Evanston Township High School’s annual HBCU Experience Day highlighted the history, legacy and opportunities of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The full-day event, held on Feb. 5, featured presentations, panel discussions and a scholarship fair.
High school juniors and seniors had the opportunity to initiate their college search early by speaking in person to representatives from HBCUs — institutions that were established when segregation and exclusion barred Black students from many colleges and universities. HBCUs remain vital institutions in higher education today.
Sean Blaylock represented North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University at the event. He noted it gave ETHS students an opportunity to get firsthand information about institutions that are outside the Midwest.
“It’s the exposure,” Blaylock said. “A lot of the HBCUs, but not all of them, are based out of the Southeast area of the U.S. Some students may not have been aware of the schools represented here with accredited programs in their major or areas of interest.”
Blaylock noted that some of the HBCUs are just as affordable for out-of-state as in-state students. “There are also some pluses in terms of the personal environment and the network [at HBCUs],” he said.
“Each school — HBCU or not — has its own personality. You want to find a program that’s accredited in your area of interest and certainly one that’s affordable,” he added.
Representatives from the UNITY Scholarship Committee were on hand to help students learn ways to help fund their college education. For the past four decades, UNITY has awarded scholarships to high school seniors and college students. The committee includes more than 20 predominantly Black community organizations such as churches, sororities, fraternities, family and community groups that come together to recognize the academic excellence of local youth and to help high school graduates further their education.
This year, HBCU Experience Day was held during Black History Month, when ETHS honors the history, cultures, and contributions of Black Americans in Evanston and beyond. The 2026 Black History Month theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” celebrates 100 years of efforts to study, preserve and celebrate Black history.
