigotry.

In 1887, for example, the Georgia state Legislature withdrew $8,000, worth approximately $220,000 today, in critical annual funding from Atlanta University. The HBCU, founded in 1865, had flouted Southern norms by allowing whites and Blacks to share campus facilities, which white politicians did not appreciate.

Later, the school embraced a liberal arts curriculum, bucking the more vocational emphasis white segregationists preferred.

In response, many white philanthropists withdrew their donations.

Despite that challenge, Atlanta University persevered, eventually merging with Clark College. And so it is historically significant that Scott gave Clark Atlanta University $15 million in 2020 to use as it sees fit. The school is using the money for academic innovation, infrastructure and scholarships, and to build up its endowment.

Kamala Harris greets a college student at Howard University. Al Drago/Getty Images

Undercutting Black medical schools

In 1908 there were seven Black medical schools in the U.S. By 1921, following a sustained attack on those institutions, only two remained: Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The loss of those schools began in 1910, when Andrew Carnegie’s foundation funded a report by educator Abraham Flexner. Part of a larger reform movement to standardize medical training, Flexner’s study recommended the closure of five Black medical schools. It led white funders to sever their support.

At the time, there were extensive problems with medical education across the board in the U.S. There were no standards for curriculum or instruction. But Black medical schools’ particular problems – poor funding, insufficient faculty and inadequate facilities – were exacerbated by Jim Crow segregation and condescension from the establishment.

Flexner’s site visits were incredibly short. He castigated Black doctors as a group without interviewing them. He recommended support for Meharry and Howard to ensure that at least some Black doctors would be able to care for Black patients in segregated hospitals and prevent the spread of disease to the white population.

Carnegie’s and Rockefeller’s foundations were initially reluctant to support the two surviving medical schools in implementing Flexner’s suggested reforms. Their subsequent funding ebbed and flowed irregularly. Scholars have estimated that the Black medical schools closed after Flexner’s damning report would have produced 35,000 Black doctors over the past century.

For decades HBCUs such as Xavier University in Louisiana, which received $20 million from Scott in 2020, have been top producers of Black graduates who become doctors.

A continuing problem

A long-term shortage of Black doctors remains a critical public health issuetoday, reflecting the sustained underfunding of HBCUs.

For example, Maryland’s HBCUs won a settlement against the state in 2021 totaling $577 million intended to remedy decades of underfunding compared with the state’s predominantly white colleges and universities.

Scott funded three of those public institutions: Bowie State, Morgan State and University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2020.

A review completed in 2021 of Tennessee State University, another HBCU, found the state underfunded it by an estimated $544 million compared with the school’s white counterparts, dating back to 1950.

HBCUs today

Today there are about 100 HBCUs, half of which are public institutions. They enroll roughly 300,000 students and award nearly 50,000 degrees annually.

Seventy percent of HBCU students are eligible for Pell grants, making the schools critical for first-generation and low-income students. Although they represent only 3% of all degree-granting institutions, HBCUs confer 13% of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Black Americans.

Today, a disproportionate share of HBCU grads become doctors – making these schools a vital on-ramp into the middle class for students of color.

And yet HBCUs are financially fragile. The 10 largest HBCU endowments total $2 billion, just 1% of the $200 billion held collectively by the 10 predominantly white colleges and universities with the largest endowments.

Despite the financial challenges these schools have faced, HBCU graduates include some of America’s most prominent figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Vice President Kamala Harris, multimedia mogul Oprah Winfrey, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, filmmaker Spike Lee and Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison.

There’s no way to know the full toll endured by HBCUs and the Black community as a whole from long-term underfunding and donor hostility. In my view, it will take decades of Scott-style giving for HBCUs to recover what has been lost in time, compound interest and impact over generations.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Donates $1.6M To HBCUs With Endowment Funds

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A partnership involving Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is dispersing much-needed funds to several HBCU thanks to an endowment. Get the full story about which HBCUs will receive the $1.6 million from PR Newswire below!

Members of AKA, with President Glenda Baskin Glover (center). Source: Greater Diversity

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, in partnership with the Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF), has presented its third round of endowment funds in the amount of $1.6 million to 35 additional HBCUs as part of a four-year fundraising campaign led by AKA International President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Glenda Glover to help secure fiscal sustainability and success across all HBCUs.

“HBCUs have received tremendous media attention over the past several months with the inauguration of America’s first Vice President who is a graduate of an historically Black university,” said Dr. Glover, who also is president of Tennessee State University and an HBCU graduate.  “It is an historic moment for HBCUs, who graduate 22% of all African Americans with bachelor degrees, nearly 80% of all African-American judges, and 50% of all Black lawyers.  We must continue our efforts to support these treasured educational institutions that make such meaningful contributions to our world through the students they graduate.”

For the past four years, Dr. Glover has challenged the sorority’s more than 300,000 college-educated members, as well as corporate partners and donors, to raise $1 million in 24 hours through the sorority’s annual HBCU Impact Day.  Members and supporters have consistently surpassed the goal, raising $1.3 million in 2020.  These funds help schools reduce student debt through scholarships, fund industry-specific research, recruit and retain top faculty, and provide support for other critical operations.

“It is undeniable that HCBUs cultivate leaders whose impact is felt locally in their communities and globally around the world.  We are proud to have fully committed our endowment funds to these deserving schools and their students,” said President Glover. “Our investment lends credence to the significance of HBCUs and underscores their contributions to the world.”

At its recent virtual international convention this month, the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation presented unrestricted endowment funds in the amount of $50,000 to the following HBCUs: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Clinton College, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Jackson State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Meharry Medical College, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Morris College, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Simmons College of Kentucky, Southwestern Christian College, Spelman College, Texas Southern University, Tuskegee University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of the District of Columbia, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Winston-Salem State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Receiving endowments of $12,500 were Bishop State Community College, Coahoma Community College, and Shorter College.

Members of AKA at Villanova University

Last year in 2020, the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation presented unrestricted endowment funds in the amount of $50,000 to the following HBCUs: Allen University, Arkansas Baptist College, Benedict College, Bluefield State College, Bowie State University, Central State University, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Elizabeth City State University, Fisk University, Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian College, Kentucky State University, Lane College, Langston University, Lincoln University (PA), Oakwood University, Paine College, Paul Quinn College, Rust College, Selma University, Southern University and A&M College, Southern University at Shreveport, Talladega College, Tennessee State University, Texas College, Tougaloo College, and Virginia University of Lynchburg.  Receiving endowments of $12,500 were CUNY Medgar Evers College, CUNY York College, Lawson State Community College-Birmingham Campus, and St. Philip’s College.­­­

The AKA Educational Advancement Foundation presented the first round of endowments in the amount of $50,000 to the following 31 HBCUs in 2019: Albany State University, Alcorn State University, American Baptist College, Bennett College, Chicago State University, Coppin State University, Edward Waters College, Fayetteville State University, Florida Memorial University, Fort Valley State University, Grambling State University, Harris-Stowe State University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Lincoln University, Livingstone College, Miles College, Mississippi Valley State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, Philander Smith College, Saint Augustine’s University, Savannah State University, Shaw University, South Carolina State University, Southern University at New Orleans, Stillman College, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Voorhees College, West Virginia State University, Wilberforce University, and Wiley College.

HBCUs have historically served all people regardless of race or economic standing and continue to do so.  These schools are often the largest employers in rural areas and educate students from pre-K through college via teacher education programs, charter schools, and early-college high schools housed on their campuses. Alpha Kappa Alpha believes in the importance of these institutions of higher learning and the need to support them has never diminished.  

2 HBCUs To Receive Funds From $4.7M Tennessee Bill

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A bill recently passed in the House that will allow for over $4 million to be spread among two Nashville HBCUs, as well as a local bridge project. Get the full story on how this bill will impact American Baptist College and Meharry Medical College in the article from The Tennessee Tribune below.

Credit: American Baptist College

Today Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) announced $4,796,812 has been included for American Baptist College, Meharry Medical School and Jefferson Street Interstate Cap in the seven-bill spending package that passed the House. For the first time in more than a decade members of Congress have been able to submit specific requests for their districts, known as Community Project Funding, to be included in the spending package. Cooper’s approved projects would go to the following:

  • American Baptist College, in partnership with the Metro Historical Commission, to restore buildings on the campus of American Baptist College where many notable Civil Rights leaders received their education and training, as well as create a complementary Civil Rights walking tour of the campus to educate the public about the college’s significance and role in the Civil Rights story.
  • Meharry Medical School to fund a supercomputer cluster to support student- and faculty-specialized genomics research at their new School of Applied Computational Sciences.
  • Metro Nashville to construct the Jefferson Street Cap and Connector, an interstate cap located over I-40 from the D.B. Todd Blvd bridge to 17th Avenue North, which would help reconnect the North Nashville community and support revitalization of the historically significant Jefferson Street commercial district.
Rep. Jim Cooper (Credit: Tennessee Farm Bureau)

“These projects are vital to make Nashville more inclusive and help us continue to grow,” Rep. Jim Cooper said. “I hope the Senate will agree to support these projects and send these much-needed funds back here to Middle Tennessee.”“We deeply appreciate Congressman Cooper’s efforts and being selected for Community Project Funding to advance the Jefferson Street Cap project,” said Faye DiMassimo, Director of Metro Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodel Infrastructure. “The proposed Cap and related transportation improvements determined through community led design will yield equity, sustainability and community restoration benefits to a historical Black community generationally impacted by the construction of I-40 in the early 1960s.”“We are truly grateful to Congressman Cooper for the support of $1M towards purchase of a supercomputer cluster which will support students and faculty specialized genomics research as well as many other applications. The supercomputer cluster will provide the much-needed storage capacity and compute power as we continue to build technology infrastructure for human genomic research, with a focus on underserved populations,” said Fortune Mhlanga, Founding Dean of the School of Applied Computational Sciences at Meharry Medical College. “The support demonstrates Congressman Cooper’s great vote of confidence in Meharry’s mission. The equipment will make an immediate difference, as a vehicle to stimulate knowledge discovery, and will directly benefit our students and faculty as they develop and deploy impactful and socially-responsible scientific knowledge and practical technologies that empower society to improve the quality of life. We are now well on our way to purchase the supercomputer cluster and set it up for our faculty and students!”It is important to American Baptist College that the legacy of Congressman Lewis be preserved and his work continued,” said Dr. Forrest E. Harris, Sr., President of American Baptist College. “This legislation will provide us with the resources to  accomplish that.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s Daughter Amirah O’Neal Commits To Basketball At HBCU

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For the O’Neal family, ball really is life! Amirah O’Neal, daughter of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, is heading to an HBCU to play basketball at Texas Southern University! Get the full story on her big move from Atahabih Germain at the Atlanta Black Star below.

The uptick of athletes committing to Historically Black Colleges and Universities continues to gain great attention. Early this year, Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest son Shaqir O’Neal announced that he’d be attending Texas Southern University to continue his athletic career as a Division 1 basketball player. Now his sister Amirah O’Neal is doing the same.   

Amirah O’Neal Source: Yahoo News

According to HBCU Gameday, the daughter of the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and reality star Shaunie O’Neal recently revealed that she too would be attending the HBCU located in the state’s capital, like her younger brother.

The 19-year-old had previously been a walk-on at her father’s alma mater, Louisiana State University, but will now be playing under the guidance of Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. According to her stats, Amirah is a 6’1 post player who averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior during the 2018-2019 season. The Los Angeles native was also a 2019 MaxPreps California All-State Girls Team honorable mention and a two-time All-state honoree. 

JANUARY 13: Shareef O’Neal (L) poses with Shaquille O’Neal (C) as he celebrates 18th birthday party at West Coast Customs on January 13, 2018 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)

The athlete, who’s been playing the game since she was 10, confirmed the news on her Instagram account over the weekend with a poster featuring the words “committed.” In her caption, number 34 wrote, “I see the doubt in they faces, they didn’t think I would make it. 🤟🏽.” Friends and family members flooded the comments section with congratulatory remarks, including one user who wrote, “Yessir! Congratulations on your new journey.” That person added, “So so proud of you and what’s to come ❤️.”  “That’s right baby girl 😘😘🔥🔥🔥give me all the smoke!!!!” wrote another. A third commented, “We love to see it. Welcome to Tigerland.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CR7cg8ADMwl/

As previously reported, Amirah is the second O’Neal child to commit to the Southern university. Earlier this year, during an interview with Overtime in May, Shaqir, a shooting guard, told reporters that he chose the school because he was looking to “change the narrative” on nationally ranked high school ballplayers who choose to attend HBCUs and “do something new.” The comes as a new wave of athletes are opting to select HBCUs over more prominent colleges in hopes to bring recognition to schools lesser known for their sports programs.

Shaq’s other son Shareef currently plays for Louisiana State University, while their younger sister, Me’Arah, also reportedly has been fielding Division I offers.

FAMU Pays Off $16M In Outstanding Student Balances

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Florida A&M University students received the surprise of a lifetime when they attended their summer commencement over the weekend, which last from July 31-August 1. Millions of the university’s Cares Act funds were spent to settle balances and fees for the students! Get the full story from the article by Andrew Skerritt at FAMU Forward below.

FAMU President Larry Robinson greets a 2020 graduate during the July 31, 2021 ceremony.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) spent more than $16 million to cover fees, tuition and unpaid student account balances during the 2020-2021 school year, President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., has announced.

“Over the last year and a half, the University provided over $16 million in student support and debt relief as a result of the federal Cares Act,” Robinson said in remarks during the first of four in-person commencement ceremonies for 2020 graduates Saturday morning.

“This is an indication of our commitment to student success and our hope that your time on the “Hill” has been transformative as you take on the challenges of the day, go out and make a difference,” Robinson told School of Business & Industry (SBI), College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (COPPS, IPH) and School of Environment graduates. 

Robinson’s remarks came as other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), such as Clark-Atlanta, are announcing the erasure of students’ unpaid balances.

FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs William E. Hudson, Jr., Ph.D., said the money went toward paying off students’ outstanding tuition and fee balances during 2020-2021 school year.

 “Clearing student account balances from the previous school year was a way of practicing our motto of “Excellence with Caring” by supporting students and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hudson said. “It keeps them from having to get loans to pay off their unpaid balance. It’s been a tough year for our students and their families.”

HBCU Homecoming Dates 2021

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Let’s be honest, we miss seeing each other! So many of us were patiently awaiting 2020 homecomings because it was supposed to be a good year! Right? Wrong. Thankfully, with vaccinations up and rates of COVID-19 down, outside is opening back up. 2021 homecomings are being planned all over the country!

If you attended an HBCU homecoming, whether it was in the Virgin Islands, along the east coast, or in the south, we’re sure you have an anecdote from your most memorable experience. But who can blame you? There’s food, connections, good music, great vendors to buy para from, and on top of that, people you haven’t seen in months if not years! Among this year’s homecoming events are we all are looking forward to are #GHOE, also known as the Greatest Homecoming on Earth at North Carolina A&T State University; the rival #NOHOE, or Number One Homecoming on Earth at Fayetteville State University; the block-party style Set Friday event at Florida A&M University; the homecoming game at The Shed at Tuskegee University; and Howard University’s Yardfest performances featuring top-tier artists and entertainers.

Credit: Prairie View A&M University

We can’t forget about the classics, like the Black College Football Hall Of Fame Classic. On September 4th, Grambling State and Tennessee State will battle at the Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

There are unique parts of homecoming that especially have us ready to go outside. For one, this year’s homecoming at Jackson State University will be like none other. With Hall of Famer Deion Sanders coaching the football team and multiple 4-star recruits, nobody is going to want to miss that homecoming game against Alabama State University. And if we’re talking real reunions, the ATL homecomings in the AUC (Atlanta University Center) area are purely unforgettable. The Spelhouse Homecoming centers around Morehouse College’s game, and then Clark Atlanta University brings a re-up with its own events! Students, alumni, and friends of the whole AUC community can be found turning up to festival vibes. Additionally, a homecoming that’s really on our minds is the one at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. With the city’s history of recovering from Hurricane Katrina with a bang, we can’t wait to see how NOLA emerges from COVID at homecoming!

Look below for our complete 2021 homecoming list. We hope to see you!

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Female-Owned Firm Hosts Seminar to Address Black Gender Pay Gap

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The gender pay gap between men and women is astounding and more companies and organizations are taking a stand to call attention to it. In the United States, on average, women make $0.82 to every $1 earned by men, annually. For black women, the disparities are even worse. The inequities of the gap have long standing impacts, resulting in issues such as misappropriated generational wealth and disproportionate numbers of leadership positions for women, when compared to men. The Female Quotient is actively working to combat the gap and has built an entire platform empowering women with information and resources they can use to succeed in their careers.

One of The Female Quotients’s initiatives is to honor Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which falls on Tuesday August 3rd. That evening at 5pm ET, join a 45-minute seminar designed to help women fight the gap and excel in their goals regardless! At the virtual event, aptly named “Smart Career Moves,” young ambitious women can learn how to grab a seat at the table, navigate career firsts and nail their next job interview over the course of three sessions! Even more opportunities will be offered with participating recruiters and professionals that will offer expert advice on how to prepare for jobs and internships and navigate your career. Plus, the event will feature keynote speaker Jamila Mustafa! The multi-hyphenate is an award-winning journalist, actress, and speaker, a Former Miss Delaware State University and the founder of HBCU 2 Hollywood. 

In the first session,“Getting A Seat At The Table!” participants will hear from Jamila Mustafa, and Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd (Owner of The Divah Filez). The second session, “Mastering Career Firsts,” will feature Calandra Jarrell (Bank of America Senior Vice President and Howard University alumna), Heather Roberson (Managing Director and Global Financial Crimes Executive at BOA), Christelle Haygood (115th Miss Florida A&M University & A Queen’s Series Queen Ambassador), and Danielle Holmes (Chief Resume Writer, Career Services by Elle), and Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd. The final session, “The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways to Make Smart Career Moves,” will sum up all the gems learned from the seminar with Calandra Jarrell and Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd.

After the seminar wraps, The Female Quotient will continue to advance equality in the workplace, helping women to take up space on a professional level, bringing solutions, and creating metrics for accountability.and be sure to RSVP to Smart Career Moves here.  Learn more about the female-owned firm and how they are taking action by clicking here. We hope to see you Tuesday!  

8 HBCU Students Accepted To Summer Graduate Engineering Program

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STEM careers are fruitful, but it often takes extensive schooling up to the graduate level to be able to practice. Luckily, eight HBCU students from Oakwood University, Tennessee State University, and Morgan State University will be getting the experience they need to take their careers to the next level after being accepted to a summer graduate program. Learn more about the program and who was accepted in the Missouri S&T release by Nancy Bowles below.

Eight students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are participating in a summer program at Missouri S&T that is designed to encourage engineering students from underrepresented groups to pursue graduate studies. This year, students in Missouri S&T’s Summer Engineering Research Academy (SERA) are from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, Tennessee State University in Nashville and Morgan State University in Baltimore.

During the two-month program, which is in its third year, the students get involved in a range of research projects, including hypersonic flight materials, arsenic mobility in groundwater, additive manufacturing in laser 3D printing, fiber optics in steel manufacturing and other applications, and self-escape in mining.

Emmanuel Edorodion works on a mount inside a plasma vacuum chamber at Missouri S&T. Edorodion, an undergrad from Jackson State University, is visiting and doing research as part of the Summer Engineering Research Academy (SERA) program. Michael Pierce/Missouri S&T

“The students in the SERA program bring new perspectives to research projects in the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T,” says Dr. Kelley Wilkerson, assistant teaching professor of materials science and engineering and SERA director at S&T. “In turn, they are exposed to new research areas and degree programs throughout the summer in hopes that they will find their passion in engineering.”

Wilkerson says the SERA program provides students not only with research experiences, but also with networking, team building, and personal and professional development. While they attend SERA, the students live in a residence hall on campus and meet for weekly workshops that provide additional opportunities for learning.

The SERA program also allows Missouri S&T to further build bonds with the participating HBCUs and collaborate with the schools to continue research when the students return to their home campuses.

Eight students are participating in SERA this summer:

  • Gerald Amory of Frederick County, Maryland, a student at Morgan State University
  • Joshua Campbell of Ripley, Tennessee, a student at Tennessee State University (attended in 2019 and has returned for a second summer)
  • Emmanuel Edorodion of Jackson, Mississippi, a student at Jackson State University
  • Godwin Chierika Eke of Baltimore, a student at Morgan State University
  • Grayson Mejia of Atlanta, Georgia, a student at Oakwood University
  • David Pembamoto of Baltimore, a student at Morgan State University
  • Marcus Sarpong of Owings Mills, Maryland, a student at Morgan State University
  • Dorren Searcy of St. Louis, a student at Tennessee State University.

“The SERA program has been an exhilarating experience,” says Chierika Eke. “Missouri S&T is intellectually stimulating and gives you an incentive to pursue your goals. I love it.”

30 Delaware State Neurobiology Students To Attend Summer Institute With $600K Grant

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Delaware State University students will be able to attend an institute in Irvine, California over the next 3 years through a new grant worth $600,000! Learn more about how neurobiology students will be able to expand their studies in the release by the University of California at Irvine below.

The UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory has been awarded a UC-HBCU Initiative Summer Research and Graduate Admissions Pathways Grant from the UC Office of the President to sponsor a partnership with Delaware State University, one of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

Manuella Yassa and Dr. Autumn Ivy Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory photo: Steve Zylius/UCI

The three-year, $600,000 grant will support 30 students from HBCUs to participate in the Summer Institute in Neuroscience, an intensive, paid residential research training and professional development program for undergraduate students interested in neuroscience. The grant will also fund year-around scientific and professional development activities, including a joint virtual seminar series and continued mentorship.

“The CNLM’s Summer Institute in Neuroscience provides a robust structure for training high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds, and we are excited to bring in students from DSU,” said Dr. Autumn Ivy, assistant professor of pediatrics at UCI, a CNLM Fellow and principal investigator of the UC-HBCU program. “By placing HBCU students in faculty labs that value diversity and culturally-aware mentorship, UCI will facilitate a high-caliber research and mentorship experience for these students to explore careers in neuroscience.”

Each year, HBCU students will be joined by an additional 10 students who are funded by a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. The students will live on the UCI campus for 8 weeks each summer and will conduct cutting-edge research in CNLM laboratories.

“We aim to provide a holistic experience for the students where they will gain the scientific and professional development skills necessary to thrive in an environment where they feel welcomed, valued and supported,” said Manuella Oliveira Yassa, director of outreach and education for the CNLM and training director for the UC-HBCU program.

The University of California is committed to attracting and graduating scholars who reflect the communities of the world. However, at the graduate level, Black students are under-represented – the five-year average for enrollment in UC academic doctoral programs is 3.1 percent. The UC-HBCU Initiative, funded by the UC Office of the President, invests in building relationships and active collaborations between UC faculty and faculty and students at HBCUs. The Summer Institute in Neuroscience was one of only seven UC proposals awarded funding in 2021 and the only one awarded to UC Irvine this year.

“This multi-year partnership between UCI and Delaware State University fully aligns with UCI’s Black Thriving Initiative. Launched in August 2020, this university-wide initiative aspires to make UCI the nation’s foremost destination for Black people to thrive in higher education,” said Douglas Haynes, UCI’s vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion. “In broadening pathways to graduate education in neuroscience, the Summer Institute will contribute to transforming the professoriate and knowledge workforce of the future.”

Grambling State University President Rick Gallot Reflects On Progress And Hope on Campus

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Grambling State University President Rick Gallot is approaching his fifth year in the role. He’s experienced so much, and also grown for the better. Learn what he had to say about how he’s seen Grambling change in the eye-opening release by The News Star/USA Today below.

On Aug.1, Rick Gallot will celebrate his fifth year as Grambling State University president. During his tenure, the former Louisiana state senator has presided over enrollment and infrastructure growth, shoring up of university finances and a reboot of the nursing program.

But, overall, what gives him great joy is the success of Grambling State students.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is the improvement in our first-to-second year retention rate. When I started in 2016, our first-to-second year retention rate was only 60% and we have improved that to 77%,” Gallot said. “When you think about what our core mission is — to educate our students and have them persist in the pursue of a degree — the greatest of all achievements is that our student success rate and retention have improved so significantly.”

When Gallot came in as the 10th president of GSU, the university was on fiscal watch by the Board of Regents.

“Our finances are in better shape than they’ve ever been,” he said. “We’ve had three consecutive years of no findings in our audits.”

In 2017, the university launched an effort to raise $1 million by homecoming through a partnership between Grambling, GSU Foundation, Inc. and the GSU National Alumni Association. The funds raised by alumni, students, faculty and business partners from around the country exceeded the goal — generating $1.2 million. The funds went toward institutional growth and the carrying out of the university’s mission, including student scholarships, university stability, faculty support, balancing the budget and athletic facility improvements.

Grambling State University President Rick Gallot wears an officially licensed mask with the GSU logo. (Credit: Courtesy)

Later that year, Gallot was honored with the HBCUGrow LEAD award for ”Best Leadership” for his energetic, student-focused approach to leadership and accomplishments, including the successful fundraising effort and record student enrollment.

Fall 2020 marked the sixth consecutive year that Grambling had seen enrollment increases. The university saw a 20.47% increase from fall 2014 to fall 2020.

Focusing on people, partnerships

Gallot’s presence has brought stability to the university because he is the longest-serving president in recent history. He recalled that shortly after arriving on campus in 2016, he was walking by the Student Union and a student came up to him.

The young scholar said, “President Gallot, this is my third year here. You’re the third president and the first one I’ve met.”

That statement resonated with him and solidified the need for him to be out and about talking with students, faculty and staff — something that he did a lot of before the pandemic hit.

Martin Lemelle, Grambling State University executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said working with Gallot has been a master class in the art of leadership.

“[President Gallot] displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will,” he said. “He is incredibly ambitious, but his ambition is first and foremost for the students, the university and its purpose, not himself.”

Lemelle said Gallot embraces diversity of thought and experience and shares space with his leaders and encourages them to be innovative and bold.

“From his passion to champion “first and only” achievements to his intense focus on ensuring that (Grambling State University) has a first-row seat at tables of influence, President Gallot’s leadership ensures that (Grambling State University) remains focused on service, growth, and intelligence,” he said.

Connie Walton, Grambling State University provost and vice president for academic affairs, also describes Gallot as forward-thinking.

“President Gallot’s leadership style has consistently been that of a visionary leader,” she said. “He actively looks for partners who can enhance the reach of the university. He is student and faculty centered.”

She cited a number of “wins” under his leadership including new construction, implementation of a bachelor’s degree in cloud computing and cybersecurity, and approval to offer the university’s first doctorate program in criminology and justice administration.

Grambling also transitioned its registration process to an e-process that “proved to be invaluable during our transition to telework during the pandemic,” Dr. Walton said.

Ironically, six years ago, becoming a college president was nowhere on Gallot’s radar. The Grambling State University alumni and Southern University Law Center graduate decided to leave politics and spend more time with his wife and family, and practice law.

“I have grown to appreciate the scripture, Proverbs 19:21 — “Many are the plans in man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” he said.

When the opportunity arose for him to lead Grambling State, he knew it was the right fit because God “provided me with that peace that this was the purpose that He has for me.”

Grambling also transitioned its registration process to an e-process that “proved to be invaluable during our transition to telework during the pandemic,” Dr. Walton said.

Ironically, six years ago, becoming a college president was nowhere on Gallot’s radar. The Grambling State University alumni and Southern University Law Center graduate decided to leave politics and spend more time with his wife and family, and practice law.

“I have grown to appreciate the scripture, Proverbs 19:21 — “Many are the plans in man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” he said.

When the opportunity arose for him to lead Grambling State, he knew it was the right fit because God “provided me with that peace that this was the purpose that He has for me.”

Overcoming challenges to build legacy

Gallot said his greatest challenge as president is how slowly the wheels of government often move. As an example, when he asked GSU Computer Department head Yenumula Reddy about emerging technology, Reddy cited cybersecurity.

“So, we set about creating the first and only bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity in Louisiana,” he said.

“Business needs solutions quickly — not as rapidly as the government infrastructure would allow,” Gallot said. “That’s been one of the challenges — to quickly navigate the approval process.”

He said his goal is to “cast a vision for the institution that will make us relevant.”

The university’s new digital library, now close to completion, will be the first of its kind in the state.

“To know that we are the first and only in the state of Louisiana and the first and only HBCU with a digital library is quite an accomplishment,” he said, adding that the university needed a new library for many years but (Grambling State University) didn’t want to just build a library of the past, but a library of the future.

 “We wanted to be bold and do something that would be the first of its kind but also be forward thinking and elevate our standing as an academic institution,” he said. “Our students will have the very best cutting-edge technology as it relates to the library.”

The Grambling State University School of Nursing also relaunched its undergraduate nursing program with a 12-month curriculum in 2018. It came after the Louisiana State Board of Nursing voted to remove the conditional approval status in 2015.

A $5 million renovation of the dining hall began in 2020 and was completed earlier this year.

“SodexoMAGIC has been an incredible partner to us in enabling us to deliver that,” Gallot said.

It has been his mission to provide students with the best opportunities to be successful.

“When students choose to come to Grambling, they will be surrounded by a community of people who will provide them with the kind of environment where they will feel celebrated and not tolerated,” Gallot said.

That resonates with parents and students because of what’s going in society — police shootings of people of color, challenges to voting rights and other issues.

“We are just as relevant, even more so, as we were in post-reconstruction years,” he said.

Gallot said Grambling’s motto “Where Everybody Is Somebody” is more than just a motto. “It is, at our core, who we are. We value our students and our faculty and staff.”

That was evident when he opted not to have an investiture — a traditional president’s inauguration. Instead, he chose to put money that would have been raised for the event into the university. Fiscal decisions like this are one of many that helped facilitate two raises to faculty and staff over the last five years totaling 5.477%.

Meeting needs, planning for the future

Moving forward, Gallot said the university must continue to invest in things to meet students’ needs. That includes having degree programs that will provide them with the best opportunity to be successful, including the Call Me Mister program which seeks to train black male teachers, Gallot said.

“Only 2% of classroom teachers are black males and only 5% are black females,” he said,  explaining that the teachers in the classroom should reflect the diversity of the students.

“As an HBCU, we have a charge, a duty, a mission to ensure that we are training classroom teachers who will be the molders and mentors of children in their formative years — educators (both male and female) who will help bring the best out of these students,” Gallot said.

The university’s goal is the holistic development of students — not just in the classroom but by providing great facilities, engaging activities, internship opportunities and employment options.

Gallot said he’s looking forward to leading Grambling State into a bright future.

“Our best days are still ahead of us,” he said. “We’re really just getting started. This still doesn’t feel like work to me. For me, I feel like I’m living God’s purpose in my life.”

Spelman College Becomes Latest HBCU To Cancel Student Debts

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Spelman College is offering an unprecedented 14% off tuition for upcoming tuition, among other perks for students! Get the full story on all Spelman is offering from the Good Morning America article by Briana Stewart below.

Spelman College announced it will use federal funding to clear outstanding tuition balances for the past academic year of to address the financial hardships of students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GMA

The historically Black college based in Atlanta, Georgia, will also offer a one-time 14% discount on tuition for the 2021-2022 academic school year and rollback mandatory fees to the 2017-2018 rate.

“This reset to the lower tuition rates of four years ago will have a long-term impact on affordability,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman, in a statement Tuesday.MORE: Bank surprises single mom by paying off $150K in student loans

The Spelman College financial relief comes after Clark Atlanta University, a neighboring HBCU in Atlanta, announced it would cancel outstanding tuition balances for the spring 2020 and summer 2021 semesters.

“We understand these past two academic years have been emotionally and financially difficult on students and their families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we will continue to do all we can to support their efforts to complete their CAU education,” Dr. George T. French, President of Clark Atlanta University, said in a statement last Friday.

For Ta’Lar Scott, a 21-year-old junior at Clark Atlanta University, having her $500 tuition balance canceled was the fresh start she needed to re-enroll to finish her undergraduate degree in social work after taking a semester off.

Students listen to a discussion at a Spelman Convocation at Spelman College on Nov. 17, 2016, in Atlanta, Ga

Like thousands of HBCU students, Scott has relied on federal grants and student loans to pay for her college education. With aspirations of becoming a teacher and now as an expectant mother, paying for school expenses in addition to re-enrollment was so daunting she considered not attending the fall semester.MORE: Coronavirus erodes dreams of college for low-income students

“I was going to take this semester off and it was really because I knew I had a balance,” Scott told ABC News. “The university clearing my balance up kind of pushed me and let me know that I can do this. I’ll be fine. Regardless, I’ll have to learn how to adjust, which I’ve been doing all my life.”MORE:Bank surprises single mom by paying off $150K in student loans

HBCUs received approximately $2.6 billion through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, a $40 billion funding allocation set aside for higher education as part of the American Rescue Plan.

Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College are the latest of over 20 HBCUs using federal funding to provide financial relief and emergency funds for students in recent months. South Carolina State University, Delaware State University and Wilberforce University used federal COVID relief dollars to cancel student loan debt for eligible students.

ABC News’ Jianna Cousin contributed to this report.