HBCU Week Culminates at Walt Disney World Resort with Scholarships, Sizzle and Showmanship
by Kathy Grear 10/24/2022LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – For the first time in its six-year history, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week was held at Walt Disney World Resort this past weekend, Oct. 7-9, 2022. The event culminated with unprecedented success, from record attendance to making college admission dreams come true; to surprise scholarships and not to mention, some high-stepping excitement from the HBCU marching bands.
The three-day weekend event included the HBCU Week College Fair featuring 53 HBCUs, where on-the-spot college acceptances and millions of scholarships were awarded; HBCU bands marching down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park; a live ESPN broadcast of First Take; and a friendly but fierce HBCU Week Battle of the Bands event. The college fair saw record attendance, with more than 8,600 students from Central Florida, the Southeast of the U.S. and beyond.
Djahnel Reid, an Orlando-area student from Maynard Evans Senior High School, lived out her college dreams Friday by earning on-the-spot college admission to her dream school Bethune-Cookman University and at least $75,000 in college scholarships during the HBCU Week College Fair.
On Saturday, Alcorn State, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State marching bands served as honorary grand marshals in multiple parades at Magic Kingdom Park. They thrilled guests as they traveled down Main Street, U.S.A., led by none other than Drum Major Mickey Mouse, who showed off his own show-stopping moves in his signature marching band uniform.
The weekend concluded Sunday when the marching bands put on an electric show during HBCU Week Battle of the Bands at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It was a friendly but fierce battle of the bands showcase that included an exciting pre-show performance from none other than Drum Major Mickey Mouse, who dazzled the crowd with his moves. While no specific band is deemed a winner, the true winners of this friendly rivalry were the spectators who cheerfully moved to groove in the stands!
HBCU Week was hosted in collaboration with the HBCU Week Foundation and Disney on the Yard, an initiative focused on deepening Disney’s engagement with HBCUs.
Excerpt:
The three-day weekend event included the HBCU Week College Fair featuring 53 HBCUs, where on-the-spot college acceptances and millions of scholarships were awarded; HBCU bands marching down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park; a live ESPN broadcast of First Take; and a friendly but fierce HBCU Week Battle of the Bands event. The college fair saw record attendance, with more than 8,600 students from Central Florida, the Southeast of the U.S. and beyond.
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