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Finding your people. Forging your own path. Making history in the hallways of your high school. These are the powerful stories emerging from this year's scholarship competition featuring exceptional students headed to HBCUs across the nation.

Meet Liliana from San Antonio, whose decision to attend Howard University represents a profound search for cultural connection after years in predominantly white and Hispanic schools. Her mother reveals the moment that changed everything: "My daughter was the first one to hang an HBCU flag" in her school's hallways. This simple act of representation speaks volumes about the courage these students embody, often standing alone in their college choices among peers.

Then there's William, consistently ranking in the top three throughout the competition, who comes from what his father proudly calls an "HBCU family." With parents who attended Howard and Alcorn State, William's decision to attend Prairie View A&M shows how this generation honors tradition while charting their own course. His father's perspective is refreshingly supportive: "We've already had our college experience. We wanted him to have his own."

Perhaps most moving is Amari's story, a talented tuba player heading to Bowie State to study education. His mother shares a sobering statistic—less than 2% of teachers are Black males—highlighting how his career choice represents not just personal aspiration but community uplift. As his father notes, "We don't do this for money. We do this to help the community."

What emerges from these conversations is the beautiful intersection of legacy, identity, and purpose driving students toward HBCUs today. Their decisions aren't simply about where to spend four years, but about finding spaces where they can fully embrace all aspects of themselves while preparing to give back to their communities.

Which of these inspiring students will receive the scholarship? Your vote matters! Visit our website to support these exceptional young people as they begin their HBCU journeys and become the next generation of leaders our communities need.

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