White House/ASU Scholars Named

 

Two Alabama State University students have been named to the ninth cohort of HBCU Scholars by The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Dr. Malinda W. Swoope, ASU's vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, shared that the University's students who received the national honor are Haley Heard and Laquann Wilson.

 

 

 

 

Both Heard and Wilson expressed their excitement about the awards. 

 

Wilson, a senior in Political Science, said he feels extremely honored to have been selected. 

 

"I feel that this award will greatly help me in my chosen field of government, and eventually in becoming an attorney," said the native of Augusta, Ga. 

 

He said that he is especially looking forward to the tremendous networking opportunities that being with his fellow scholars will give him. 

 

"Of course, we were chosen for our academics and other criteria, but I must give a large portion of winning this award to Alabama State University and its Office of Career Services, especially, Dr. Sabrina Crowder, who has helped and encouraged me from the onset of this endeavor. I am fortunate to have both a great school, Alabama State University, and a wonderful professional, Dr. Crowder, who really helped me both know about and then achieve this honor.”

 

Heard, who graduated in May and now is in graduate school at ASU in the Master of Accountancy, Data Analytics program, explained that winning the award feels like a dream.

 

"I just feel amazing and humbled, as well as dream-like. I never felt that I would win such an important honor, and I must thank the ASU office of Career Services for all they did to make this happen for me," Heard said. "I want to thank ASU for both this and the many other important opportunities that it has made available to me since I enrolled here. So, I give ASU the credit and look forward to traveling to the Washington, D.C. area in September and hopefully seeing President Biden." 

 

 

 

ASU's two students join 102 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from 29 different states who have received the award for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, civic engagement and more. According to White House officials, the 2023 HBCU scholars are members of the largest cohort since the inception of the program in 2014 and represent a record number of institutions, with the HBCU participation rate now above 70 percent.

“Our 2023 HBCU Scholars are talented students who embody the culture of excellence and inclusion championed by our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education. “On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and everyone across the Biden-Harris Administration, I congratulate each of our 2023 HBCU scholars on this prestigious recognition and thank them for their commitment to serving their communities. I’m thrilled to see the HBCU Scholars program continue to expand its reach and provide such exciting professional development, networking, and educational opportunities to some of our nation’s brightest and most promising young leaders.”  

 

 

 

"It demonstrates that Haley Heard and Laquann Wilson have not only met but exceeded rigorous academic requirements, and it showcases their intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills, and their willingness to go above and beyond in their pursuit of knowledge," Swoope stated. "Such achievements reflect positively on ASU as a whole, demonstrating that it attracts and cultivates some of the brightest minds in the nation. Having HBCU scholars among our students enhances the reputation of Alabama State University as a top-tier institution for higher education. It attracts attention from prospective students, employers, and collaborators, showcasing our commitment to producing graduates who are academically proficient, socially aware, and poised for meaningful contributions to society."

 

 

The current cohort of scholars are enrolled at 70 of the nation’s HBCUs, including ASU. They were selected from a competitive pool of more than 300 applicants. 

 

HBCU Scholars will serve as ambassadors for the White House Initiative on HBCUs, the U.S. Department of Education, and their respective HBCUs over the course of the next year. Student-scholars are encouraged to participate in community engagement projects, work to strengthen democracy, help grow the national economy and more. Among the many important aspects of the HBCU Scholars Program is a partnership with NASA to foster innovation and opportunity for the cohorts. The scholars will have the opportunity to present their IP ideas in-person at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, during the National HBCU Week Conference in September.

“NASA’s MUREP is thrilled, once again, to engage with the White House Initiative on HBCUs to enhance the learning experience for this year’s cohort of White House Scholars,” said Torry Johnson, MUREP manager, “We are looking forward to the new ideas that the Scholars develop at the MITTIC Hack-a-thon using NASA’s technology portfolio and our continued overall support of the HBCU community.”

HBCU Scholars will also be invited to the 2023 HBCU Week National Annual Conference, which will be held September 24-28, in the Washington, D.C. metro-area at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Virginia. HBCU Scholars will participate in conference sessions designed to engage a spirit of innovation, leadership, and personal and professional development. Most importantly, HBCU Scholars will have opportunities to engage with one another, initiative staff and partners, all to showcase their individual and collective talent. More information about the 102 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.