White House Initiative on HBCUs
September 10, 2018
White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Announces 2018 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars
The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universitieshttps://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/about-us/ announced today the names of 63 students from 54 HBCUs who have been selected as 2018 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars - the Initiative's highest student recognition.
Comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, Competitiveness Scholars are recognized for successfully preparing to compete for top opportunities that improve long-term outcomes. Each was nominated and endorsed by their institution President, which itself is an honorable mention. They were selected from among several highly distinguished HBCU students chosen based on their academic achievement, campus and civic involvement and entrepreneurial ethos or "go-getter" spirit.
In the course of their one-year term, Competitiveness Scholars will learn and share proven and promising practices that support individual and HBCU competitiveness, with the goal of strengthening prospects for career and life success.
Competitiveness Scholars will assemble September 16-18 at the 2018 National HBCU Week Conference held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in Washington, D.C. During this national convening - the theme of which is HBCU Competitiveness: Aligning Institutional Missions with America's Priorities - they will participate in workshops designed to improve leadership, encourage ongoing personal and professional development and discover areas of innovation and entrepreneurship. As the embodiment of unique competitive advantages HBCUs provide students, Competitiveness Scholars are afforded opportunities to highlight their exceptional contributions to institutions, ignite new passions and explore ideas critical to lifelong growth and development.
Competitiveness Scholars are recognized for the 2018-2019 academic school year. Throughout this period, the Initiative will provide outreach and engagement activities, as well as information and resources that can be disseminated to fellow students. They are expected to fully take advantage of the opportunities provided, engage with one another and showcase individual and collective talents across the HBCU spectrum.
Competitiveness Scholars will receive their recognition during the conference on the evening of September 17, at the Initiative's Excellence in Innovation and Competitiveness Awards.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Below is a list of the 2018 WHIHBCU Competitiveness Scholars, in alphabetical order by hometown state, the school they attend and the school's location.
LIST STUDENTS NAMES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY HOMETOWN STATE
ALABAMA
Birmingham- Erin Black, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee
Demopolis- Caleb Washington, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
Selma- Terrance Platt, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
AFRICA
Harare, Zimbabwe- Basil Masaisai, Wiley College, Marshall, Texas
ARKANSAS
Little Rock- Kevontae Carter, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas
BAHAMAS
Nassau- Bercario Bodie, Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, North Carolina
CALIFORNIA
Long Beach- Akili Smith, Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland
FLORIDA
Tallahassee- Devin Harrison, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida
West Palm Beach- Zakiaya Telfort, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama
GEORGIA
Augusta- D'Ariel Walker, Voorhees College, Demark, South Carolina
Austell- De'Janae Tookes, Jarvis Christian College, Hawking, Texas
Fairburn- Antonio McMillian Jr., Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia
Riverdale- Adelia McKinley, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia
Stockbridge- Serena Hughley, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
ILLINOIS
Chicago- Faron Rush, Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana
Chicago- Sade Shofidiya, Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia
Chicago- Philip Thompson, Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama
KENTUCKY
Louisville- Jallen Leavell, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge- Oscar McClain, Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Lafayette- Thea Celestine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland
Lafayette- Justin Edwards, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia
Monroe- Jimmie Herring, Southern University Law School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans- Brianna Golden, Southern University Law School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans- Chevel Powell, Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana
MISSISSIPPI
Edwards- Hezekiah Williams, Hinds Community College-Utica, Raymond, Mississippi
Gulfport- Reagon Johnson, Tugaloo College, Tugaloo, Mississippi
Pearl- Jamireia Hampton, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Beta, Mississippi
MISSOURI
Florissant- Kamron Robinson, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Kansas City- Michael Weaver, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky
Saint Louis-Reid Chunn, Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, Missouri
NEVADA
Las Vegas- Erinn Williams, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio
NORTH CAROLINA
Concord- Ijemdinma Ozodigwe, Winston-Salem State University, Winston Salem, North Carolina
Denver- Torey Haynes, Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Elizabeth City- Rachel Sutton, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia
Elizabeth City- Briana Rountree, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Greensboro- Erykah Briggs-White, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Hunterville- Kailyn Price, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro, North Carolina
Newton- Chelsea Powell, Winston-Salem State University, Winston Salem, North Carolina
OHIO
Cincinnati- Daniel Lee, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio
OKLAHOMA
Tulsa- Michael Ware, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi
Tulsa- Myshal Morris, Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia- Jabir McKnight, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia- Jameerah Ali, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina
SOUTH CAROLINA
Abbeville- Deandre Hurley, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina
Greenville- Kourtney Smith-North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro, North Carolina
Mount Pleasant- Raekwon McFadden, Morris College, Sumter, South Carolina
Orangeburg- David King, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia
Spartanburg- Jordan Rice-Woodruff, Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina
Spartanburg- Sabrena Brink, Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina
TENNESSEE
Nashville- Tyler Binion, Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina
Memphis- Irah Gates, Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi
TEXAS
Beaumont- Nneka Ede, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, Prairie View, Texas
Houston-Cydney Stevenson, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
Houston- Opara Elizabeth, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
Houston- Viesha Gedfrey-Phelps, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
San Antonio- Alicia Perry, St. Philips College, San Antonio, Texas
Spring- Maduforo Eze, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, Prairie View, Texas
VIRGINIA
Alexandria- Mona Lisa Paulk, Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina
Hampton- Jose Thomas, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia
Richmond- DeVon Jackson, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia
Vicksburg- Lisa Johnson, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi
WEST VIRGINIA
Belle- Edgar Lopez-Torres, West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia
Bluefield- Robert Brown, Bluefield State University, Bluefield, West Virginia
SANDRA M. PHOENIX
HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director
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Honor the ancestors, honor the children.
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