HBCUs Return to Disney
The HBCU Week Foundation is returning to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for its second year from October 23-24, 2024 to welcome an expected 8,000 graduating high school seniors interested in attending an HBCU next year.
The HBCU Week Foundation started by Ashley Christopher is a nonprofit organization that encourages high school-age youth to enroll in HBCUs.
“It’s been such a gift, I mean to have access to those major platforms. Mickey Mouse is like what, the most famous brand in the world I would say,” said Christopher.
The two-day event will be hosted at the ESPN World Wide Sports Complex and will include the foundation’s career fair. According to a press release, the 2024 HBCU Week Foundation College Fair is the largest HBCU college fair in the nation. Students are encouraged to bring their current unofficial transcripts for opportunities for on-the-spot acceptance. Students will also have chances to earn scholarships.
“We have a laser focus on making sure we minimize student debt for students who want to go to HBCUs,” said Christopher. “So anytime that we see students getting acceptances on the spot [and] full-ride [scholarship] offers on the spot, there’s just an electric form of excitement in that room.”
The career fair and other resources are a part of the partnership between the HBCU Week Foundation and Disney on the Yard, a program that invests in supporting HBCUs and improving engagement with HBCUs.
On-Spot Acceptance at College Fair and More
The 2024 HBCU Week Foundation College Fair will have over 40 HBCU representatives and will take place on October 24, 2024; more HBCUs are being confirmed as the date comes closer.
“It’s just making sure that I see students that want to go to an HBCU having access to those opportunities through the foundation,” said Christopher.
Over 2,000 students were accepted into HBCUs during the 2023 college fair. Additionally, over $2 million was awarded to students through various scholarships according to the HBCU Week Foundation website.
To register for the 2024 HBCU Week Foundation College Fair click here.
The Foundation of it All
The HBCU Week Foundation was founded in 2017 in Wilmington, Delaware to help support the enrollment to HBCUs and relieve some of the financial burden students may face through awarding scholarships. The foundation also provides support for transitioning from undergraduate to corporate America through networking events and opportunities.
“We’ve been able to stand up something in a small city that is so impactful that has really taken storm across the country,” said Christopher.
Scholarship Applications
Applications for the HBCU Week Foundation scholarship applications open on September 27, 2024, and will be available on their website. Students from across the nation are encouraged to apply.
The scholarships support a range of majors and interests as well as those with no major specifications.
The HBCU Week Foundation was recently awarded a $1 million grant to assist in expanding the foundation’s efforts, including its scholarships.