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HBCU Queens From Around The Nation Set To Compete For Title of Miss HBCU

By
Randall Barnes
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The time has come for a new Queen to be crowned as Miss HBCU. The conference has started and several HBCU Queens from around the nation are in Atlanta to put themselves in contention to acquire the position that Anta Nija, 2018-2019 Miss Morehouse College, has held down for the past year. The newly elected Miss HBCU will represent the NBCAHOF organization at it’s various events including the Legacy Lecture Series.

The pageant will be streamed live on the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Facebook page. HBCU Pulse will be providing coverage through our Twitter page and our Instagram page in tandem with the @aqueensseries page on Saturday. Here’s the list of Queens competing in the pageant below. (If any corrections need to be made to this list, please let me know).

  1. Aaliyah Buckholts-Miss Savannah State University
  2. Aretha Bernard-Miss Clark Atlanta University
  3. Blake Minter-Miss Bethune-Cookman
  4. Chartaveoua Greggs-Miss Jarvis Christian College
  5. Courtney Ingram-Miss Benedict College
  6. Courteny Hughes-Miss Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
  7. Dayana Lee-Miss Virginia State University
  8. De’Jha Billingsley-Miss Talledega College
  9. Deanna Lanier-Miss Morehouse College
  10. Diamond Mangrum-Miss North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
  11. Dyonna Nelson-Miss Bowie State University
  12. Erica Knox-Miss Morgan State University
  13. Fahren Nipple-Miss Albany State University
  14. Jada Crisp-Miss Tennessee State University
  15. Janiya Miller-Miss Johnson C. Smith University
  16. Jhaianne Cooper-Miss Alabama State University
  17. Keianna Hunter-Miss Lincoln University of Missouri
  18. Kyla Cole-Miss Howard University
  19. Malikah Johnson-Miss Harris B. Stowe State University
  20. Nyasia Luke-Miss Elisabeth City State University
  21. Olivia Burton-Miss Coppin State University
  22. Rachel Osinuga-Miss Texas Southern University
  23. Racquel Ranson-
  24. Sandreca Citizen-Miss Norfolk State University
  25. Sarah Adewumi-Miss University of Maryland at Eastern Shore
  26. Sherkquana Henry-Miss University of the Virgin Islands
  27. Shontavia Wright-Miss Livingstone College
  28. Talyce Hays-Miss Hutson-Tillotson University
  29. Taylor Walker-Miss Winston-Salem State University
  30. Ti’Eja Woodson-Miss North Carolina Central University
  31. Tykerria Moore-Miss Fort Valley State University
  32. Tangela Mitchell-Miss Spelman College

 

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® to Raise $1 Million in One Day For Second Consecutive Year in Support of HBCUs

By
Randall Barnes
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Endowment Fund has distributed $1.6 Million to 32 HBCUs

CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® seeks to raise $1 million in 24 hours for a second consecutive year during HBCU Impact Day on September 16, 2019.  As part of a four-year $10 million fundraising goal, AKA International President Dr. Glenda Glover is leading the challenge for contributions that can help to secure fiscal sustainability and success across all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“This year, we are simultaneously launching a ten-month campaign to secure larger corporate giving matches, corporate pledges and donations to our AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund, while continuing our efforts to support these all-important educational institutions,” said Dr. Glover, who is also president of Tennessee State University, and an HBCU graduate.

On September 16, as part of the sorority’s recognition of HBCU week, chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will host fundraising events around the globe. Donors can make contributions by texting AKAHBCU to 44321, giving by mail or online at http://aka1908.com/hbcus/donate-hbcu during the 24-hour campaign. Money raised through HBCU Impact Day will assist in providing financial support to these schools over the next three years.

“Last year, our members and supporters surpassed our million dollar goal in one day, and we began distributing funds almost immediately to support HBCUs around the country,” added Dr. Glover.

“This was a historic moment for Alpha Kappa Alpha, but it was also just as historic and meaningful for our HBCU families.”

In February, AKA gifted $1.6 million from their AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund to 32 HBCUs. Presidents from these institutions joined Dr. Glover and sorority leadership at a special Black History Month program at the Ivy Center International Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

Organizations that provided the largest corporate matches to the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund in 2018 were Caterpillar, General Electric, Hilton, Houston ISD, IBM, SAP America, State Farm Companies Foundation, UnitedHealth Group, and Wells Fargo Bank.

These endowment funds can help schools reduce student debt through scholarships, fund industry-specific research, recruit and retain top faculty, and much more.  According to The Network Journal, roughly a quarter of all African Americans with bachelor degrees graduated from an HBCU (22%). HBCUs have historically served all people regardless of race or economic standing and continue to do so. These schools are often the largest employer 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.  AKA believes the importance of these environments of higher learning and the need to support them has never diminished.

For a complete list of institutions funded in the first cycle from the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund, and more information on the sorority’s commitment to HBCUs, visit our online pressroom at www.AKA1908.com/news-events/.

Best Colleges Ranking: Spelman Tops List For HBCUs Once Again, Several Ties On The List

By
Randall Barnes
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0

The U.S. News & World Report has released its annual list of the best colleges in the nation. This list is important. Schools swear by this list, making it a vital part of their recruitment and pride as it validates what they do at their institutions. They also rank HBCUs on this list. Spelman showcased their black girl magic by topping the list once again! They’re doing magical things down there in Atlanta! But, where dot he other HBCUs rank? Check out the rankings below and let us know what you think about who should be in the top 10!

  1. Spelman College

2. Howard University

3. Xavier University of Louisiana

4. Hampton University (tie)

4. Morehouse College (tie)

6. North Carolina A&T State University

7. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

8. Tuskegee University

9. Claflin University (tie)

Tingley Memorial Hall (front facade, ca. 2007), Claflin University

9. Fisk University (tie)

 

 

11. Dillard University (tie)

11. North Carolina Central University (tie)

13. Clark Atlanta University (tie)

13. Delaware State University (tie)

15. Morgan State University

16. Tougaloo College

17. Jackson State Univesity (tie)

17. Winston-Salem State University (tie)

19. Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (tie)

19. University of Maryland at Eastern Shore (tie)

21. Prarie View A&M University (tie)

21. Virginia State University (tie)

23. Alcorn State University (tie)

23. Fayetteville State University (tie)

25. Bowie State University (tie)

25. Norfolk State University (tie)

27. Alabama State University

28. Elisabeth City State University

29. Johnson C. Smith University (tie)

29. Oakwood University (tie)

29. South Carolina State University (tie)

29. Southern University (BR) (tie)

29. Tennessee State University (tie)

35. University of the District of Columbia (tie)

35. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (tie)

37. Alabama A&M University (tie)

37. Talladega College (tie)

39. Fort Valley State University (tie)

39. West Virginia State University (tie)

41. Bennett College (tie)

41. Bethune-Cookman University (tie)

41. Central State University (tie)

44. Mississippi Valley State University

45. Albany State University (tie)

45. Florida Memorial University (tie)

47. Texas Southern University

48. Philander Smith College

49. Coppin State University (tie)

49. Grambling State University (tie)

51. Savannah State University

52. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

53. Blueford State College (tie)

53. Stillman College (tie)

53. Virginia Union University (tie)

56. Benedict College

57. Langston University

 

 

 

The Originator: Alcorn Student Created The “I’m Lit” Dance (Full Story & Proof)

By
Taderrius Woods
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Dear HBCU Pulse and all other HBCU networks. About 6 years, my senior year of high school. Me and my homies created this lil dance move and we called it “Poot Fot”. Just some funny, cool shit.

That next Fall semester, I enrolled as a freshman at Thee Alcorn State University. My section leader caught me doing this lil dance crave while crabbing under the process of T.O.P. (Alcorn’s Drum Section), and he asked me to do it in front of the entire band. The band caught on, some students, then one day I met some cool cats on campus like
@SuperStarSwazy and  @TheLegendary_AG along with a few of my partners from Natchez. In this article, you’ll witness the very day that the routine “Poot Fot”/Throw That Bih slide inside great gates of The Reservation Jackson State, Grambling and whomever else.

We do appreciate the shoutout and the process of catching on and making it go viral, but’s it’s a way to do it. No beef. Just pay tribute to home. Sorry for the long message. But this should clear it up for good. ✊🏾 Oh yeah, and it got super serious over my dance after I seen it on TV, but carry on. 

 

Follow TaDerrius on Twitter: @2choos

Update: Mc Fiji, Grambling alumnus and the featured artist on the “I’m Lit” song admitted that Alcorn started the dance! This case is closed ladies and gentleman!

Note: This is the history of the dance itself with receipts. Grambling comes in to play with the song that people are doing the dance to. A friend of HBCU Pulse, Grambling’s very own SGA Chief of Staff Ashley Dabney, shared with me that the song “I’m Lit” features Grambling alumnus Mc. Fiji!

 

Donald Trump Set To Deliver Remarks At The 2019 HBCU Week Conference

By
Randall Barnes
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After seeing this news, which I first saw reported by Black Enterprise, I had an assortment of thoughts and emotions. Being an alumni of the White House Initiative on HBCUs Scholar program (formally known as the HBCU All-Star Program), I’m not surprised that they’ll be face-to-face with Trump on next Tuesday. During our tenure in 2017, we impromptuly met Omarosa and Betsy Devos. We encountered Omarosa several times too, as she simplify wouldn’t leave us alone! Plus, the election is right around the corner. What better way to get an easy photo-op with black people than to attend an event literally aimed at black people sponsored by the White House.

Black Enterprise reports:

President Donald Trump will deliver remarks at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 10, a White House official exclusively told BLACK ENTERPRISE Friday.

More than 1,800 people are expected to attend the conference, which is themed “Enhancing HBCU Competitiveness: Student Achievement. Quality Partnerships. Institutional Performance,” including representatives from each HBCU around the country. It will be held Sept. 8–10 in Washington, D.C. Sources did not specify where Trump will make his speech.

The Initiative’s history is bi-partisan in nature. The White House Initiative itself was created by Ronald Regan in 1981. President George W. Bush then moved it under the umbrella of  the Department of Education. The HBCU All-Star Student Spotlight program (now known as the Scholars for HBCU Competiveness) was started in 2014 during the Obama administration. So far, 6 Cohorts Of students have been a part of the program and boast successful students that have gone on to do tremendous things on student leadership on their campus and landed respectable professions.

Next week, we will have exclusive coverage of the conference on our Instagram story feed courtesy of our Fort Valley State University Ambassador Rodesha Elam. Please stay tuned to all HBCU Pulse Social Media outlets as we plan to cover his visit to the Conference.

 

 

 

 

Getting Your Mind Right for the Semester

By
Nia Whitten
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Well y’all…it’s been real. The guys are throwing in the towel and our hot girl summer’s are coming to a close. Though the sun is still beaming, we can’t help but begin to cool off and prepare to be successful  for the fall semester. The question is how? Plenty of students want to know how we’re supposed to shut the fun off and put on our focus hats but the gag is: we don’t have to! Most of you know as well as I do that the fun doesn’t end at our HBCUs. One might even say it’s just getting started. Nonetheless, it is undoubtedly possible to have a ball and handle your business at the same time this year. If you’re anything like me, you need to read this: There is no need to stress yourself out about things that haven’t happened yet. Alright? We tackle things as they come and we always remain thankful in advance! It is time for successful fall semesters with lit homecomings and good grades. Hallelujah. That being said, I felt the need to share some of my “get right” methods in preparation for the months to come. Some of us are super involved with the expectations of having a full plate and others just want to wake up on time for class. Either way, I hope these can spark some motivation!

First, start setting your alarms now. This is one that is difficult for me because I do not like to wake up but it is helpful. Whether you have early morning classes or not, it’s good to start training your body to wake up earlier and get out of that summer sleep schedule. Even if you push back your alarm an hour earlier every other day and align your sleep time to those times, that works. It eases you into it, you know? You’re productive and you’ve got things to do! (Or at least things you could be doing.) There is always something to do or a way you could better yourself so let’s get up.

 

Second, develop some goals! Whether that’s making at least three A’s this semester, joining a new organization or going to Yoga every Tuesday, speak them into the atmosphere. Put them in your phone. Pray over them and then when you get to school (or even if you’re already there), write them down and put them somewhere special or post them somewhere you are constantly looking at them. This subconsciously reminds you of your goals every day and can serve as motivation if you start to lose sight of the bigger picture. Keep your eye on the prize. If you struggle with goal setting, I stumbled across these awesome charts on Instagram from @allaroundbusiness and they really inspired me. If they can somehow inspire you or give anyone reading this the tiniest push, my prayers are answered!

Lastly, cut out any toxicities of the summer or negativity and practice things that make you feel good. This might be my favorite tactic as well as the most difficult. Sometimes I have a hard time letting go of ideas, situations, and even people that are no longer healthy so much so that I deprive myself of the chance to start fresh all the time. Making consistent changes can be healthy and I’ll never understand why we shy away from them so often. I also force myself to try new things even when I don’t want to because lately, they’ve been discovered to be things that make me feel the best mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. For example, I used to hate reading. The thought of it disgusted me. I know that’s probably confusing since I’m a writer, a Communications major, and my favorite subject has always been English but that’s just the facts. My comprehension skills sucked and it made me sleepy but I got a little older and gave it another shot. I found people that I loved, writing about topics I was interested in and boom. I own like ten books now and I dream of having an extensive book collection on a white shelf in my future apartment. Wild. My point is that with everything we endure in college, it’s imperative to have something calming that feeds us aside from the chaos. Take the time to make the best decisions for your well being without fear of the future or others. It’s time to get our minds right!

Student Of The Week: Roudnes Louissaint Talks Reigning As Albany State University’s Mr. Junior

By
Tamia Coleman
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It is 100% true that being in a leadership position builds character. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to obtain all that these positions have to offer as well. Meet Roudnes Louissaint, a 20 year old junior at Albany State University that majors in Biology. He is humbly serving as the Mister Junior of his illustrious institution and HBCU Pulse had the luxury of interviewing him.

Tamia: What motivated you to want to run for Mister Junior?

Roudnes: The reason I ran for Mister Junior here at Albany State is to make a difference and help bring our campus security back to what it needs to be. 

Tamia: Were there previous people in the royal court that inspired your reign? 

Roudnes: There was no particular person on the previous court that inspired me to run. I just saw an opportunity to enhance my leadership skills and opportunity to a good legacy here at Albany State University.

Tamia: How do you plan on being Mister Junior while also balancing your academics and personal life? 

Roudnes: Balancing my personal and academic life while being Mister Junior should be easy and if not easy somewhat manageable. The reason I feel this way because being Mister Juniors puts me on another pedestal from all my other peers, so everything I do, I must do well. Academically I will excel beyond expectation by jubilantly taking my classes seriously and by not procrastinating. My personal life will also stay the same because being Albany State University’s Mister Junior is my personal life.

Tamia: What kind of impact do you think being Mister Junior will have on your character?

Roudnes: As I stay in this Mister Junior position I will gradually grow as a leader and this will impact my character by drastically improving my people skills and by showing me how to adapt to certain situations. 

Tamia: Do you eventually see yourself running for Mister Albany State?

Roudnes: Just as I saw an opportunity to make a difference as Mister Junior if I see the opportunity to be Mr. ASU and continue to be a positive influence on this campus then I will run to be Mr. ASU, God willing.    

Student of the Week: Albany State University’s DeStandreana Norwood talks Campus Involvement and Choosing ASU

By
Nia Whitten
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No matter what the streets or social media may say our institutions, we have to make sure that we continue to prioritize our HBCU’s by shining a light on them and the students who attend. With all that occurs in a world that has historically denied educational access to black people, there are so many special HBCU attendees that remain focused and ambitious. This week, we have the honor to recognize and celebrate one of them, DeStandreana Norwood. From being a part of the anointed ASU gospel choir to the Collegiate Women of Empowerment and the Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program, DeStandreana’s ability to balance involvement and academics sets an example for students everywhere.

Nia: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself or something important about yourself people should know?

DeStandrena: Well, my name is DeStandreana Norwood, a junior Biology major. Since being at ASU I’ve published my research, shadowed doctors at Duke University, and I conducted research at Indiana University this summer.

Nia: Why’d you choose Albany State?

DeStandrena: I’m from Albany so it was like a no-brainer for me to go to ASU. Albany also has great partnerships with various medical schools that I’m  interested in attending. My mother also went to ASU, so it’s pretty cool being a second generation RAM!

Nia: If I asked your peers to describe you in 3 words, what would they say? Why?

DeStandrena: My peers would say I’m smart and somewhat social. Most would say they always see me around campus. Depending upon the class, many of my peers come to me for help because they know I’ll make sure they understand. People always see me because I’m in various organizations on campus and I’m always in campus news!

Nia: What do you plan to do with your Biology degree after graduation?

DeStandrena: I plan on going to medical school upon graduating from THEE UNSINKABLE ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY!!!

Nia:  With this being your Junior season, what are your goals for this year? How do those goals differ from your first two years of college?

DeStandrena: My goals this year are to maintain my GPA and become more involved in the organizations I’m already apart of. My mindset now differs from my first 2 years because I was interested in joining more clubs but I never was fully involved in the ones I was already apart of. I also want to do a little more mentoring to freshmen because many freshmen don’t understand how important freshman year is.

 

 

Why We Should End The HBCU vs. PWI Debate Once And For All

By
Randall Barnes
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I don’t know how or why but 2019 has been the year of the HBCU vs. PWI debate. You can’t go a week without seeing HBCU and black PWI students from varying institutions going to bat over the cultural relevance of our historically black institutions and their insistence to call their black experience at their Predominantly White college an HBCU experience. What once seemed to be a vaillant display of love for our institutions in a debate that spans years is now a petty display of clout chasing that we as HBCU educated individuals fall for ever time. I’m not above this. Many times this year, I’ve fallen for this trap. However, it’s now time for us to ignore this debate and focus on what really matters: systemic attacks and senate bills that truly effect the sustainability and existence of our 101 HBCUs. 

This revelation comes after the emergence of a brand new hashtag started on Twitter by black UCAL Alumnus @PolitickinH called #HBCUCLA. According to him, the hashtag was started as a way to celebrate the black experience that black UCLA students have while also saying that he couldn’t afford to go to an HBCU while his UCLA education is free. Outside of the naming of the hashtag, his intent doesn’t seem wrong. Celebrating the black experience that you have at your institution is fine. However, invoking HBCUs to get the hashtag to travel further is clout chasing 101. That’s when you start to troll for likes/RTs.

 

There’s literally no substantive conversation stemming from the particular debate over this hashtag or the HBCU vs. PWI debate in general. It’s just tribal warfare at this point. We’re literally arguing with each other just to argue seemingly forgetting that, although our social experience differ,  we’re at our institutions for the same reason. Isn’t the point of why we’re attending these institutions to get a degree? Why argue over semantics and who has the authentic experience when we’re a monolith in that way? Besides, we at HBCUs have bigger fish to fry. The saying that we learned as children, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me,” applies to this specific topic. The “sticks and stones” in the aforementioned phrase are senate bills like SB 278, which threatens to consolidate Savannah State University, Fort Valley State University and Albany State University. Or systemic injustice against Maryland HBCUs and slick talk about HBCU mergers that continue to happen around the nation.

HBCU students have a responsibility that PWI students simply don’t have. When we enroll at our HBCUs, we’re drafted into a war where we must defend our HBCUs as attacks are lobbied against them in the goals of erasing them them from today’s collegiate landscape. We don’t have time to continue this debate and make these “My PWI is really my HBCU” topics and hashtags trend. Our priorities are different. Let the black students of UCLA and other predominately white institutions debate amongst themselves over why their black college experience mimics that of an HBCU. Meanwhile, we must be stakeholders in our own institutions and keep them alive and thriving. 

 

Albany State University: History and Fast Facts

By
Morganne Bailey
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0

Our inagrual school of the week is Albany State University. Albany State is a public 4 year Historically Black College University located in Albany, Georgia. 

Albany State was founded by South Carolina native Joseph Winthrop Holley. Dr. Winthrop, the son of former slaves, was inspired to create the institution that we now know as Albany State after reading some of the the writings of the great W.E.B. DuBois. The institution in its infancy aimed to improve conditions for the South’s African American population by offering industrial and religious education. 

Albany State underwent several name changes. The institution was first established as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute. After gaining affliation with the University System of Georgia in 1932, the institution was named Albany State College in 1943. Then in 1996 was renamed as “Albany State University”. 

The university has produced a plethora of notable alumni such as Jo Ann Payton (actress/singer), Shirley Sherrod (public officials), Rick Ross (rapper), Shaun Harper (racial equality expert), Alice Davis (first African American to win an Olympic gold medal), Kenneth Gant (athlete), Bernice Reagon (composer), Walter Curry (football player), and Alvin Ray Jackson (football player).

In 2017, Darton State College consolidated with Albany State University, making the southwest Georgia institution the largest HBCU in the state of Georgia and one of the largest Historically Black Institutions in America with a student population of 6,000+ students.

As a whole, the university also offers curriculum options such as the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Professional Studies, Distance Learning, Graduate school degree programs, Business Administration, Education, Educational Specialist programs, Counselor Education, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Public Administration, and Social Work.

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