By Ashleigh Fields,
AFRO Assistant Editor,
afields@afro.com
The White House recently selected 102 students to join the ninth cohort of HBCU scholars, the largest cohort since its inception in 2014. Undergraduate, graduate and professional leaders were identified through the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity.
“Our Eagles chosen to represent Coppin State University as White House HBCU Scholars are thought leaders committed to using their intellect, curiosity and knowledge to change the world for the better,” said Coppin State University President Anthony L. Jenkins. “They set the bar for personal and academic excellence, and I have every confidence they will use this experience to continue uplifting our campus and the global community we share.”
Over 300 students vied for the prestigious title which includes networking opportunities, a partnership with NASA to commercialize technology that can improve their campus and an ambassadorship during the National HBCU Conference.
“I have a passion for minority populations and the treatment in the community that are suffering from the respective disease,” said Annalyse Belton, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who cites the death of her grandfather from prostate cancer, and health care disparities she sees in the Caribbean and in the United States for racial and ethnic minorities, as motivators to pursue a career goals.“I’m really passionate about entering this field and just bringing knowledge and change because even if you help one person, that one person is a huge change.”
The 2023 HBCU Week National Annual Conference will be held from Sept. 24 to 28 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Va. This year’s conference theme is, “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence Through Innovation and Leadership.” HBCU Scholars will engage in a plethora of training sessions geared towards honing their skills as leaders.
“I feel mostly proud of myself but also honored and blessed to be given this title. Knowing that out of 350 plus applicants I was one of the few selected is the most ethereal experience I could have,” said Carys Carr, an HBCU Scholar from Howard University. “I’m excited to see where the year takes us and the opportunities this accomplishment will bring.”
According to the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity, “students in this program are encouraged to lift their communities, unite others around student success, work to strengthen our democracy, and grow our economy.”
“Our 2023 HBCU Scholars are talented students who embody the culture of excellence and inclusion championed by our nation ’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and everyone across the Biden-Harris Administration, I congratulate each of our 2023 HBCU scholars on this prestigious recognition and thank them for their commitment to serving their communities.”
A complete list of HBCU Scholars by the alphabetical order of their state or country of origin and then their hometowns are listed below.
ALABAMA
(Alpharetta) Taya Davis, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
(Dothan) Jamal Maloney Jr., Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, PA
(Dothan) Ta’Kari Bryant, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL
(Gadsden) Jessica Parker, Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL
(Huntsville) Jaela Haynes Williams, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL
(Madison) Makahla Riley, Drake State Community & Technical College, Huntsville, AL
(Montgomery) Matilda Perryman, Trenholm State Community College, Montgomery, AL
(Montgomery) Morgan Marshall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL
(Montgomery) Thaddeus Sneed, Trenholm State Community College, Montgomery, AL
(Pleasant Grove) Haley Heard, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
(Troy) Ch’Erykah Dunn, Paine College, August, GA
(Tuscaloosa) Chiamaka Okafor, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL
(Tuskegee) Eddie Tolbert, Drake State Community & Technical College, Huntsville, AL
(Tuskegee) Bruce Taylor, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
DELAWARE
(Newark) Imani Wulff-Cochrane, Delaware State University, Dover, DE
(Wilmington) Aa’Khai Hollis, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD
FLORIDA
(Cutler Bay) Maiya Lyn-Ah-Ping, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
(Jacksonville) Janiya Jones, Bethune Cookman University, Jacksonville, FL
(Orlando) Ndidi Ude, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
(Riverview) Lillian Carr, Hampton University, Hampton, VA
(Tallahassee) Terrance McPherson, Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC
GEORGIA
(Atlanta) Aleisha Sawyer, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
(Atlanta) Emmanuel Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
(Augusta) Joshton Mincey, Voorhees University, Denmark, SC
(Augusta) Sierra Powell, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
(Covington) Charis Haynes, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
(Hamilton) Jamyra Hayes, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley GA
(Riverdale) Alexander Richardson, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA
INDIANA
(Indianapolis) Kristyn Lyles, Florida Memorial University, Miami, FL
(Indianapolis) Morgan Graves, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
ILLINOIS
(Belleville) Payton Jackson, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC
KANSAS
(Kansas City) Kennedy Thompson, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO
(Wichita) Lovette Mba, Langston University, Langston, OK
KENTUCKY
(Bowling Green) Chyler Hughes, Lincoln University of MO, Jefferson City, MO
(Louisville) Dariyah Pennix, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
KENYA
(Siaya) Annan Odongo, Rust College, Holly Springs, MS
LOUISIANA
(Monroe) Henry Steele III, Southern University A&M University, Baton Rouge, LA
(New Orleans) Dana Bailey, Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
MARYLAND
(Baltimore) Annalyse Belton, Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD
(Baltimore) Tesfay Robel, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
(Bethesda) Elisha Cloy, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA
(Bowie) Brittney Henry, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD
(Columbia) Camille Young, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
(Upper Marlboro) Khamara Logan, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD
(Upper Marlboro) Victoria Lanier, N.C., North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC
(Waldorf) Zairen Jackson, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC
MICHIGAN
(Bloomfield) Juliet Makena, Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC
(Detroit) Samarion Flowers, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL
MINNESOTA
(Saint Paul) Afiya Ward, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL
MISSISSIPPI
(Brandon) Atlantis Funches, Hinds Community College- Utica, Utica, MS
(Collins) Ronnie Davis, Alcorn State University, Alcorn, MS
(Jackson) Nishan Shears, Hinds Community College- Utica, Utica, MS
(Ripley) Amelya Hatch, Rust College, Holly Springs, MS
MISSOURI
(Kansas City) Desmond Williams, Clinton College, Rockhill, SC
NEVADA
(Las Vegas) Mia Douglass, Benedict College, Columbia, SC
NORTH CAROLINA
(Charlotte) David Wilson, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC
(Charlotte) Kaiyah Brown, N.C., North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC
(Charlotte) Trinity Cromwell, Bennet, Benedict College, Columbia, SC
(Concord) Ezeji Nwanaji-Enweren, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
(Southern Pines) Olivia Boyd, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
NEW JERSEY
(Palmyra) Laquann Wilson, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
(Pennsauken) Calvin Bell, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
NEW MEXICO
(Rio Rancho) Charina Lancaster, Langston University, Langston, OK
NEW YORK
(Brooklyn) Raquel Liverpool, Miles College, Birmingham, AL
(Bronx) Tamara Wood, Shaw University, Raleigh, NC
(Rochester) Carys Carr, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
NIGERIA
(Abuja) Joshua Umoru, Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX
(Agbor – Delta State) Obiajuru Nwadiokwu, Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL
(llaje – Ondo State) Adeleye Mesogboriwon, Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL
(Jos) John Josiah, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC
PENNSYLVANIA
(Cheyney) Matthew Wilford, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney, PA
(Harrisburg) Jordan Spencer, Delaware State University, Dover, DE
(Mount Pocono) Troy Wilson, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, PA
(Pittsburgh) Rakayat Sulaiman, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney, PA
(Philadelphia) Tori Haynes-Harrison, Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD
(Philadelphia) Youma Diabira, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
SOUTH CAROLINA
(Blythewood) Kenard Holmes, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC
(Columbia) Simya Levine, Voorhees University, Denmark, SC
(Fort Mill) Victoria Jordan, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC
(Hardeeville) Marlaysia Westbrook, Allen University, Columbia, SC
(Olar) Patience Badger, Denmark Technical College, Denmark, SC
TENNESSEE
(Antioch) Hailey Russell, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
(Chattanooga) Crystal Ammons, Southern University Law Center Baton Rouge, LA
(Memphis) Artrae’vian Epps, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS
(Memphis) Ebenezer Nyenwe, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
(Memphis) Marissa Pittman, Dillard University, New Orleans, LA
(Memphis) Tyler Finley, Dillard University, New Orleans, LA
(Nashville) Reagan Hagewood, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX
TEXAS
(Abeline) Jabraisa Doss, St. Phillips College, San Antonio, TX
(Austin) Kamaria Marshall, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
(Desoto) Ishmia Black, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR
(Fort Worth) Moreen Kabuho, Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX
(Hawkins) Jhavier Law, Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX
(Houston) Kristian Salas, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
(Water Valley) Jason Bailey, St. Phillips College, San Antonio, TX
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
(St. Croix) Michael Bell, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, UVI
VIRGINIA
(Hopewell) Zakyha Jones-Walker, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC
(Newport News) Jordan D. Moody, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
(Richmond) Michael Crossley, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA
(Suffolk) Trinity Woodson, Fisk University, Nashville, TN
WEST INDIES
(St. Kitts) Jackeima Flemming, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, UVI
WEST VIRGINIA
(Bluefield) Patrice Sterling, Bluefield State University, Bluefield, WV
WISCONSIN
(Milwaukee) Mariah Williams, Shaw University, Raleigh, NC
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