Building Bridges Education Sets Record with 3,000 Students at HBCU Week

Building Bridges Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting students with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), celebrated a record-breaking HBCU Week, marking a significant milestone in its mission to expand college access. In its first year, BBE served 80 students, but this year, the organization connected over 3,000 students to college opportunities, making its HBCU Program one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the country.

The week-long event kicked off with Building Bridges HBCU Roadshows, which brought admissions leaders from HBCUs to high schools across the Commonwealth to introduce students to the academic excellence and rich cultural heritage of these institutions. On Wednesday, October 14, the HBCU Summit convened at Harvard Kennedy School, featuring a lineup of distinguished speakers. Dr. Sara Bleich, Vice Provost for Special Projects at Harvard University and Professor of Public Health Policy at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shared insights on expanding access to higher education. Dr. M.C. Brown II, Executive Director of the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and April English, Chief Secretary to Governor Maura T. Healey of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, also contributed to the discussions.

The highlight of the week was the Building Bridges HBCU Fair, Interview Day, and Career and Pathways Expo, held on Thursday, October 15, at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Chief Secretary April English, a Spelman alumna, joined students, families, and HBCU representatives on the fair floor. BBE welcomed 23 HBCUs to Boston, including nationally recognized institutions such as Spelman College, ranked No. 1 among HBCUs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 rankings, as well as Howard University, Tuskegee University, Morehouse College, Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, Hampton University, Morgan State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Bethune-Cookman University.

More than 3,000 students from 138 schools, including 117 Massachusetts schools and participating schools from Maine and Rhode Island, attended the event. On-site admissions interviews provided high school seniors with opportunities to receive admission offers and scholarships, while 14 Career & Pathways Expo partners, in collaboration with Boston Public Schools’ Office of College, Career & Life Readiness, connected students with employers and future career opportunities. Preliminary results show more than 325 college acceptances and $5 million in scholarships, reflecting the life-changing opportunities created through Building Bridges Education’s HBCU Week.

The success of the event underscores the commitment of Building Bridges Education and its partners, including UNCF, TMCF, and uAspire, to connect students with HBCUs, scholarships, financial guidance, and a deeper understanding of the culture, history, and enduring legacy of HBCUs. On Thursday evening, the HBCU Legacy Gala at Grace by Nia in Boston celebrated this legacy and honored three distinguished leaders for their contributions: Arleaya L. Martin, CFRE, Area Director of Development, New England, UNCF, received the Legacy Award; Ronald L. Walker II, former Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and Prairie View A&M University graduate, also received the Legacy Award; and Senator Elizabeth Miranda, Massachusetts State Senate, was honored with the Leadership Award.

Building Bridges Education plans to continue its mission by hosting HBCU Week 2027, scheduled for October 12-15, 2027, featuring the HBCU Roadshows, HBCU Summit, HBCU Fair & Interview Day, and HBCU Legacy Gala.