( ENSPIRE News ) Michelle Obama’s Campaign Salutes High School Graduates Heading To Historically Black Colleges And Universities
ENSPIRE Contributor: Megan Grosfeld
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today launched a month-long celebration of high school graduates heading to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in support of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “College Signing Day” campaign. The highly celebrated campaign has partnered with several visionary Black luminaries and change agents who are advocating for equitable education and utilizing their platform to advance educational enrichment.
“HBCU Bound” is a nationwide student advocacy and recruitment initiative in collaboration with UNCF’s National Alumni Council (NAC) to support students committing to attend HBCUs including UNCF’s 37 member institutions.
This initiative is a major component of UNCF’s HBCU effect which seeks to understand, validate and promote the success of HBCUs to develop a counter-narrative that fully demonstrates the value and competitiveness of our institutions.
The star-studded list of digital ambassadors includes; NAACP® Image Award-nominated actress and comedian Amanda Seales (HBO’s “Insecure”), Grammy Award-winning singer, Anthony Hamilton, Actor Lance Gross (Fox’s “Our Kind of People”), Executive Producer for CBS’ “The Neighborhood,” Meg DeLoatch, (first Black woman to serve as showrunner on a comedy in the network’s 94-year history), Grammy-winning R&B artist Eric Bellinger, Actor Niel Brown Jr. (HBO’s “,” CBS’s “SWAT”), Actor Marcel Spears (CBS’s “The Neighborhood”), Johnell Young (Hulu’s “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”), and more.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s College Signing Day campaign celebrates all students committed to pursuing an education past high school and inspires them to own their future.
“HBCU Bound” aligns perfectly with the former First Lady’s campaign as we recognize this special moment in time to celebrate high school seniors’ accomplishments and the decision to further their education,” said Anthony H. Brown, president, National Alumni Council, UNCF. “NAC believes it is paramount that alumni and supporters rally together to encourage these college-bound students.”
“College decision day is the biggest day in the lives of graduating high school seniors. UNCF is proud to join in the celebration,” said Maurice E. Jenkins, executive president, development, UNCF. “We applaud former First Lady Michelle Obama for her passionate support of these students on their special day.”
More “HBCU Bound” events are coming including announcements of the participation of celebrities who will serve as ambassadors and advocates for the future of HBCUs throughout the month of May.
To share news and information about this initiative on social media use the hashtags #HBCUBound, #CollegeSigningDay, and #BetterMakeRoom. For updates and additional information about “HBCU Bound 2022 Day” please click here.
Digital Ambassadors and UNCF Representatives Available for Interviews
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community, and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20% of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers over 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
To learn more about UNCF please click here.
Follow UNCF on Twitter for updates.
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