Event focuses on academics, community service and mentorship
by Shawn Nowlin
Parents, students and college representatives filled William Fleming High School Saturday, Feb. 16, to see what over a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities had to offer at the 2019 HBCU College Fair. The annual event is rooted in three things: academics, community service and mentorship.
Approximately 350 people registered for the event. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., questions were answered, resumes and transcripts were looked over and contact information was given out.
There are 101 HBCUs throughout the country. Representatives from Virginia State, Hampton, Winston-Salem State, St. Augustine’s, Howard, Norfolk State, Virginia Union, North Carolina Central, West Virginia State, Virginia University of Lynchburg, North Carolina A&T and Fayetteville State attended Saturday’s event.
Aaron Deane served as event moderator. The WFRX News Personality reinforced to all in attendance why it’s essential to shed light on the importance and legacy of historically Black colleges and universities.
A panel consisting of five HBCU products discussed their own college experience, tips on how to deal with financial aid and the many resources that HBCUs offer. They were: Kayla Harris, North Carolina A&T University Class of 2017; Arlethea Scott, Fayetteville State University Class of 1990; Mekhia Day, West Virginia State University Class of 2020; Natasha Saunders, North Carolina A&T State University Class of 2009; and Alyassa Jones, Virginia State University Class of 2012.
“I tell the students that they can separate themselves when it comes to getting into college by being aware of, understanding and leveraging their unique gifts and talents,” Saunders said. “This includes academics, athletic abilities, artistic expression, leadership capabilities and so on.”
Added Ramirez: “Students that come prepared with transcripts, test scores and a smile always stand out to me.”
“HBCU Fairs take place yearly all over the country. To be held during Black History Month is only a plus when our younger generations are more so focused on Black history,” said Virginia University of Lynchburg Director of Recruiting Operations Tolbert Matthews, a Fayetteville State University alum. “This is a great opportunity for Black excellence, and the history of our HBCU’s to be shared with as many students as possible.”
Both Essence Anderson and Mia Vargas are high school seniors. Affordability and proximity to home are at the top of their list of what they are looking for in a college.
Anderson says she wants to study photography, while Vargas hasn’t made up her mind yet.
“The weather was less than ideal, but I made sure that I was present at the HBCU Fair because I wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity,” said Vargas before Anderson added, “I was encouraged to ask a lot of questions, and that is exactly what I did.”
In 2016, Arlethea Scott was asked to participate in an HBCU panel discussion as a representative for her alma mater, Fayetteville State University. She is currently a Project Advisor for TRIO Programs’ Talent Search, a college readiness federal-grant program, at Virginia Tech.
“My responsibilities consist of traveling to several schools throughout Southwest Virginia to guide and ensure college exposure, access and preparedness among middle and high school aged students who tend to fit in the under-represented, first-generation or low-income categories,” Scott said.
Sophia Berkel, who attended both Howard University and the University of Maryland, has served on the HBCU Fair Planning Committee for the last two years.
“I attended Howard University from 1991 to 1993 and then transferred to the University of Maryland where I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science,” Berkel said. “My experiences at both were vastly different. While I did well at both institutions, it was easier for me to thrive at Howard University when I was not such a significant minority.”
Lexi Woods attended the HBCU Fair with her two children who are high school underclassmen. When asked why she spoke to so many people, Woods said: “to help secure my children’s future.”
Thirty-three students were “accepted on site” to one or more colleges. In honor of Black History Month, event organizers try to hold the Annual HBCU Fair the second Saturday in February.
