HBCU Week Turns Nine: Culture, Scholarships, and Career Pipelines

Launched by Ashley Christopher in 2017, HBCU Week has evolved into a national celebration merging culture with college access. The 2025 edition—backed by Sallie Mae and DuPont—featured concerts headlined by Juvenile and K. Michelle, star appearances from Gail Bean, Laila Pruitt, and Lance Gross, and panels on careers, culture, and the enduring role of HBCUs. A VIP reception with Stephen A. Smith capped announcements of an inaugural $40,000 Arts & Entertainment Scholarship with mentorship, internships, and year-round programming via partner Heather Lowry’s Femme It Forward. Beyond festivities, the mission remains clear: boost HBCU enrollment, award scholarships, and build pipelines from campus to corporate. Gospel brunches, mentorship sessions, and on-site recruiting connected students with opportunity—reinforcing HBCUs as engines of mobility, community, and cultural pride.

Advertisements

Source: BET