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Denver to Close Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, a Tiny HBCU-Style High School, After 6 Years

The vision for Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy was to provide as many as 500 Denver students with an education modeled after historically Black colleges. But five years after opening, the school has just 24 students and could close at the end of this school year. Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero is recommending an operational closure, according to letters sent to families and staff. Denver schools are funded per student, and an operational closure is when a school’s enrollment is so low that it’s financially unsustainable. A district spokesperson said Friday that operational closures do not require approval from

Kalamazoo Promise’ Expands Free College Tuition To HBCUs In 2027

The expansion marks the first time in the program’s more than 20-year history that HBCUs nationwide will be included among its eligible institutions. Students graduating from Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan will soon have the opportunity to attend historically Black colleges and universities with their tuition covered through an expansion of the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship program, Fox 17 reports. Beginning in fall 2027, eligible students can use their scholarships at accredited, four-year HBCUs nationwide, expanding access to institutions that have historically played a significant role in educating Black students and developing generations of Black professionals and leaders. The expansion marks

BeyGOOD Awards $25K Grant To Reagan Fresnel’s Summer Camp To Place ‘More Children On HBCU Campuses’

Spelman College alumna Reagan Fresnel is exposing the youth to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Fresnel graduated from the Atlanta college in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political scienceand government. Her HBCU experience, which embodied “Black pride” and “Blackexcellence,” left a lasting impression and motivated her to create a similar experience for thenext generation of learners, Capital B News reports. Camp HBCYouth In 2021, she launched Camp HBCYouth with Morehouse College alumnus Brian Wright. Theseven-week summer program has served 2,000 elementary school students K-5. According to its website, the program focuses on several pillars, including academicenrichment. The curriculum emphasizes literacy,

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute unveils HBCU tribute wall

The history, culture and impact of all 14 of Alabama’s historically Black colleges and universities are now permanently celebrated at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. During a ceremony Friday, BCRI leaders unveiled a tribute wall featuring the names of each school and the year it was established. BCRI honors Alabama’s 14 HBCU schools with display New exhibit highlights HBCU contributions The institute is also featuring a new exhibit that highlights the schools’ contributions to the civil rights movement, education and American culture. BCRI President and CEO Deborah Bowie said honoring the schools was an easy choice when considering programming at

Denver to close Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, a tiny HBCU-style high school, after six years

By Melanie Asmar, Chalkbeat Colorado The vision for Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy was to provide as many as 500 Denver students with an education modeled after historically Black colleges. But five years after opening, the school has just 24 students and is set to close at the end of this school year. Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero is recommending an operational closure, according to letters sent to families and staff this week. Denver schools are funded per student, and an operational closure is when a school’s enrollment is so low that it’s financially unsustainable. Unlike most school closures,

Kalamazoo Public Schools Scholarship to Cover Tuition at HBCUs

The Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program for graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) in Michigan, has expanded to support students attending four-year, historically Black colleges and universities. Established in 2005, The Kalamazoo Promise program provides scholarships covering up to 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for KPS graduates attending one of 60 postsecondary educational institutions in the state of Michigan. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have attended a KPS system school for at least the entirety of their high school education (grades 9 through 12). The tuition benefit is based on the length of continuous attendance

NCRF Brings HBCU Empowerment Week to Detroit, Culminating with 6th Annual Detroit Black College Expo™

Hosted by Black College Expo™ Presented by Gilbert Family Foundation, weeklong initiative brings college access, workforce development, HBCU culture and millions in scholarships to students National College Resources Foundation (NCRF), home of Black College Expo™, is bringing a full week of education, empowerment and opportunity to Detroit through HBCU Empowerment Week, presented by Gilbert Family Foundation (GFF), and supported by DABO Detroit (Detroit Association of Black Organizations) September 21–26. Designed to meet students where they are — from their high school classrooms to career exploration and college access, the week features a series of experiences focused on motivation, workforce readiness,

Mississippi Colleges Expand Food Pantries as Students Struggle to Cover Basic Costs

By Jatika Hudson Public universities across Mississippi are expanding food pantries and other basic-needs services as rising costs for housing, groceries and transportation squeeze students, many of whom juggle heavy course loads with little financial help from family. The newest pantry is at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. It opened for medical and nursing students on Sept. 1 after an August food drive collected donations, Mississippi Today reported in a story distributed by The Associated Press. Shelves hold groceries along with personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste and laundry detergent pods. Jonathan Nutt, UMMC’s director

First Central Illinois HBCU fair connects students with opportunity

The first-ever Central Illinois Historically Black Colleges and Universities fair was held Thursday night at University High School in Normal. The fair brought HBCU’s from around the country to Normal in order to connect with young Black students. This fair is usually held in Chicago, but to make it more accessible, students in Normal organized the event in Central Illinois. “Just having the showcase feel makes it feel more at home. And I hope that that’s how they feel and they’ll be interested in going to an HBCU. And I also hope that they’ll have the opportunity to talk to

Delaware State University student gives back to hometown through back-to-school drive

For Delaware State University student Victoria Wicker, giving back to her hometown meant making sure students could begin the school year with more than just the supplies they needed. She wanted them to start with confidence, excitement and the freedom to choose something of their own. Wicker, a Law Studies major from Irvington, New Jersey, and member of the Class of 2027, recently organized a back-to-school drive in her hometown to provide school supplies to students from kindergarten through college. The idea was inspired by something Wicker remembered from her own childhood: seeing elementary school students arrive for the new school year

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