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- 🦃🔥HBCU Heat This Week: Wild Wins, Big Breaks & Thanksgiving Vibes
🦃🔥HBCU Heat This Week: Wild Wins, Big Breaks & Thanksgiving Vibes
Big stories, big energy, and big plates this week. Let’s get into it.
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Happy Thanksgiving Week, fam! 🦃✨
Before we slide into full plate mode, here’s your quick hit of what’s buzzing across the HBCU world. We’ve got major wins, big creative energy, a breakthrough spotlight moment, and a couple of opportunities you definitely don’t want to sleep on.
Let’s get into the vibes — the culture showed out this week.
🥁 BOTY Final Four Set — And It’s All Heat
Southern, FAMU, Miles, and Fayetteville State are headed to Atlanta for the 2025 Red Lobster Band of the Year (BOTY) showdown — and the competition was tight. After a blind vote and one of the most competitive seasons ever, these four came out on top. Expect precision, culture, and straight HBCU greatness on Dec. 12.
🎺 Alcorn State’s SOD Takes Over the Macy’s Parade
The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite are bringing Mississippi style to the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With over $500K raised and a full community send-off, Alcorn is stepping onto one of the biggest stages in the country with pride, flavor, and signature SOD energy.
💬 Students Break Down What “Stay Up” Really Means
A stacked list of HBCU grads making waves across music, film, politics, and more. From Hollywood to Capitol Hill, the blueprint stays Black and HBCU-made.
🚀 B-CU Launches Eight New Future-Ready Degrees
Bethune-Cookman is stepping boldly into Spring 2026 with new programs in AI, Cybersecurity, Esports & Gaming, Digital Marketing, Actuarial Science, Healthcare Admin, and more. It’s all part of B-CU Futures — a vision rooted in Dr. Bethune’s legacy and built for tomorrow’s leaders.
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🎬 Howard’s Kennedi Reece Lands Major Role in A Different World Sequel
Howard University musical theatre major Kennedi Reece just secured the kind of role most young actors dream of — starring as Hazel in Netflix’s new sequel to A Different World.
From switching her major freshman year to auditioning for Debbie Allen on campus, Kennedi’s whole journey feels like destiny in motion — and she’s stepping into this moment with pure Bison confidence.
💭 “It’s just like everything really fell into place — it felt predestined.”
💡 Why It Matters: This is more than a casting announcement — it’s a full-circle HBCU legacy moment. Debbie Allen (HU alum), the original A Different World impact, and a current Howard student carrying the torch? That’s history repeating in the best way.
BNA Artist Fellowship
The BNA Artist Fellowship is a professional incubator supporting Black creatives in animation. Selected fellows receive stipends, mentorship, and creative resources to develop an original animated short that culminates in a public screening.
📍 Location: Not specified (virtual/hybrid depending on project needs)
💰 Stipend/Pay: Stipend provided (amount varies)
📅 Timeline: Several months (project-based; includes final screening)
🎓 Eligibility: Black creatives in animation; must be a BNA member (membership is free); 3–5 teams will be selected
🔗 Apply Now →
👉🏾 Visit our Career Hub for more job opportunities!
Niche $50,000 No Essay Scholarship
Niche is awarding $50,000 to one student to cover tuition, housing, books, and other college expenses — no essay required.
🎓 Eligibility: High school or college students, or anyone enrolling in college/grad school within 1 year; U.S. citizens or valid U.S. visa/passport holders
💰 Award: $50,000
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025
🔗 Apply Here →
👉🏾 Visit our Scholarships Page for more HBCU scholarships!
HBCU AWARE FEST 2026
AWARE FEST is an HBCU-centered event developed by the Student Freedom Initiative to help raise awareness around student loan debt, financial mobility, and student support. The program brings together students, partners, and advocates for an impactful night focused on opportunity and empowerment.
📅 Date: March 26, 2026 • 7:30 PM
📍 Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
🚀 Tuskegee Trailblazer Gladys DeClouet Is Redefining What Leadership Looks Like
When we talk about Black excellence with receipts? Gladys H. DeClouet is the blueprint.
The Tuskegee alum, engineer, executive powerhouse, and now author is pulling back the curtain on her incredible journey in her memoir, A Layered Life — now available wherever books are sold.
She went from being the first female engineer in offshore oil and gas to running multi-billion-dollar divisions at BP, Burger King, and Jack in the Box — all while navigating (and beating) systems never built for Black women.
💭 “Life is layered, and each challenge can serve as a steppingstone to growth, purpose, and legacy.”
💭 Her Vision: Gladys believes in leading from a place of integrity, purpose, and courage — and using your influence to open doors for others coming behind you.
💡 Her Impact: Across industries, she’s been the “first,” the leader, the mentor, and the one who made space where there wasn’t any. Her story shows exactly what it looks like to rise without losing yourself.
📸 IG Post 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.
🏈 Benedict Said “Not On Our Watch” — Wild Trick Play Seals First-Ever Playoff Win
Listen… Benedict really wrote a whole movie script on Saturday.
Down 24–0 deep into the third quarter, the Tigers flipped the entire game on its head and walked away with a 25–24 win — their first NCAA playoff victory ever — thanks to one of the craziest last-second trick plays you’ll see all season.
Backup QB Jackson Jensen came in cooking, the defense locked in, special teams ripped a 95-yard “don’t-play-with-us” touchdown, and then… that final play happened.
💡 Why It Matters: This was Benedict’s first-ever NCAA playoff win, and they earned it with one of the wildest comeback finishes in D-II football. It put HBCU football front and center — right before a must-see rematch with Albany State.
LOUD x FAMU — The Creator Summit Experience
The Creator Summit Experience is a one-day creative gathering where digital media meets urban culture. It brings together creators, influencers, entrepreneurs, and creative pros for connection, collaboration, and growth.
📅 Date: December 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: TopGolf Miami Gardens, 17321 NW 7th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33169
🎯 Includes: Panels, workshops, culture-driven networking, and creator-focused sessions
🤝 Who’s It For: Creators, entrepreneurs, influencers, and brand builders
And that’s the roundup, fam. Take this week to rest, recharge, and enjoy your people — the grind will still be there after the leftovers. Thanks for rocking with us and keeping the HBCU energy loud and proud.
Don’t forget to hit the poll, share the Roundup, and tap back in next week. ✌🏾
— Team HBCU Lifestyle
#HBCULifestyle #HBCUPride #BlackExcellence