Why more college students, athletes are committing to HBCUs – Everett Post

(NEW YORK) – It’s the time high school graduates make this consistent decision: what’s next?

Curtis Lawrence made his choice. Behind these braces and this megawatt smile is a talented 16-year-old who recently made a difficult decision for his future.

Curtis received a total of $ 1.6 million in scholarships and was accepted into 14 schools, including Harvard and Yale, but he chose Florida A&M University, a historically black university also known as FAMU.

“They made sure to contact me,” he said, adding that he felt welcome at the university. “I know that FAMU is the right choice for me.”

“My parents made me interested in HBCUs all my life,” Curtis continued. “And that there was a place where I could develop as a young black man.”

Since the death of George Floyd, many students and athletes have taken it upon themselves not only to use their voice, but also to take actions that they believe will make a difference.

With college enrollments down nearly 3% overall year over year this spring, HBCUs are enjoying growing popularity in both the classrooms and on the field, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Numbers show the effect. Morgan State University reported nearly 15,000 undergraduate applications – an all-time high and a 58.5% increase from 2019. Howard University said it saw a double-digit increase in applications for the third year in a row.

Last year, one of the most elite basketball players in the country, Makur Maker shocked the nation when he turned down top basketball programs including Kentucky and UCLA.

He became the highest-ranking player in the modern day recruiting era to choose an HBCU when he chose Howard University.

“During the social unrest, the assassination of George Floyd, that was a turning point of everything,” Maker told ABC NEWS. “That really made me seriously consider an HBCU.”

Maker said he wanted to encourage others to go with their hearts.

After his decision, other aspiring star athletes, such as the son of rapper Master P and the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, got involved with HBCUs.

“Picking the right college and the right play style or culture is always difficult,” Maker said. “But I have the feeling that every time I am offered an opportunity with a great variety of whether I should lead and learn at the same time, that is child’s play for me.”

HBCUs began to grow in the early 19th century to educate people of African descent, including freed slaves and their descendants who were not allowed to attend white facilities.

Many HBCUs have weathered decades of racism-based challenges such as the Jim Crow laws, underfunding, and accreditation issues.

Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest HBCU, has seen a 70 percent increase in applicants from across the country, said university president Aminta Breaux, the first woman to run the school.

“Our doors were open to every race, gender and orientation,” she said. “We are an open, diverse community and we believe there is greater benefit for all of us.”

The other HBCUs from Bowie State and Maryland are now preparing for a large cash injection to support the expansion plans. The state approved a total of $ 577 million to be sent to HBCUs over a 10-year period.

“I think this is a wrong that has been redressed,” said Breaux. “So now we look to the future to build our programs, create more academic innovation, and provide the scholarships that are so badly needed for our students as we see a growing divide across the country.”

While Curtis is preparing for high school graduation, the 16-year-old has already earned his associate degree from George Washington University, which means he will join FAMU as an aspiring junior.

When asked what other young people should know about HBCUs and why they should attend, Curtis’ face smiled brightly.

“I would say HBCUs are the place to go,” he said. “They have a specific culture that other schools do not have that they cannot reach.”