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- š¼ Labor Day Power Moves: Morgan, The Mecca & HBCU Culture on Top
š¼ Labor Day Power Moves: Morgan, The Mecca & HBCU Culture on Top
On this Labor Day, weāre celebrating HBCU excellenceāfrom Morgan Stateās historic medical school plans to Howardās leadership shift and HBCU culture shining at the US Open.
Happy Labor Day, fam! š¼āØ
While youāre relaxing, grilling, or catching up on some muchāneeded rest, weāve got your dose of HBCU news and inspiration. This week is stacked with milestonesāfrom breaking barriers in medicine and leadership to shining on national stages. Hereās your roundup of how HBCUs are making history and shifting culture right now.
Letās get into itšš¾

𩺠Morgan State Makes Medical History
Morgan State just locked in a $1.75M grant to lay the foundation for Marylandās first public, nonprofit M.D. program. This means more Black doctors, more equity, and more reasons to rep the Bears.
š¾ US Open Puts HBCUs Center Court
From Queens to the cultureāthe US Open went full HBCU with the 5th annual HBCU Live. FAMUās Marching 100 lit up the stage while Althea Gibsonās legacy got its flowers on the 75th anniversary of her breaking barriers. Plus, two new $10K scholarships in her name are now on deck.
š Howard Holds the Crown + Shifts Leadership
The Mecca stays on topāForbes and LinkedIn both crowned Howard as the nationās #1 HBCU. And with the win comes change: President Ben Vinson III steps down, and Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick returns as interim leader. Excellence steady, leadership ready.
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āļø Tuskegee Student Earns His Wings After 80 Years
Isaiah Hand, a 20āyearāold Aviation Science major from Tallahassee, just made history at Moton Fieldābecoming the first Tuskegee student in nearly 80 years to earn a private pilotās license. He skipped vacations, trained all summer, and now heās flying high while carrying the Tuskegee Airmenās legacy into a new era. His story is pure determination with a Crimson Pipers soundtrack.
⨠Why it matters: Tuskegeeās Aviation Science Program is back in full force, with 16 more students on deck to earn their wings. Itās proof that the legacy isnāt just historyāitās the future.

Job Opportunity: World Bank Treasury Summer Internship
Spend your summer in DC with the World Bank Treasury. This 10āweek paid internship (May 26āAug. 3, 2026) rotates interns through three Treasury teams, offers mentoring, and ends with a capstone presentation to leadership. Interns earn $21.80ā$26.20/hr and gain a pathway to a Junior Analyst role.
š Location: Washington, DC (Onāsite)
š Whoās Eligible: Rising seniors (grad Dec.āÆ2026āSept.āÆ2027), finance/econ/business majors, GPA good standing
š” What Youāll Gain: Training, rotations, networking with Treasury leadership
ā° Deadline: Dec.āÆ2025
š Apply Now
šš¾ Visit our Career Hub for more job opportunities!
Scholarship Spotlight: TMCF x JPMorgan Chase Hardship Scholarship
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and JPMorgan Chase are teaming up to support HBCU students facing financial need. 121 scholars will be selected to receive up to $2,500 for the 2025ā2026 school year. Funds are applied directly to tuition and fees.
š Whoās Eligible: Fullātime sophomoresāseniors at TMCF schools, GPA 2.5+
š Requirements: FAFSA on file, U.S. citizen/permanent resident, show financial need, 2āmin video essay
š Deadline: Dec. 1, 2025 (or until funds run out)
š Apply Now
šš¾ Visit our Scholarships Page for more HBCU scholarships!
Upcoming Event: HBCU In LA: Careers in Entertainment
Mark your calendar: September 16, 2025 at Clark Atlanta University. The Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program is hosting HBCU In LA, giving students the inside track on 8ā10 week internships with major studios, record labels, and production companies. A real pipeline to Hollywoodāstarting right on campus.
š Location: Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA
š„ Focus: Entertainment, media, sports, music & communication
ā° Time: 12ā1:40 PM ET
š Register Here

š HBCU Grads Changing the Game in Green Construction
Shoutout to Yvonne Dragon (Hampton) and Randall Dragon (Clark Atlanta)āthe powerhouse duo behind The Dragon Group. Theyāre repping for the culture while breaking barriers in sustainability and construction management.
š¬ Their Vision: Build spaces that reflect innovation, equity, and sustainabilityābringing HBCU excellence into every brick and beam.
š” Their Impact: From student housing at Morehouse to healthcare facilities for Grady, their projects have touched over 20M lives. With Yvonne leading as one of the few Black women in this space, theyāre proving the future of construction is inclusive and bold.
šš¾ This is innovation, impact, and legacy all rolled into one.
šø IG Pic of the Week
Straight from the Yard šš¾ Each week weāre pulling one of our favorite moments off IG to keep the culture in your inbox. Donāt just peekāmake sure youāre following so you never miss a vibe.

šļø Tennessee State Holds Off NC A&T in Nashville Thriller
Tennessee State edged North Carolina A&T 24ā21 in Music City. Kendric Rhymes powered TSU with 174 rushing yards and two long touchdowns. The Aggies had a late chance to tie, but Lathun Snipes blocked a 38āyard field goal to seal the win.
⨠Why it matters: TSU kicked off the season with resilience and bigāplay energy, while NC A&T showed theyāre still a dangerous opponent. Both squads proved HBCU football is packed with talent and drama.
š Full game recap

The Alabama Collective Partners with Pivot Tech
Mark your calendar: Enrollment open until Oct. 3, 2025 for this new workforce-ready boot camp. In partnership with Pivot Tech, The Alabama Collective is offering a fully virtual, instructor-led Data Analytics Training Program designed to help students, graduates, and career changers pivot into one of the fastest-growing fields in tech.
š Location: Virtual (Online)
š¼ Focus: Data analytics skills, workforce readiness, career pathways
š Program Dates: Late Oct. 2025 ā MidāApr. 2026
ā° Schedule: Mon, Tue, Thu (6ā9:30 PM ET) + every other Sat (10 AMā2 PM ET)
š Learn More & Enroll

š£ļø Letās Hear It: Howād this weekās roundup hit? |
Thatās a wrap for this weekās drop.
Thanks for spending part of your Labor Day with us! Whether youāre on the grill, on the go, or just getting some wellādeserved rest, we hope this roundup gave you pride, inspiration, and connection to the HBCU family.
Until next weekākeep shining, keep striving, and keep repping our culture everywhere.
āš¾Your HBCU Roundup Team