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- 🍂 Fall Headlines, Big Wins & Fresh Opportunities ✨
🍂 Fall Headlines, Big Wins & Fresh Opportunities ✨
From a $70M donation to band suspensions and new scholarships, here’s your weekly HBCU Roundup.
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👋🏾 Hey, HBCU fam!
Fall is here and HBCU news is hotter than ever — from big money moves to campus headlines and fresh opportunities. We’ve got everything from scholarships to spotlights. 🍂✨
Let’s get into it👇🏾
💰 MacKenzie Scott Drops $70M for HBCUs
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott just blessed UNCF with a $70 million gift to boost endowments across 37 HBCUs. That’s generational impact right there.
📊 HBCU Rankings 2026 Are In!
The latest U.S. News list of Top 25 HBCUs is out — from FAMU holding strong to NCCU making major moves. Who made the cut?
🚨 TSU Students Stand Tall After Campus Clash
A conservative debate group rolled up on Tennessee State with disrespectful signs. Students, alumni, and the community are calling it out loud and clear.
💃🏾 Honey Beez Get Their Flowers
After an announcer’s out-of-pocket remark, Alabama State’s president shut it down and celebrated the Honey Beez — ASU’s fearless plus-sized dance team.
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🎬 Elijah M. Cooper: From The Yard to Prime Time
Morehouse’s own Elijah M. Cooper is out here doing it all — hitting the books by day, shining on screen by night. Back this fall as Harry Grant in 9-1-1, Elijah is showing the world that HBCU hustle is built different. And when he’s not on set learning from legends like Angela Bassett, he’s building Tints Streetwear and carrying on his SpelHouse family legacy.
💡 Why It Matters: Elijah’s grind is a reminder that HBCU students don’t just dream — we execute. He’s proof you can chase Hollywood, build businesses, and still rep the culture with pride.
Internship Highlight: TPS Studios Dreamers Internship Program
Step into the world of film & TV with Tyler Perry Studios. A 7-week paid summer program in Atlanta offering hands-on experience across production, design, accounting, media, and more.
📍 Location: Atlanta, GA — Tyler Perry Studios
💰 Pay: $18/hour + college credit
📅 Timeline: Summer 2026 (7 weeks, full-time)
⏰ Deadline: April 11, 2026
🔗 Apply Now
👉🏾 Visit our Career Hub for more job opportunities!
Scholarship Spotlight: UNCF x PlayStation Career Pathways Program
Level up your future with mentorship and funding from Sony PlayStation. Open to sophomores at HBCUs or UNCF schools in business, engineering, or creative game design.
📍 Eligibility: Sophomore at HBCU/UNCF school; GPA 2.5+; majors in Business, Engineering, or Creative Game Design
💰 Award: Up to $30,000 over 3 years
📅 Deadline: October 17, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)
🔗 Apply Now
👉🏾 Visit our Scholarships Page for more HBCU scholarships!
Upcoming Event: Pepsi National Battle of the Bands – Palm Beaches Edition
The iconic NBOTB expands to South Florida for MLK Weekend 2026 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. Expect elite HBCU bands, culture, and community vibes all weekend long.
📅 Date: January 16–18, 2026
📍 Location: Boca Raton, FL — FAU Stadium
🤖 Morgan State Grad Launches AI Agent for HBCU Athletes
Peter Iwuh, a 24-year-old Morgan State alum and founder of Tykoon Sports Agency, just launched Tykoon AI — a game-changing platform designed to support HBCU and small-school athletes in the NIL space. From helping athletes secure brand deals and merch to creating weekly content plans, Tykoon AI puts overlooked student-athletes back in the spotlight.
💭 His Vision: Build a platform that ensures HBCU and small-school athletes aren’t left out of the billion-dollar NIL era.
💡 His Impact: Tykoon AI equips student-athletes with tools to land sponsorships, create merch, and grow their digital presence — giving our athletes the shine they deserve.
📸 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.
🚨 FVSU Suspends Band Ahead of Homecoming
Fort Valley State University has suspended its Blue Machine Marching Band after hazing allegations surfaced — just days before the Wildcats’ October 4th homecoming game against Central State.
✨ Why it matters: HBCU bands aren’t just halftime shows — they’re culture carriers. This suspension not only shakes up FVSU’s homecoming, it’s a reminder of the responsibility to protect students and uphold tradition with integrity.
4th Annual North Carolina Black College Expo
Pull up to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte for the NC Black College Expo — where students can get accepted on the spot and tap into over a million dollars in scholarships. 50+ colleges (including HBCUs) will be in the building, plus seminars on financial aid, starting a business, and more.
📅 Date: March 5, 2026 (4–7:30 PM EST)
📍 Location: Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC
💰 On-the-spot acceptance + scholarship opportunities
🗣️ Let’s Hear It: How’d this week’s roundup hit? |
From $70M gifts to tough campus news and fresh opportunities, this week proves HBCUs stay making moves. Keep grinding, keep shining, and keep repping the culture. 💜💛
Until next time,
✌🏾Your HBCU Roundup Team