Langston University is investing in new ways to help students succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The university announced a five-year National Science Foundation award totaling $2,249,925 to launch ASCEND, a program combining student explanations of their work with AI-assisted learning analysis.

The initiative focuses on challenging foundational courses, including calculus, general chemistry and physics. Its approach asks students to explain how they solve problems and why their methods work through brief video recordings.

Faculty will use those explanations and learning analysis to identify misunderstandings and provide more targeted support.

The goal is to strengthen students’ reasoning and understanding as they progress through their STEM education. Langston also plans to use the project to support faculty development and undergraduate research.

The award highlights an important area of HBCU innovation: improving the learning experience so more students can stay on track toward completing their degrees.

Support our HBCU schools as they create new opportunities for the next generation of scientists, researchers and technology professionals.

Source: Langston University

Tags: HBCU Original, Langston University, STEM education, National Science Foundation, HBCU research, artificial intelligence, student success, undergraduate research, higher education

Students at participating North Carolina HBCUs and minority-serving institutions have an opportunity to receive financial support for the spring 2027 semester.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is accepting applications for its $2,500 HBCU/MSI Transportation Scholarship through midnight on November 9, 2026.

The program supports students preparing for careers connected to transportation. Eligible areas extend beyond engineering and include qualifying disciplines in business, communications, computer science, aviation, public policy and other fields.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and North Carolina residents enrolled full time at a participating institution. Additional requirements include a minimum 2.5 GPA and at least 24 completed undergraduate credit hours or nine graduate credit hours.

Students must submit an unofficial transcript, a resume and one recommendation letter with their application.

Review the participating schools and complete eligibility requirements before applying. Share this opportunity with a student who could use additional support.

Support our HBCU students as they prepare for their next chapter.

Source and application: NCDOT HBCU/MSI Transportation Scholarship

Tags: HBCU Original, HBCU scholarships, NCDOT, North Carolina, college scholarships, financial aid, student opportunities, transportation careers, higher education

Talladega College Athletics Joins Ballers Against Bullets to Promote I WANT TO LIVE Campaign

Student athletes are using their platform to support gun violence prevention and encourage safer communities.

TALLADEGA, Ala. Before the final score could tell the story, Talladega College’s junior varsity men’s basketball team delivered a message about something bigger than the game.

The team opened its season against Snead State Community College on October 26 wearing shirts that read I WANT TO LIVE, introducing a partnership between Talladega College Athletics and the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention through its Ballers Against Bullets initiative.

The effort will extend beyond the basketball season opener. Talladega’s athletic teams plan to wear the campaign’s apparel at games throughout the academic year, bringing a message of safety and violence prevention to students, fans, and surrounding communities.

According to the announcement, the partnership follows recent fatal shootings in the local community. Through their participation, Talladega student athletes are calling attention to the impact of gun violence and encouraging young people to protect their lives and futures.

Ballers Against Bullets brings together athletes, barbers, entertainers, educators, and community leaders to promote responsible decisions and prevent gun misuse. The I WANT TO LIVE campaign carries that message through sports, fashion, music, and youth culture.

For Talladega, the partnership creates an opportunity to connect athletic competition with community involvement. Players can reach other young people who recognize them as teammates, classmates, friends, and role models.

Talladega College Athletics also recognized the basketball team’s participation on social media, reinforcing the campaign’s focus on the value of student athletes’ lives and the need for safer communities.

The effort reflects the longstanding connection between HBCUs and community leadership. By bringing prevention messages into its athletic programs, Talladega is giving students a visible role in addressing concerns that reach beyond campus.

As Ballers Against Bullets works to connect with more colleges and universities, Talladega’s participation offers an example of how athletic departments can help carry the message throughout the school year.

The Alabama based Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention leads the initiative as part of its work in community education and prevention. Through this partnership, a shirt worn before a basketball game becomes an invitation to keep the conversation going about safety, responsibility, and the futures young people deserve.

Tags: Talladega College, Talladega College Athletics, Ballers Against Bullets, I WANT TO LIVE, Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention, HBCU News, HBCU Sports, HBCU Original, Gun Violence Prevention, Student Athletes, Community Safety, Youth Advocacy, College Basketball, Talladega Alabama

Albany State WellFest Draws More Than 1,100 Students for a Day of Health and Wellness

The fifth annual event connected students with free health screenings, fitness activities, groceries, and mental health support.

ALBANY, Ga. Albany State University put student health at the center of campus life during its fifth annual WellFest, drawing 1,159 students, faculty, staff, and community members to the Jones Brothers HPER Complex on East Campus.

Students accounted for 1,107 attendees, more than 95 percent of the total, according to an October 29 university news release.

Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the event used the theme The Wellness Playbook to encourage students to build healthier habits and learn where to turn for support.

Dedra Williams, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Holistic Development, said the turnout reflected students’ interest in taking care of themselves beyond their academic responsibilities. She emphasized physical activity, nutrition, preventive screenings, and asking for help as part of student success.

Throughout the afternoon, students joined yoga sessions led by Honey Flow Yoga, tried water aerobics, and participated in fitness challenges. Hydration stations and smoothies offered refreshments, while Better Way Grocers provided free healthy groceries.

Attendees also had access to biometric health screenings, first aid education and supplies, and an American Red Cross blood drive. The ASU Cheer Squad brought energy to the event, with interactive activities and door prizes adding to the atmosphere.

The gathering also gave students preparing for health professions an opportunity to put their training into practice.

Nursing students from ASU’s Darton College of Health Professions conducted biometric screenings and helped classmates understand their results. The experience connected classroom learning with direct service to the campus community.

Orlandria Bennett-Reed, director of Student Health Services, said student nurses explained screening results and connected participants with additional care when needed, helping students take an informed approach to their health.

The ASU Dental Hygiene Program shared oral health information and scheduled appointments at the university’s Student Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Mental health support was another focus. Members of ASU’s Active Minds student organization encouraged conversations about emotional wellness and seeking help. Students also met with mental health professionals and community organizations to learn about available services.

In all, WellFest brought together 11 campus and community partners. Participants included the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Phoebe Behavioral Health, Aspire Behavioral Health, The Change Center, Better Way Grocers, the American Red Cross, and Honey Flow Yoga.

Campus partners included Student Health Services, Counseling and Student Accessibility Services, Active Minds, and the Darton College of Health Professions.

Now in its fifth year, WellFest continues to connect Albany State students with practical support for their physical and mental health. From picking up groceries to scheduling a dental appointment, attendees had opportunities to address everyday needs while learning about resources available beyond the event.

Westlake Tops Latest Metro Atlanta Band of the Year Rankings

Jonesboro and Pebblebrook lead the pursuit as tight scores and standout category performances keep the field competitive.

ATLANTA, Ga. (October 26, 2026) — Westlake High School holds the No. 1 spot in the latest Red Lobster Metro Atlanta Band of the Year High School Division rankings, using strong performances across all five scoring categories to establish a 23.5-point lead.

Westlake tops the standings with 358.25 points, followed by Jonesboro with 334.75 and Pebblebrook with 332. Creekside ranks fourth with 326.50 points, while Southwest DeKalb completes the top five with 321.75.

Behind Westlake, the standings leave little separation among the leading contenders. Jonesboro holds a 2.75-point advantage over Pebblebrook, and just 13 points separate second place from fifth.

Westlake’s position reflects its strength throughout the competition. The band leads Picture Drill and Design with 112 points and Auxiliary with 49.25. It also shares first place with Pebblebrook in Musicality at 80 points and Percussion at 59.

In Drum Major scoring, Westlake’s 58 points place it just behind category leader Southwest DeKalb, which earned 59.

Jonesboro remains Westlake’s closest challenger. The Cardinals rank second in Picture Drill and Design with 110 points, third in Musicality with 78 and third in Auxiliary with 44.75. Those results have helped Jonesboro maintain a narrow edge over Pebblebrook, whose shared leads in Musicality and Percussion anchor its third-place position.

The complete standings are:

Several programs outside the overall top five are making a strong impression in individual categories.

Carver, ranked 12th overall, holds second place in Auxiliary with 46 points. McNair ranks fourth in Musicality and shares third place in Percussion, despite sitting 10th in the overall standings. Langston Hughes, which is outside the top 15, ranks fifth in Picture Drill and Design with 106 points.

Percussion features one of the closest category races. Westlake and Pebblebrook share the lead with 59 points, while Arabia Mountain, McNair and New Manchester are tied just one point behind.

The Drum Major standings are similarly tight. Southwest DeKalb leads with 59 points, followed by Westlake with 58. Arabia Mountain and New Manchester share the next position with 57.

Those results underscore the depth of the competition, with programs throughout the standings earning recognition for specific strengths.

The race for a place in the overall top five also remains close. Sixth-place New Manchester has 317.50 points, putting it 4.25 behind Southwest DeKalb. Stephenson follows with 313.75, while South Cobb, Arabia Mountain and McNair are separated by just 1.25 points.

Farther down the standings, only four points separate Tri-Cities, Carver and Morrow.

For Westlake, the challenge is to maintain the consistency that has produced the lead. Jonesboro and Pebblebrook remain its nearest competitors, while Creekside, Southwest DeKalb and New Manchester continue to press for stronger positions.

The latest rankings offer a snapshot of a competitive field in which musical execution, field design, percussion, auxiliary performance and student leadership all contribute to the overall result. Westlake has set the pace, but close margins throughout the standings give bands across Metro Atlanta plenty to pursue.

For rankings and event information, visit BandOfTheYear.com.