Virginia State Claims HBCU of the Year Crown

Posted on by Jarrett Carter Sr.

Virginia State University was named the 2018 HBCU of the Year at the HBCU Digest’s annual HBCU Awards ceremony held Friday night in downtown Baltimore.

Members of the university’s administration, alumni association and student body were on hand to see VSU capture the award presented for all-around excellence in academics, athletics, community outreach, leadership and media making.
VSU earned headlines for enrollment increases, and more than $800,000 in funding to the school’s Agricultural Research Station.Paired with success in football and men’s basketball, officials credited the Trojan community for its full investment in the school’s success.
Virginia State captured three awards on the evening, including Best Board of Trustees and Female Student of the Year, awarded to Briana Bundick Kelly. She attracted millions of views, fans and headlines worldwide after video of her executing choreography from Beyoncè’s Coachella performance earlier this year went viral.


Male and Female President of the Year awards went to Paul Quinn College’s Michael Sorrell and Benedict College’s Roslyn Clark Artis, respectively. Dr. Sorrell is a three-time recipient of the honor, and was this year named among Fortune Magazine’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2018/04/27/fortuneaffirms-already-knew-dallas-world-class-leader-michael-sorrell
Dr. Artis’ daughter received the award on her mother’s behalf, and in her speech, referenced her mother’s commitment to BC’s alumni and navigation of gender inequity in higher education.

Hampton University captured the award for Best Student Organization, and HU President William Harvey was honored as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award, which was named in his honor.
“We must become more vocal and more involved in support of the wonderful work that we continue to do,” Dr. Harvey said during his remarks, which earned a standing ovation from the audience of more than 250 HBCU college leaders, alumni and students, along with corporate supporters. “This is one of the reasons why HBCU Digest is important. It gives us an opportunity to communicate with one another and work together to make HBCU’s and all of higher education better. It gives us an opportunity to share information and serve as I have been fortunate in my life because I’ve been given the power to serve.”
Over his tenure as Hampton University President, Dr. Harvey has introduced innovations that have solidified Hampton’s stellar position among the nation’s colleges and universities. His extraordinary leadership is reflected in the growth and quality of the University’s student population, academic programs, physical facilities and financial base. During Dr. Harvey’s 40 years of visionary leadership, 92 new programs have been introduced, 28 new structures now dot the landscape of the campus surrounded on three sides by water, and the university’s endowment has grown 866% from $29 million to $280 million and growing.
Kentucky State University, Winston-Salem State University and Howard University all captured two awards. KSU Vice-Provost Kristen Broady was named Female Faculty Member of the Year, and its Atwood Center on Race, Education, and the Democratic Ideal earned the award for Best Research Center.


WSSU earned awards for best nursing and social work programs, while Howard’s Greg Carr earned his second Male Faculty Member of the Year and the Howard Hilltop Newspaper its second Best Student Newspaper Award.


The full list of winners:

Awards in Student Activities

Best Marching Band
Miles College Purple Marching Machine
Best Choir
North Carolina Central University Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Best Student Government Association
Hampton University
Best Student Organization
Tennessee State University Collegiate Citizens Police Academy

Awards in Publications

Best Student Newspaper
Howard University “The Hilltop”
Best Alumni Publication
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff – UAPB Magazine

Awards in Academic Excellence

Best Research Center
Kentucky State University Atwood Center for Race, Education, and the Democratic Ideal
Best Fine Arts Program
North Carolina A&T State University Theatre Arts Program
Best Business Program
Central State University Ohio Summer Banking Institute
Best Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) Program
Alabama A&M University College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences
Best Nursing Program
Winston-Salem State University
Best Social Work Program
Winston-Salem State University

Awards in Alumni Activity

Alumnus of the Year
James Shaw – Tennessee State University
Alumna of the Year
April Ryan – Morgan State University
National Alumni Association of the Year
Texas Southern University National Alumni Association

Awards in Athletic Excellence

Female Coach of the Year
Sandy Pugh – Southern University Women’s Basketball
Male Coach of the Year
Rod Broadway – North Carolina A&T State University
Female Athlete of the Year
Tiaria Norman – Claflin University
Male Athlete of the Year
Juan Scott – Central State University
Best Women’s Team of the Year
Dillard University Women’s Basketball
Best Men’s Team of the Year
Morehouse College Men’s Basketball

Awards in Individual Achievement

Female Student of the Year
Brianna Bundick-Kelly – Virginia State University
Male Student of the Year
Jonathon Randle – Prairie View A&M University
Female Faculty Member of the Year
Kristen Broady – Kentucky State University
Male Faculty Member of the Year
Greg Carr – Howard University

Highest Honors

Female President of the Year
Roslyn Clark-Artis – Benedict College
Male President of the Year
Michael Sorrell – Paul Quinn College
Board of Trustees of the Year
Virginia State University
Historically Black College/University of the Year
Virginia State University
The HBCU Awards is the first and only awards ceremony honoring achievement at historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States.

4 thoughts on “Virginia State Claims HBCU of the Year Crown”

  3. Let me first say congrats to VSU. But this award seems geared towards the work an HBCU has done for a given year ill-regardless if it was a stated goal or not. That’s weak. That’s like giving an award to someone that woke up today and happen to have money to give to a homeless person on the street. IMO the HBCU of the Year award should be given to an institution who has accomplished the most of their stated strategic vision for that year not for the HBCU who had the best athletic season. We need to hold the administration of HBCUs more accountable then maybe they may have more of an argument to make to alumni who are not giving. I could say more but I’ll stop. My two cents and yes I give regularly to VSU.

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  4. Pingback: HBCU Leadership Hirings, Firings & Resignations: The 2017-18 Final Report | HBCU DIGEST

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