- Skip to main content
- About Us
- Contact Us
- FAQs
-  Language Assistance ****    - English
  - español
  - 中文: 繁體版
  - Việt-ngữ
  - 한국어
  - Tagalog
  - Русский 

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

        - Student Loans
        - Grants
        - Laws
        - Data

# White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Names 2022 HBCU Scholars

# White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Names 2022 HBCU Scholars

June 10, 2022

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
Today, the White House Initiative on  Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and  Universities announced its ninth cohort of HBCU Scholars,  recognizing 86 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their  accomplishments in academics, leadership, civic engagement and much more.

  Currently enrolled at 56 of our nations  HBCU's, the scholars were selected from a competitive pool of over 350  students. Applications also required the signature of their HBCU president or  designated HBCU faculty, adding a level of prestige to this application  process.

"The HBCU Scholars announced today  have dedicated themselves to their learning and exemplify the talent that our  nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities have nurtured for  generations," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "The  Biden-Harris administration is committed to supporting these leaders and I  cannot wait to learn from them while they serve as ambassadors for the White  House Initiative and their institutions."

  Over the course of an academic school  year, HBCU Scholars will serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative on  HBCUs. They will be offered training and cross-university networking  opportunities. Scholars will also have an opportunity to work on issues  specifically related to the HBCU community and participate in national and  regional events with professionals from a wide range of disciplines.

“As an HBCU graduate I’m honored to  announce our HBCU Scholars, our future leaders of tomorrow. At HBCU’s we are a  family, we build each other up and we’re taught that we can do and be  anything," said Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House  Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity  through HBCU's. “I look forward to supporting the growth of our HBCU family  through the Scholar Recognition Program.”

  A key feature of the HBCU Scholar Program  is a partnership with NASA to foster innovation and opportunity for the  cohorts. This partnership with NASA makes the Minority University Research and  Education Project (MUREP) Innovation Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC),  “Mini MITTIC” part of the HBCU Scholar Program. Through the Mini MITTIC program  students will partner in developing ideas to commercialize technology derived  from NASA intellectual property. Scholars will have the opportunity to present  their IP ideas during the National HBCU Week Conference in September.

“The goal with Mini MITTIC is to provide  the HBCU Scholars with an authentic experience while ensuring they leave with  the foundational tools to utilize NASA intellectual property to create their  own business concept and participate in the full MITTIC competition,” said  Misti Moore, NASA’s Johnson Space Center MUREP Lead & MITTIC Activity  Manager.

  HBCU Scholars will also be invited to the  2022 HBCU Week National Annual Conference, on September 20-23 in Washington,  D.C. During the conference, they will participate in sessions designed to  engage a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal and professional  development. Most importantly, scholars will have opportunities to engage with  one another and showcase their individual and collective talent.

“As an HBCU Scholar I was able to connect  with leaders and meet professionals from various sectors including government,  the NFL and entertainment industry,” said Paige Blake, 2022 HBCU Scholar, Bowie  State University. “The professional development skills I gained through the Scholar  Program provided me with tools to navigate well beyond my academic career and I  now proudly serve on the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCU's.”

  Program events are designed to enhance  HBCU Scholars professional development and create post-graduation opportunities  within non-profit, business, and federal agency partners to ensure that as a  nation we remain globally competitive.

  More information about the 86 HBCU  Scholars' activities will be provided in the coming months as they serve as  ambassadors of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity,  Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and  Universities.
2022 HBCU SCHOLAR COHORT
**ALABAMA**

  Huntsville-Asia Jefferson attends Drake  State Community and Technical College, Huntsville, AL  Montgomery- Aylon Gipson attends Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA  Montgomery- Da’Jon Stoudemire attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL  Tuscaloosa- Chase Cameron attends Lane College, Jackson, TN

**ARKANSAS**

  Conway- Marla McGhee attends North  Carolina Central University, Durham, NC  Little Rock- Jason Muka attends Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR

**BAHAMAS**

  Nassau- Jameliah Pinder attends Shaw  University, Raleigh, NC

**CALIFORNIA**

  Bellflower- Nahiem Banks attends Howard  University, Washington, DC  San Bernardino- Jordan Holt attends Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL

**DELAWARE**

  Dover- Jessica Simmons attends Hampton  University, Hampton, VA

**FLORIDA**

  Miami- Myra Saunders attends Florida Memorial  University, Miami, FL  Orlando- Makira Burns attends Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL  Pompano Beach- Ayana Emmanuel attends Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL  Tallahassee- Khya Nelson attends Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

**GEORGIA**

  Athens- Malaya Moon attends Howard  University, Washington, DC  Atlanta- Nina Giddens attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA  Austell- Jennifer Vasquez attends Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA   Byron- Miykael Stith attends Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA  Glenwood- Andrea Holloway attends Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL  Loganville- Pariyah E. Evans attends Albany State University, Albany, GA  Macon- Almario Duehart attends Savannah State University, Savannah, GA  Moreland- Sarita Smith attends Savannah State University, Savannah, GA  Stockbridge- Jayden Williams attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA

**INDIANA**

  Lowell- Cedric Caschetta attends West  Virginia State University, Institute, WV  South Bend- Bashar Saleh attends Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge,  LA

**ILLINOIS**

  Chicago- Brice Dean attends Harris-Stowe  State University, St. Louis, MO  Chicago- Diamond Williams attends Xavier University, New Orleans, LA  Chicago- Sullivan Anderson attends North Carolina Agricultural and Technical  State University, Greensboro, NC  Chicago Heights- Shanelle Staten attends Southern University Law Center, Baton  Rouge, LA  Chicago- Steven McCollough attends Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL  Homewood- Lauren Proby attends Spelman College, Atlanta, GA  Plainfield- Britnee McCauley attends Bowie State University, Bowie, MD

**JAMAICA**

  Kingston- Daniel Jathan attends  LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN

**LOUISIANA**

  Baton Rouge- Kelsei Scott attends Jackson  State University, Jackson, MS  Baton Rouge- Kennedy Paul attends Prairie View A&M University, Prairie  View, TX  Monroe- Brandon Horne attends Southern A&M University, Baton Rouge, LA

**MARYLAND**

  Baltimore- D’Aria Couther attends Bennett  College, Greensboro, NC Baltimore- Oladayo Akinpelu attends Morgan State  University, Baltimore, MD  Baltimore- Stephanie Leggette attends Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD  Brandywine- Jamie Reed attends Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD  Brandywine- Nyah Christen attends University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess  Anne, MD  Clinton- Sydney Carr attends University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess  Anne, MD  Hyattsville- Chaylah Francis attends Bowie State University, Bowie, MD  Odenton- Drake Smith attends Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln  University, PA  Temple Hills - Nina Rutherford attends Benedict College, Columbia, SC

**MICHIGAN**

  Belleville- Jiyahna Price attends  Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona, FL  Detroit- McKinley Lowery attends Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA

**MISSISSIPPI**

  Clarksdale- Christopher Murphy attends  Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale, MS  Cleveland- Kendrick Walker attends Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS  Collins- Ronnie Davis attends Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS  Columbus- Zachary Wilson attends Rust College, Holly Springs, MS  Horn Lake- Cristina Calhoun attends Rust College, Holly Springs, MS  Jackson- Brikala Roach attends Jackson State University, Jackson, MS  Jackson- Lauren Kelli Gatlin attends Hinds Community College Utica, MS  Waynesboro- Elizabeth Moss attends Hinds Community College, Utica, MS

**MISSOURI**

  Lake Ozark- Johnny Myers attends Lincoln  University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO

**NEVADA**

  Las Vegas- Kailyn Haye attends Virginia  State University, Petersburg, VA

**NORTH CAROLINA**

  Charlotte- Paige Davis attends Johnson C.  Smith University, Charlotte, NC  Durham- Phineas Nyang’oro attends North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC  Greensboro- Tiera Henderson attends North Carolina Agricultural & Technical  University, Greensboro, NC  Wilmington- Antonio Ashley attends Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville,  NC  Winston-Salem - Trajan Baker attends Hampton University, Hampton, VA

**NEW JERSEY**

  Cherry Hill- Pujan Patel attends Lincoln  University of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, PA

**NEW YORK**

  Staten Island- Maryam Mumuni attends  Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA

**NIGERIA**

  Abia- Godwin Eke attends Morgan State  University, Baltimore, MD  Lagos- Oluwapelumi Shodubi attends Mississippi Valley State University, Itta  Bena, MS

**OKLAHOMA**

  Oklahoma City- Nakya Carter attends Shaw  University, Raleigh, NC

**PENNSYLVANIA**

  Drexel Hill - Bralyn Page attends Delaware  State University, Dover, DE  Harrisburg- Jordan Spencer attends Delaware State University, Dover, DE  Philadelphia- Horace Ryans III attends Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

**SOUTH CAROLINA**

  Charleston- Kierra Wellington attends  Allen University, Columbia, SC  Newberry- Subrina Davis attends Clinton College, Rock Hill, SC  Sherrills Ford- Gavin Gabriel attends Clinton College, Rock Hill, SC

**TENNESSEE**

  Chattanooga- Lauren Tolbert attends  Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC  Memphis- Jaylynn Lanier attends LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN  Nashville- M. Javari Henderson attends Prairie View A&M University, Prairie  View, TX

**TEXAS**

  Dallas- Donnesha Williams attends Langston  University, Langston, OK  Dallas- Kalaya Sibley attends Dillard University, New Orleans, LA  Galveston- Kemryn Lawrence attends Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA  Houston- Nicholas McDermott attends Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX  Houston- Taylor Ann Mitchell attends Texas Southern University, Houston, TX  San Antonio- Brittney Carson attends St. Phillip’s College, San Antonio, TX

**VIRGINIA**

  Hampton- Shelita Hall attends Norfolk  State University, Norfolk, VA  Richmond- Michael Kevin Crossley Sr. attends Virginia Union University, Richmond,  VA

**WEST AFRICA**

  Ghana- Obadiah Amponsah attends Lincoln  University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO

**WISCONSIN**

  Milwaukee - Anyiah Chambers attends  Kentucky State University, Frankfurt, KY
   -  Tags: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)Press Releases
          How Do I Find...?    - Student loans, forgiveness
- Higher Education Rulemaking
- College accreditation
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- FAFSA
- 1098, tax forms
- More...
      Information About...    - Elevating Teaching
- Early Learning
- Engage Every Student
- Unlocking Career Success
- Cybersecurity
Search press releasesSearch for:      Find By Month    - February 2024 
- January 2024 
- December 2023 
- November 2023 
- October 2023 
- September 2023 
- August 2023 
- July 2023 
- June 2023 
- May 2023 
- April 2023 
- March 2023 
- All Press Releases
             
*Our mission* is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
- Student Loans
- Repaying Loans
- Defaulted Loans
- Loan Forgiveness
- Loan Servicers
- Grants & Programs
- Apply for Pell Grants
- Grants Forecast
- Apply for a Grant
- Laws & Guidance
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- Civil Rights
- IDEA Website
- Data & Research
- Education Statistics
- Postsecondary Education Data
- ED Data Express
- Nation's Report Card
- What Works Clearinghouse
- Open Data Platform
- COVID Relief Data
- About Us
- Contact Us
- ED Offices
- Jobs
- Press Releases
- FAQs
- Recursos en español
- Budget, Performance
- Privacy Program
- Homeroom Blog
- Notices
- FOIA
- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility
- Security
- Information Quality
- Inspector General
- Whitehouse.gov
- USA.gov
- Benefits.gov
- Regulations.gov