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SUNO Knights Athletics Receives NAIA Award for Second Time this Summer

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Knights Women’s Basketball and Volleyball Receive National Academic Honor
This is the second time this summer that SUNO Athletics has been honored by the NAIA
 
NEW ORLEANS – September 17, 2024 – Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) Athletics is proud to announce that its Women’s Volleyball and Women’s Basketball teams have been named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Scholar Teams for the 2023-24 academic year. This prestigious honor is part of the 2024 NAIA National Awards Day, which celebrates student-athletes, athletics personnel, and teams for their hard work, exemplary character, and significant accomplishments both on and off the field.
The NAIA Scholar Team Award recognizes teams that achieve a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the nominating institution. SUNO’s Women’s Basketball team achieved a 3.24 team GPA, while the Women’s Volleyball team earned a 3.08 team GPA.
“We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their dedication not only to their sports but also to their academics,” said James A. Matthews, III, SUNO Director of Athletics. “This recognition reflects the hard work these young women put in daily to excel in all aspects of their collegiate experience. It’s an honor to see their efforts recognized nationally.”

This is the second NAIA honor for SUNO Athletics this summer. In July, the department received the NAIA’s highest honors for character and community service and was recognized as a Champions of Character Five Star GOLD department for 2023-24.
The Scholar Team Award highlights SUNO Athletics’ commitment to fostering excellence in the classroom and on the court. These achievements build on a strong tradition of academic success within SUNO Athletics and reinforce the department’s purpose of developing well-rounded student-athletes.
The complete list of NAIA Scholar Team honorees is available here.
For more information about SUNO Athletics, visit sunoathletics.com.
 
-SUNOKNIGHTLIFE-
 
 
Stay up to date on sunoathletics.com and on social media.
Facebook/Instagram/X: @sunoathletics
VB IG: @sunoknightsvolleyball
WBB IG: @sunoknightswbb
MBB IG: @sunoknightsmbb
Baseball IG: @sunoknightsbaseball
Baseball X: @sunobsb

We are dedicated to celebrating the rich history, vibrant culture, and enduring legacy of Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Our mission is to provide a platform that honors the invaluable contributions of HBCUs to higher education, social justice, and community empowerment. Through insightful articles, engaging narratives, and meaningful dialogue, we strive to amplify the voices, experiences, and achievements within the HBCU community. By fostering awareness, appreciation, and support for HBCUs, we aspire to inspire current and future generations to pursue excellence, equity, and inclusivity in education and beyond.

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HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025

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🏅 HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025

The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought the best of the best to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon—and HBCU athletes rose to the occasion. Here’s how they placed in the finals:


🥉 Jordan Pierre (University of Arkansas‑Pine Bluff)

  • Event: Men’s 400 m

  • Final Placement: 3rd Place – 45.75 seconds

  • Achievement: First Team All‑America


💪 Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State University)

  • Event: Men’s 400 m Hurdles

  • Final Placement: 9th Overall


🥉 Marcia Sey (Howard University)

  • Event: Women’s 100 m Hurdles

  • Final Placement: 3rd Place – 12.93 seconds

  • Achievement: First Team All‑America and highest NCAA finish in Howard’s track history


🏃‍♀️ Howard Women’s 4×100 m Relay

  • Team Members: Kailei Collins, Marcia Sey, Tiffani‑Rae Pittman, Aiyana Gray‑Williams

  • Final Placement: 6th Place – 43.23 seconds

  • Achievement: First Team All‑America


📊 Quick Recap

Athlete / Team Event Final Result Honors
Jordan Pierre (UAPB) 400 m 🥉 3rd Place First Team All-America
Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State) 400 m Hurdles 9th Place
Marcia Sey (Howard) 100 m Hurdles 🥉 3rd Place – 12.93s First Team All-America
Howard 4×100 Relay 4×100 m 6th Place – 43.23s First Team All-America
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Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

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📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

Southeast:

  • Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone

  • Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks

  • Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums

  • Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling

  • New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou

Northeast:

  • Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase

  • Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival

  • New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market

Midwest:

  • Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic

  • Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks

  • Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music

  • St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade

South:

  • Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park

  • Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry

  • Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos

  • Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors

  • Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event

West Coast & Beyond:

  • Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits

  • Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair

  • San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore

  • Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march

  • Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food

  • Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music

  • Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word

  • Columbus, OH – Citywide Juneteenth march


🎓 HBCUs at the Center

Many of these celebrations include HBCU marching bands, alumni chapters, student orgs, and vendor booths. From performances to education panels, HBCUs continue to be pillars in preserving the legacy of Juneteenth.


🔗 Join the Movement

📷 Tag @THEHBCUORIGINAL
🏷️ Hashtags: #HBCUJuneteenth #Juneteenth2025 #BlackFreedom

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🖤 What is Juneteenth? Celebrating Black Freedom & Culture

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Juneteenth—short for June Nineteenth—is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free.

For the estimated 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas, this was the first time they were told of their freedom. While freedom had been the law since January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in remote Confederate states like Texas until Union troops physically arrived.

But Juneteenth is more than a date.
It’s a spiritual and cultural milestone. It represents:

  • Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.

  • A collective awakening to freedom.

  • The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.

  • The power of Black resilience, community, and culture.

Since its origin, Juneteenth has evolved from small family cookouts and church gatherings into nationwide celebrations filled with festivals, education, music, and activism. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to generations of Black voices demanding that America remember and respect this part of its history.

Juneteenth and Slavery in Texas
In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers from outside the Lone Star State had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.

After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.

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Under Armour Celebrates Maryland HBCUs with “Sisterhood in Style” Sneaker Campaign

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Published by HBCU Original | June 13, 2025

Under Armour is giving HBCU pride a fashionable step forward with its latest sneaker drop and campaign celebrating Black sisterhood, Greek life, and the vibrant legacy of Maryland’s historically Black colleges.

For the launch of its newest lifestyle sneaker, the UA Echo, Under Armour partnered with Baltimore native and award-winning photographer Devin Allen to shoot the “Sisterhood in Style” campaign. The powerful visuals were brought to life on the campuses of Bowie State University and Morgan State University, spotlighting women from the first Black Greek-letter sorority in bold, expressive styles.

More than a simple product release, “Sisterhood in Style” tells a deeper story—one of culture, community, and representation. The campaign highlights tradition and individuality, showing how today’s HBCU students are redefining style on their own terms.

“More than a product spotlight, Sisterhood in Style reflects UA’s broader commitment to innovation and community—empowering the next generation to show up boldly, break boundaries, and define their own style codes,” Under Armour shared in a press release.

The new UA Echo sneaker, designed in a striking pink and green colorway, is now available online for $150—a clear nod to the heritage of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

This campaign continues Under Armour’s connection to local education institutions. Last fall, the brand also gave back to Baltimore City College and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by donating to their athletic programs and creating custom school merchandise.

With “Sisterhood in Style,” Under Armour isn’t just releasing a sneaker—it’s recognizing the beauty, strength, and cultural impact of Black women at HBCUs. And that’s a story worth walking in.

#HBCUOriginal #SisterhoodInStyle #BowieState #MorganState #UnderArmour #BlackExcellence #GreekLife

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Florida A&M’s Kirk Dawkins Set to Compete at NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships

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June 10, 2025 | Eugene, Oregon

Florida A&M’s standout middle-distance runner, Kirk Dawkins, is headed to the big stage as he prepares to compete in the 800-meter semifinals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this Wednesday. The race will take place at 8:58 p.m. EST at the legendary Hayward Field, located on the campus of the University of Oregon.

Catch the action live on ESPN.

Dawkins earned his spot at nationals by running a personal-best time of 1:46.62 at the NCAA East Regional quarterfinals—an impressive mark that solidifies his status among the elite in collegiate track.

This season has been a breakout year for the FAMU junior. He claimed the SWAC Outdoor Championship title in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.2 and followed that up with a strong 1:48.01 showing at the East Coast Relays. His steady improvement and commitment to excellence are paying off as he heads into the national spotlight.

All eyes will be on Dawkins Wednesday night as he looks to continue his historic season and represent Florida A&M on the national stage.

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