June 4th 2024.
Charlotte is proudly honoring and recognizing the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in a big way. The city of North Carolina recently hosted its very first HBCU festival, a momentous event aimed at celebrating these educational institutions and educating families about their significance.
The festival, which took place on June 1, drew in residents from all over the state's capital who were eager to learn more about the rich history of HBCUs. The main goal of the festival was to strengthen the connection between Charlotte and the numerous HBCUs within and beyond its community. The organizers of the event were determined to spread awareness of the diversity and knowledge that can be found on HBCU campuses.
One of the festival's organizers, Nasir Jones, who himself is an alumnus of North Carolina A&T, shared his excitement about the event with WCNC, saying, "We brought together all HBCU cultures in one place for the first-ever inaugural HBCU Festival. It's an opportunity for people to gain awareness about the importance of HBCUs in today's society and how we can give back to our community to support these causes."
The festival saw a great turnout of fellow HBCU alumni who proudly donned their school's merchandise, showcasing their pride in attending a Black college. It was a joyful occasion, filled with fun and educational activities that taught attendees about the history of HBCUs and Black culture.
Shakira Hodges, co-owner of Trivia For Us, a company that creates educational games, expressed her enthusiasm for the festival, saying, "This is a community, this is family. We want people to learn and have fun. We also have a Trivia for Us game, which focuses on Black history and culture."
But the festival was not only about celebrating and having fun; it also aimed to inspire and encourage students to pursue a Black college experience. In line with this, the festival held a scholarship giveaway, where four lucky students were awarded $1,000 scholarships for signing up for the Black college fair. Charlotte is home to one HBCU, Johnson C. Smith University, and the festival organizers hope to attract more students to attend HBCUs through events like this.
Jones further explained the purpose behind the scholarship giveaway, saying, "We gave four scholarships for the HBCU college fair. We wanted to start right there and give students a chance to win $1,000 towards their books, tuition, or any other expenses they may have."
The popularity and enrollment in HBCUs have been on the rise in recent years, with schools like Howard University breaking records for the number of applicants for the upcoming school year. As the spotlight on HBCUs continues to grow, the community in Charlotte is dedicated to uplifting and supporting these institutions, in hopes of attracting more students to attend Black colleges.
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