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HBCU makes history with Seven Valedictorians

Spelman College, an Atlanta-based HBCU, has made history with an unprecedented academic achievement. The nation’s leading HBCU for women celebrated a record seven valedictorians in its Class of 2026, marking the first time in school history that seven graduates finished with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Dubbed “The Spelman Seven” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the historic group includes Alexis Sims, Nia-Sarai Perry, Cori’Anna White, Aiyana Ringo, Alyssa Richardson, Sophia Davis, and Mariama Diallo. Their accomplishment highlights both the academic rigor of Spelman College and the growing tradition of excellence among its students. Seven women, one historic achievement Earning valedictorian honors

Data Center proposal at HBCU faces growing opposition in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A proposed data center project at Fisk University is drawing increasing resistance from community members and alumni of the HBCU. This adds a new challenge to one of the most ambitious campus development plans in the school’s history. Fisk University unveiled its “Quantum Leap” master plan in May. It is a $1 billion vision that includes new student housing, academic facilities, an arena, and a 100,000-square-foot innovation center anchored by a 30-megawatt data center. University officials have promoted the project as a way to position the historic institution at the forefront of technology and artificial intelligence while creating long-term financial sustainability. Now,

AEG Advances Opportunity for HBCU Interns During L.A. Summit Week Programming

As part of the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program’s (EICOP) HBCU in LA Summit Week, AEG, the leading sports and live entertainment company, hosted more than 40 interns from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at its L.A. LIVE campus on May 29, 2026. The event brought industry talent and executives from AEG and across the entertainment sector together and offered students a chance to participate in panel discussions, mentoring sessions and learn first-hand about jobs in the sports and live event industry. The day kicked off with lunch at L.A. LIVE where students were able to meet AEG employees representing

JSU partners with Getty Images and Ancestry to preserve archives digitally

By Therese Apel JACKSON – Jackson State UniversitY is partnering with Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, and Ancestry, the global leader in family history, to preserve its archival materials dating back to 1877, the university’s founding year. The new initiative looks to preserve the records, documents, and photographic archives of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as part of Getty Images’ HBCU Grants Program, making the materials widely available and accessible on the Ancestry platform. Through physical media such as yearbooks, student records, newsletters, photographs, and school catalogs, JSU’s rich history has been carefully preserved over the

Howard University Engineering Professors Recognized as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the World’s Largest Scientific Society

Written by Hayya Shah The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recently announced its distinguished 2025 Class of AAAS fellows. Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture professors Danda B. Rawat, Ph.D. and Sonya Smith, Ph.D. are honored as fellows among 449 scientists, engineers, and innovators from around the world. The fellowship is a lifetime recognition that honors a distinct cadre of high achievers across disciplines, including research, teaching, and technology; administration in academia, industry, and government; and excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. In a tradition stretching back to 1874, these individuals are elected annually by the AAAS Council and

South Carolina State funding targeted by Republican lawmakers over Pamela Evette decision

  South Carolina State students made their voices heard regarding Lt. Governor Pamela Evette’s intention to serve as commencement speaker. Now, Republican lawmakers are threatening to punish the university for exercising their right to free speech. Columbia TV station WIS 10 reported on a letter circulating from a group of Republican lawmakers demanding that $5 million dollars in funding for a potential SCSU convocation center be removed from the state budget. Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Aiken, and other lawmakers said the money should be excluded after SC State canceled Evette’s commencement speech following student protests. “This issue is not about whether South Carolina

HBCU president touts fundraising boom on Bloomberg

Grambling State University is getting national recognition once again. President Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. recently took the spotlight on Bloomberg Businessweek, bringing the voice of HBCUs to one of the nation’s most influential business platforms. During the appearance, Lemelle discussed the transformative power of higher education, the value of investing in HBCUs, and how Grambling State continues to prepare students to lead in business, technology, public service, and beyond. The national feature serves as another milestone for the university as it continues to elevate its profile under Lemelle’s leadership. With enrollment growth, innovative partnerships, and a renewed focus on student outcomes, Grambling State

The Continuing Sad Saga of Saint Augustine’s University

Following several years of declining enrollment, accreditation turmoil, and financial challenges, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, filed for bankruptcy in April. At that time, the HBCU also decided to end its ongoing legal battle regarding its status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university’s recent May 2026 graduates were the last students to receive accredited degrees from the institution. In a recent bankruptcy meeting, SAU’s board members were questioned on the university’s current financial state, which includes more than $8 million in outstanding funds to various federal agencies, according to a report

Lil Baby Pays Off Spelman Grad’s Student Loans

A Spelman College graduate just went viral for the best reason — and Lil Baby deserves every bit of the praise coming his way. Janay Lesley, also known as Nay Speaks, is a first-generation college graduate, aspiring rapper, and sickle cell disease advocate who recently revealed that Atlanta rap superstar Lil Baby paid off her student loan balance of $24,074.97 in full. The moment sent the internet into a frenzy — but what made the story truly special was the timeline behind it. Lesley first sent Lil Baby a direct message asking for help on April 8, 2022 — when

Spelman College Names Dr. Ayanna Howard Its New President — and the Future Looks Bright

Spelman College just made a move that the entire HBCU world is talking about. On Friday June 5, 2026, the Spelman College Board of Trustees announced Dr. Ayanna Howard as the new Spelman College president — the 12th person to lead the nation’s top-ranked HBCU. A world-renowned roboticist, AI pioneer, entrepreneur, and former NASA engineer, Howard will officially step into the role on August 1, 2026. She succeeds Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, a Spelman alumna who has led the college for the past 18 months following the departure of President Helene Gayle in late 2024. A Résumé Built for This

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