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Welcome Week Energy + STEM Wins & Culture Moves Across HBCUs
From robots crushing it at NASA to Welcome Week turn-ups and history-making athletes, here’s how HBCUs are leveling up this fall.
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👋🏾 What’s good, Fam!
Welcome Week is officially wrapped and y’all showed OUT. From drumlines shutting it down to cookouts, step shows, and making new lifelong friends—HBCU campuses were buzzing like only we can. And if that wasn’t enough, our students are making national headlines—from NASA competitions to barrier-breaking athletes. The fall semester is off to a historic start.
Let’s get into it👇🏾
🏟️ WSSU Switches Up Homecoming for Safety
Winston-Salem State is putting the Ram Fam first with some big Homecoming changes—early campus closures, presale parking, tighter tailgating rules, and more police support.
🎉 Why Welcome Week Hits Different at HBCUs
At schools like Howard, FAMU, PVAMU, and NCAT, Welcome Week isn’t orientation—it’s a whole family reunion. Between parades, cookouts, gospel concerts, and step shows, the culture makes you feel at home from day one.
🍖 Kingsford Launches “Pass The Tongs” with HBCUs
Kingsford just kicked off a new campaign at Morehouse College to celebrate Black barbecue traditions. Think grill-offs, tastings, and real talk around the pit—all while investing back into our schools.
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🚀 Virginia State University’s NASA Lunabotics Triumph
Virginia State University’s Lunabotics Team was the only HBCU selected to compete in NASA’s 2025 Lunabotics Challenge at the Kennedy Space Center. A 15-student squad designed and built a robot that nailed every task on simulated lunar terrain—showing off precision, creativity, and teamwork.
✨ Why it matters: This win puts VSU students on the national STEM stage, proving HBCUs are producing the engineers and innovators ready to solve real-world challenges.
Job Opportunity: Labor & Employment Associate
Frost Brown Todd LLP is looking for a Labor & Employment Associate to join its team in Louisville, KY. This entry-level role is perfect for recent grads with strong academics and communication skills.
📍 Location: Louisville, KY (On-Site)
💵 Salary: $155K–$170K
🗓️ Posted: Aug 2025
🔗 Apply Now
👉🏾 Visit our Career Hub for more job opportunities!
Scholarship Spotlight: Crowned to Lead HBCU Scholarship
This one’s for the ladies! The Crowned to Lead Scholarship supports BIPOC, female-identifying high school seniors and freshmen attending HBCUs. Share your growth story through an essay or video to be considered.
📌 Who’s Eligible: BIPOC, female-identifying students | GPA: 2.8+
💵 Award: $2,500
📅 Deadline: Oct 7, 2025
🔗 Apply Now
👉🏾 Visit our Scholarships Page for more HBCU scholarships!
Upcoming Event: HBCUFI Pre-Accelerator Info Session
Got a business idea? The HBCUFI Pre-Accelerator is an 8-week program to help you validate, pitch, and build. This virtual info session breaks it all down.
📅 Date: Aug 29, 2025
📍 Location: Virtual (Zoom)
⏰ Time: 6 PM ET
⚖️ HBCU Grads Build Platform to Clear Criminal Records
Howard alums Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman are tackling justice reform with LegalEase. Their app, Expungement.ai, makes it easier for folks to check eligibility and file petitions to clear their record.
💬 Their Vision: Justice should be accessible, period. They’re scaling from Mississippi now to nationwide soon.
💡 Their Impact: Helping people unlock jobs and housing opportunities while breaking down systemic barriers.
📸 IG Pic of the Week
Straight from the Yard 👉🏾 Each week we’re pulling one of our favorite moments off IG to keep the culture in your inbox. Don’t just peek—make sure you’re following so you never miss a vibe.
👟 MVSU Adds First Female Football Player
History made at Mississippi Valley State! Nina Schiks, a Netherlands native, is officially the team’s first female kicker. And she’s here to compete—not just make headlines.
🌟 Why it matters: Another glass ceiling shattered in HBCU sports.
UNCF Launches Wealth-Building Campaign
UNCF just rolled out Wealth in Numbers, calling on HBCU students, faculty, and staff to share thoughts on building generational wealth. The school with the most responses wins $10K.
📅 When: Runs through Sept. 30
🗣️ Let’s Hear It: How’d this week’s roundup hit? |
That’s a wrap for this week’s drop.
From Welcome Week turn-ups to students building robots at NASA, athletes breaking barriers, and culture-filled traditions on campus, this week proves the HBCU fam stays undefeated. Let’s keep that same energy rolling into football season.
And as always—drop your rating in the poll and let us know how we did.
Same time, same vibe next week.
✌🏾Your HBCU Roundup Team