A deposit deadline gets missed, plans fall apart, and the “perfect” timeline disappears. That moment could have ended Nasir Mohammed’s Morehouse dream, but it becomes the start of something better: a gap year built on accountability, discipline, and a clear decision to keep moving when the finish line shifts.

We talk with Nasir, a Chicago-area student heading to Morehouse College, about why choosing an HBCU matters to him as a young Black person looking for connection, culture, and an education that tells the truth about Black history. He shares what it’s like navigating the college search largely on your own, why Morehouse felt like love at first sight, and how his nontraditional school experience shaped his mindset around empowerment and purpose.

Nasir also reads his scholarship essay and breaks down the lesson behind it: setbacks can be preparation if you take responsibility and stay intentional. He explains how he used the delay to apply for scholarships, deepen community service, join leadership programs, and even train as a walk-on baseball athlete. We also get practical about college readiness, networking, and why alumni connections can make a new city and a new campus feel possible from day one.

If you believe in HBCU scholarships, college access, and Black student success, this story will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone college-bound, and leave a review so more people find these scholars and support their journeys.

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Belonging can change everything, and Corynn Keck has been chasing that feeling since she was eight years old, when she was new to Charlotte and was swept into a sense of community by the Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl excitement.

Now, she's headed to Howard University to pursue a career in sports management. She's not just dreaming about game day—she wants to be part of the team behind the scenes, helping make the thousands of decisions that create unforgettable fan experiences and determine who gets to feel included.

In this conversation, we explore the moments that shaped her journey: years of volunteering at a youth basketball camp, intentionally reaching out to the child who felt left out, and realizing that inclusion doesn't happen by accident—it is designed with purpose.

From there, Corynn connects sports business to real-world challenges, including ticket prices that can exclude families and environments that don't always feel welcoming to women and diverse communities. If you care about equity in sports, diversity in athletics, or what it takes to build a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated industry, her perspective is both insightful and inspiring.

Corynn also shares why choosing an HBCU is a key part of her professional strategy. She discusses what stood out during her campus visits, why strong alumni networks matter, and how being surrounded by people who understand your experiences can become a powerful launchpad for success.

We also have an honest conversation about the changing realities of college funding, how merit scholarships often don't cover the full cost of attendance, and the resilience it takes to pursue outside scholarships while staying focused on your goals.

If this conversation resonates with you, be sure to subscribe, share this episode with an HBCU-bound student, and leave a review so more people can discover these stories of purpose, community, perseverance, and forward motion.

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Missing a goal by 0.1 can mess with your confidence or it can change your life. We sit down with scholarship contestant Nicholas Boone from Bowie, Maryland, who’s headed to Morgan State University to major in civil engineering, and he brings a story that hits hard for students, parents, and educators alike. His essay starts with a simple truth: progress doesn’t move in a straight line, and the finish line doesn’t stay put. 

Nicholas opens up about losing football eligibility after his grades slipped just enough to miss the cutoff by 0.1 GPA. Instead of letting that moment define him, he rebuilt his routine with tutors, teacher check-ins, and better study habits, then came back stronger on and off the field. We talk about why civil engineering fits his personality and goals, how city-building games and 3D printing helped spark his passion for building real things, and how STEM programs and leadership opportunities taught him to collaborate, teach, and step up. 

We also zoom out to the bigger HBCU ecosystem: the South Texas HBCU summer send-off in San Antonio, community partnerships with the Urban League, and practical resources like the Common Black College Application that help students apply to multiple HBCUs affordably. Then Nicholas shares the mark he wants to leave behind a future scholarship for the “gray area” students with 2.5 to 2.7 GPAs who work hard but often get overlooked. 

If you care about HBCU students, STEM education, academic resilience, and building stronger communities through infrastructure, press play. Subscribe, share this with a college-bound student, and leave us a review then tell us: what setback ended up becoming your turning point?

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A teenager goes from years of homelessness to working hands-on in STEM labs and aircraft hangars, and she can explain every step that got her there. We sit down with Donna Lee Dawes from Point and Beach, Florida, a standout in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend contest, as she shares the story behind her decision to attend Morgan State University and major in coastal science and policy with a minor in computer science.

Donna reads her scholarship essay in full, reflecting on her Jamaican upbringing, her parents’ immigration journey, and the instability of moving between shelters, couches, cars, motels, and temporary housing. She doesn’t soften the hard parts, but she also names the moments that built her: a mother who spoke affirmations, “little adventures” that sparked a love of the natural world, and a choice in high school to chase opportunities that once felt out of reach.

We also dig into the practical path of building a real STEM career early: interning at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, leading at the Boeing Aerospace Science Academy as the first Black female choice program president and student director, earning awards, completing dual enrollment, and interning at Gulfstream Aerospace at 17. Finally, Donna explains how she plans to leave her mark at Morgan State by building community, creating programs for students with similar backgrounds, and mentoring the next generation of Black leaders in STEM, marine conservation, and environmental science.

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We welcome two powerful student voices for day two of the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend essay reading and hear how they turn family, faith, and discipline into real college plans. We also share ways to support HBCU-bound scholars through voting, donations, and the upcoming South Texas HBCU Summer Send-Off. 
• day two format for the scholarship essay reading and why the competition feels tough 
• South Texas HBCU Summer Send-Off details in San Antonio and what support students need 
• Common Black College Application overview and why it helps students apply to multiple HBCUs 
• Gregorio Armand’s essay on pushing forward through hard work, creativity, and relationships 
• cybersecurity motivation rooted in protecting people after seeing a family hack 
• choosing St. Philip’s College as an HBCU option close to home and financially practical 
• Mariell Curb’s essay on breaking generational cycles through education and mechanical engineering 
• Tuskegee preparation through internships and a summer bridge program for engineering students 
• leaving a mark on campus through clubs, mentoring, leadership, and showing up 
• why each contestant believes they deserve your vote 
Please remember to vote, and if you have already voted or have tried to vote, the voting link is actually not active right now, but on Sunday or Monday, it will be back up. If you are interested in being a vendor or interested in supporting our scholars, use that link up to the top of the screen, or just send me a DM and I will gladly tell you how you can support. 

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Scholarship season is here, and we’re kicking off the Takeisha A. Davis Annual Competition with three unforgettable voices and three very different reasons for choosing an HBCU. What starts with quick announcements about our HBCU summer send-off celebration and ways to support college-bound students turns into something deeper: a front-row seat to how young scholars think about belonging, purpose, and the future they’re determined to build.

First, we meet a Chicago student heading to Tuskegee University who reads an essay about breaking generational cycles through education. She connects her lived experience to mentorship, explains why physical therapy is her path, and makes a clear case for accessible healthcare and support that actually reaches underserved communities. Then we welcome two more round-two contestants Vivian and Alexandria, who share what pulled them toward an HBCU, from family legacy and an HBCU tour to a counselor’s advice about finally getting four years of true belonging.

The essays and follow-up questions take us into identity, culture, and resilience. Vivian describes being Nigerian and Black American as a “remix,” refusing to stay stagnant while learning to hold both worlds with pride. Alexandria shares how a family medical crisis pushed her to grow up fast, how scuba diving helped her face fear with knowledge, and why she’s aiming for cardiology at Howard University. Along the way, we also highlight tools like the Common Black College Application and community support options for students and families.

If you care about HBCU culture, Black student success, scholarship opportunities, STEM pathways, and real stories from future healthcare leaders, press play. Subscribe, share with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review then tell us which essay you’re voting for.

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You can feel it when a city decides to stop “talking about” Black excellence and actually programs it. We’re counting down to HBCU weekend in San Antonio, and we’re doing things differently this year with a real run-of-show that centers culture, family, and students not just a room full of tables. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make an HBCU celebration feel meaningful, organized, and alive, this conversation gives you the behind-the-scenes.

We’re joined by powerhouse performer and creative leader Devon Matthews, who breaks down her work as founder and artistic director of Art Noir Productions, an all-Black performing arts organization built to fix a representation gap across dance, theater, spoken word, and more. She shares why training and stage opportunities matter, how young people grow when the standard is high, and why she’s bringing a tribute that honors Black culture and HBCU pride. We also welcome Anthony Harris Brown back as we talk program upgrades, why youth performers belong on an education-centered weekend, and how quickly people underestimate Black kids until the talent hits the mic.

Then the energy shifts to pure community fun with Rod Eckles and the fashion talk, plus a reminder that tickets are moving and the door price jumps if you wait. We also shout out honorees and resources that support college-bound students, including tools like the Common Black College App and HBCU trivia that keeps the history close.

Listen, share this with someone coming to the weekend, and then subscribe and leave a review so more people find the show. What part of an HBCU weekend matters most to you: the awards, the performances, the networking, or the student spotlight?

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Graduation season brings a lot of applause, but I want to talk about what happens after the caps come off. I share a message I originally delivered as a school speech, built around one idea that changed how I see education, success, and purpose: graduation is only a concept, and in real life we graduate every single day. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re enough, worried your dreams are too big for your circumstances, or felt behind because of someone else’s timeline, this conversation is for you.

I get personal about not starting at the top, making mistakes, and learning the kind of lessons no classroom can teach. We unpack what it really means to “shrink yourself” and why I keep repeating this line: do not dim your light so others can shine. We talk self-worth, confidence, and how social media comparison can steal joy, especially for students and young professionals trying to figure out who they are. You’ll also hear a clear reminder that titles, awards, and recognition can be nice, but they’re not your value.

Then we zoom out to community and opportunity, with a spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and why they matter for culture, connection, mentorship, and lifelong belonging. We share community voices connected to the HBCU Community Icon Awards and the bigger mission of supporting student scholars, connecting alumni with students, and building real networks that pay off later. If you care about education, mentorship, scholarships, and helping the next generation lead without apology, press play and stay with us.

Subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs the reminder, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What’s one way you’re ready to stop shrinking and show up fully?

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A birthday show can be more than candles and dinner plans. I’m celebrating the whole month, but I’m also turning that celebration into support for A Better Chance for Youth Incorporated because it’s crunch time and our students need us. If you’ve ever wanted a practical way to invest in youth mentoring, college access, and real outcomes for college-bound seniors, this conversation lays out exactly how we’re doing it and how you can plug in.

I walk through our upcoming HBCU Community Icon Awards and People’s Choice Awards, including why ticket sales and business sponsorships matter and how the event helps fund our South Texas HBCU summer send-off. The goal is simple: celebrate excellence while making sure more young people can step onto the campus of a historically Black college or university with confidence, community support, and a network behind them. I also share a quick tip for saving money on tickets: the newsletter is where the promo code lives.

Along the way, we spotlight helpful HBCU resources like the Common Black College Application, which lets students apply to 50+ HBCUs at once for a low cost, plus a fun educational option with an HBCU trivia game. Then we shift into the heart of the celebration with a tribute montage full of love, laughter, and reminders that mentorship is built over years, not moments.

If you believe in lifting students and strengthening HBCU pathways, listen, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the mission. What’s one way you’ve seen community support change a young person’s future?

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You can feel HBCU pride when it’s real and Alfonso Scott brings the real. After a quick run of community updates and award-season reminders, we sit down with Alfonso to trace his path from Dayton, Ohio to Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, including the culture shock that nearly sent him back home. What changed was the thing HBCUs do better than almost anywhere: community. He talks candidly about finding his people, growing through campus life, and carrying that foundation into adulthood. 

Then we dig into his decade-long passion project, “We’ve Got Something to Talk About,” built from hundreds of interviews with HBCU alumni across generations, schools, and cities. It’s not a single-campus story, it’s a living collage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities told by the people who lived it. If you care about HBCU advocacy, college choice, student success, or simply preserving Black education history, these testimonials explain why HBCU alumni stay so loyal and so loud. 

We also talk about his HBCU commemorative calendar that pairs images with quotes from the book, plus practical resources for families navigating application season, including the Common Black College Application. Listen for the through-line: when we share our stories, we widen the path for the next student. 

Subscribe, share this with an HBCU-bound scholar or proud alum, and leave a quick review telling us what your HBCU story says about you.

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