Cleveland HBCU Alumni along with FirstEnergy Celebrates with ​HBCU-Bound Students...

Cleveland, OH – On what was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon (June 30, 2019) the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association along with the United Negro College Fund presented the 7th Annual FirstEnergy Destination HBCU: Student Send-off at the Cleveland Metroparks, South Chagrin Reservations – Shelterhouse. More than 150 students and parents along with alumni representing the various Historically Black Colleges and Universities were in attendance.
 
The send-off is designed for all Cleveland area college-bound freshmen students and upperclassmen returning to a Historically Black College or University in the fall of 2019. The send-off is the closing activity of the council’s annual commitment to providing wraparound educational support services to aid students to reach the “Destination HBCU” of their choice. Through this event and with the support of some generous partners and donors, the alumni group is able to continue to do the work in the name of their individual and collective institutions.

This year marked the first time involvement with the FirstEnergy Foundation as the title sponsor. Other first-time direct event sponsors included the Cleveland Cavaliers, Traveler’s Insurance, A. B.etter Way Foundation, Dominion Energy, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Returning partners were MetroHealth, Paramount Advantage, Caresource, Metro by T-Mobile, New Life Community Church of God, Dave’s Supermarkets, the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Cleveland, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Omega Chapter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Omega Chapter and Lambda Phi Omega Chapter. There were also 24 HBCUs that contributed to the event success.

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The goals of the send-off are to:

• Introduce the incoming freshman student and parent(s) to alumni and other current students of the prospective institution,
• Build relationships and capacity with other HBCU students in their respective region, and
• Create a network of resources at the campus level and in the respective community of the institution.

Photos courtesy of Nathan Bouie

We plan to enjoy this awesome event to celebrate the importance of HBCUs and the next generation of students. We want to send or return them to college with all of the positive support and encouragement from our community.”
Anthony H. Brown, Council President, ​Bethune-Cookman University Alum

We are appreciative of all of Program Partners and volunteers that made this day possible. Your donations and contributions help sustain our organization and benefit the student community which we serve.”
Nia Allen Event Co-Chair, ​Clark Atlanta University Alum

The country’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs and stewards of business and industry, and FirstEnergy is a strong supporter of educational initiatives that prepare them for a bright future. FirstEnergy hopes to become an employer of choice for the students and their families.
Lorna Wisham, Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement

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During this cookout, the alumni council acknowledged the selected 2019 scholarship recipients of the UNCF Northern Ohio Scholars Program and the Anthony H. Brown HBCU Arts Scholar. In addition to the scholarships, totaling $11,000, many of the registered students received a footlocker/trunk filled with toiletries and other dormitory room needs, care packages and a variety of gift cards.

“By partnering with organizations such as the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association, we hope to help students pursue rewarding careers that can sustain families, enhance economic development and enrich our communities,” shared by Dr. Deborale Richardson-Phillips, the Diversity & Inclusion Lead at FirstEnergy and a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, an HBCU in Winston-Salem, NC.
 
Scholarship awards were offered to the following students pending final verification of enrollment at their HBCU:

UNCF Northern Ohio Scholars Program

• Douglas Burnett, Incoming Freshman, Morehouse College
• Angel Sheeley, Incoming Freshman, Fisk University
• Mia Martin, Incoming Freshman, Spelman College
• Treasure Eiland, Incoming Freshman, Fisk University
• Jade Dedrick, Incoming Freshman, Howard University
• Monae Harris, Incoming Freshman, Southern University and A&M College
• Brianna Davis, Rising Sophomore, Florida A&M University
• Essence Cain, Rising Junior, North Carolina A&T State University
• Jermyn Brock, Rising Junior, Lane College
• Keshari Alford, Rising Junior, Elizabeth City State University
• Jalyn Dickens, Rising Senior, Howard University
• Rayshon Shelton, Rising Senior Morehouse College

​Anthony H. Brown HBCU Arts Scholarship ($2,000.00)

• Destin Adams, Incoming Freshman, Fayetteville State University

Jermyn Brock Jr., a rising junior at Lane College in Tennessee and 2nd-year recipient, is studying criminal justice and said he wants to become an FBI agent.