CROWD: We are Bowie State University, the first HBCU in the state of Maryland.

STUDENT: Welcome to... CROWD: HBCU Week!

BEMO BROWN: Welcome to HBCU Week.

I'm Bemo.

I am your college culture correspondent.

Today, we are here at Bowie State University to get a first-hand look at what it means to be an HBCU student.

♪ SINGER: Pick it up, pick it up.

♪ ♪ Yep, hear it in my voice.

♪ ♪ Yeah, here we go, go.

♪ ♪ Yeah, here we go, go.

♪ ♪ Yeah, here we go, go.

♪ ♪ Come on.

♪ ♪ Pick it up, pick it up.

♪ ♪ Yep, there it is.

♪ BEMO: Welcome back to Intro to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my man Wu, right here at Bowie State University.

Wu, let me ask you some questions.

DAWUD "WU" LIGGANS: Yes, sir, talk to me.

BEMO: Why did you choose Bowie State, what makes this land so special?

WU: Bowie State.

Why did I choose Bowie State?

I would say it has to be since I stepped on Bowie State campus for the first time.

BEMO: Yeah, mmm.

WU: I said, "This is home."

I felt like I walked into my mother's house.

That's how I felt.

BEMO: Yeah.

WU: You know, interacting with the people, interacting with the faculty, staff.

BEMO: Right.

WU: I knew.

I said, "This is for me."

BEMO: Right.

WU: Bowie State actually accepted me last out of all colleges.

BEMO: Oh.

WU: Um, and I said, "You know what?

That was a sign from the Lord."

Maybe, you know, you save the best for last.

BEMO: That's right.

Last accepted, first in your heart.

WU: Come on.

Yes, sir, yes, sir, yes, sir!

BEMO: Okay.

So I know you come from Mississippi, right?

WU: Yes, sir.

BEMO: Okay, so what makes, in the communications department, right?

WU: Yes, sir.

BEMO: So what makes the communications department at this HBCU different than any other educational experience you've had?

WU: I would say it has to be the one-on-one with the professors.

BEMO: Mmm.

WU: The one-on-one attention that you get from faculty.

BEMO: Right.

The, "This is your season now, I need you to win."

BEMO: They really propping you up.

WU: Exactly.

They're catapulting us to the next level, and that's definitely what I like.

Not only about the comm major, but, you know, every department here on campus.

BEMO: Okay, okay.

Now, let's talk, let's talk about the letters.

WU: Let's do it, let's do it.

BEMO: Yeah, let's talk about it.

Now, you're part of, your an Alpha.

WU: Yes, sir.

BEMO: First, uh, first of the... WU: Oldest and the coldest.

BEMO: Oldest and the... WU: Yes, sir.

BEMO: Oldest and the... So what is your responsibility... WU: Okay.

BEMO: ...To the entire student life here on campus?

WU: Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Um, that's a simple, simple question with a complex answer.

BEMO: Yeah.

WU: I would say my, my role is to not only inspire the next leaders, not only on this campus, but worldwide.

BEMO: Yeah.

WU: From across, not only in our community, but you know, to implore other communities.

"Hey, look at what we're doing.

We're starting something that won't end."

BEMO: That's right.

WU: "It's only going to continue to transcend."

Yes, sir.

BEMO: Speaking of which, we're on the... WU: We're on the quad.

Yes sir.

(Overlapping chatter).

WU: Welcome to the FunCK.

BEMO: Where we at?

WU: Welcome to the FunCK.

Okay, we're on sacred land right now.

BEMO: I'm going, I've got permission.

(Overlapping chatter).

WU: My man locked in.

We on the FunCK plot right now, Eta Zeta FunCK Chapter, Bowie State University.

Um, this is the funCK table.

It's the oldest table on the funCK plot, here since about the '70s and '80s.

Um, and, and, and once, one you see this, you, you, you, you know you home.

So it's like I had to put this in the backdrop just to show the history, the culture, um, and the connection I have to not only Bowie State... BEMO: Right.

WU: ...but this sacred piece of land right here.

Yes, sir.

BEMO: I love it, Wu.

I want to appreciate you for your time.

WU: Yes, sir.

I appreciate you.

BEMO: I want to thank you all for watching HBCU Week.

We'll be right back with more content.

BEMO: Hey, y'all.

Welcome back to HBCU Week.

I have my friend Jocelyn, AKA "JRenee"... JOCELYN "JRenee" PARKER: Period.

BEMO:...right here at Bowie State University.

Jocelyn, let me ask you some questions.

JRenee: Yeah, of course.

BEMO: Why did you choose this illustrious Bowie State as your, as your university?

JRenee: I have to say the community.

BEMO: Mm-hmm.

JRenee: Yeah, I really love it here.

Um, the people are great, I love my people.

And really, this is the only HBCU in Maryland that has an amazing fashion design program.

BEMO: Really?

JRenee: Yes, that's... BEMO: Okay, okay.

Is there something specific about the intersection of the HBCU and fashion?

Is there something special that you learned in that intersection?

JRenee: You know, there is not many HBCUs that have fashion design programs.

BEMO: Right.

JRenee: But here... BEMO: Mm-hmm.

JRenee: ...um, there's such a small community that when we do get together, we create some really amazing things.

BEMO: That's what's up.

JRenee: So just bouncing off ideas from each other... BEMO: Yeah.

JRenee: ...just makes something amazing.

BEMO: Okay.

You think about your legacy here at Bowie.

What do you want to leave behind?

JRenee: Well, I'd have to say first I want to leave behind my brand.

BEMO: Mmm.

Show it off, now, show it off, go ahead!

JRenee: We got, we got JRenee Designs, period, right here.

Front and back, patchwork, JRenee Designs by me, okay?

BEMO: That's right, that's right.

JRenee: And, um, and also just to let students know that if they can't find an, an outlet or something here, they can make one for themselves.

BEMO: Really?

JRenee: There's always opportunities to make something for yourself here.

BEMO: That's amazing.

JRenee: And if you can't find it, you ask people.

You ask around.

Who can you go to, to be like, "I want to do this, I don't see it here.

Let's make it happen."

BEMO: Right.

JRenee: Yeah.

BEMO: Right.

Any hidden tricks on who to talk to, to make it happen?

JRenee: Um, I'd start with my professors.

BEMO: Yeah.

JRenee: They always know everybody.

You know what I'm saying?

BEMO: Right, of course.

JRenee: They know everybody.

BEMO: Of course, professors.

JRenee: I would start there.

Talk to people.

Don't be shy, just talk to people, um, things of that nature.

BEMO: Okay.

JRenee: You got it.

BEMO: Okay.

JRenee: You got in.

BEMO: Well, thank you, Jocelyn.

JRenee: Yes!

BEMO: AKA JRenee.

JRenee: AKA JRenee.

You got it.

BEMO: AKA, JRenee, make sure y'all get the designs now.

JRenee: You got it.

BEMO: Make sure y'all get the designs.

For the people at home, check out what we have for you for the rest of HBCU Week.

STUDENT: BSU.

CROWD: BSU.

STUDENT: BSU.

CROWD: BSU.

STUDENT 2: Eh, eh, eh, eh, Bowie.

CROWD: Eh, eh, eh, eh, Bowie.

STUDENT 2: Eh, eh, eh, eh, Bowie.

CROWD: Eh, eh, eh, eh, Bowie.

STUDENT: Eh-eh-eh... Eh!

Bowie.

CROWD: Eh-eh-eh... Eh!

Bowie!

BEMO: Hey, y'all.

Welcome back to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my good friend, Nylasia right here at Bowie State.

Let me ask you a couple questions.

NYLASIA KELLY: Okay.

BEMO: Why the illustrious Bowie State, why the Flame?

NYLASIA: Oh, man.

You know, it has been a dream of mine since high school to attend an HBCU, and why not start with the illustrious Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland?

Why not?

BEMO: Why not?

NYLASIA: Why not?

BEMO: What makes Bowie illustrious?

NYLASIA: Illustrious, oh my gosh.

We have so much to offer, whether it's culture, love, pride.

Our, uh, our BSU pride is insane right now, whether that comes to move-ins, freshman's, anything like that.

Homecoming week, you got to be here.

You know what I'm saying?

BEMO: It feels like you the person to know on campus.

So what are your, like, activities?

What are you doing on campus right now?

NYLASIA: I am in SGA.

I serve as the marketing director.

I also serve for the social media director for the NAACP, new student orientation leader, and a lot more to name.

A lot more.

BEMO: New student orientation leader.

NYLASIA: That's right.

BEMO: All right.

Real quick, three things you need to know as a freshman at Bowie State.

Number one.

NYLASIA: As a freshman, you need to know when we say our chants and our pride, you need to come with it.

We say it loud, and we say it proud.

BEMO: Okay.

NYLASIA: Two, another thing you need to know, when it's time to step out and show out, we are there, no matter what school and anything else with it.

And three, show love to everybody.

You know, we are all here together, and we are a one, big HBCU family.

BEMO: That's what's up.

NYLASIA: Right.

BEMO: That's what's up.

We want to thank you, Nylasia.

We appreciate you.

We got more coming up on HBCU Week.

Stay tuned.

BEMO: Hello again, and welcome back to Intro to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my man Anthony right here at Bowie State.

What's going on, man?

ANTHONY CARPENTER: I'm good, how are you?

BEMO: I'm great, I'm great.

Student-athlete, right?

That's why we are in the gym.

ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

BEMO: Tell me about your athlete experience.

What sport do you play?

ANTHONY: Man, I play men's basketball here at Bowie State, and I love it.

I mean, it's a great experience.

Couldn't ask for anything better.

BEMO: Oh, yeah?

ANTHONY: Yeah.

BEMO: What makes Bowie State different than any other basketball program?

ANTHONY: Well, of course, you know, Bowie State's the HBCU, the first HBCU in Maryland.

So, I mean, it's just my parents went to a HBCU, my brother went to a HBCU, so I can't, I couldn't not go to a HBCU.

BEMO: Got you, you got that genetic pride almost.

ANTHONY: Right.

BEMO: I feel you.

So I heard, I heard Dr.

Breaux was responsible for bringing the CIAA to Baltimore.

ANTHONY: Yes.

BEMO: You played in the tournament before?

ANTHONY: I did, and she did a phenomenal job bringing it to Baltimore.

I mean, for the first time it being in Baltimore... BEMO: Yeah.

ANTHONY: ...it was an outstanding showing, great atmosphere.

I loved it, it was a great experience.

BEMO: What does it mean to play in the CIAA from your perspective?

ANTHONY: It means a lot.

The CIAA is a great conference.

I think we had one of the best tournaments out of any conferences, to be honest, including D1.

So, I mean, it's a great, great atmosphere, great tournament.

I love it.

BEMO: So you're on the, you're on the basketball team.

ANTHONY: Yeah.

BEMO: Tell me about the legacy that you want to leave behind here at Bowie.

ANTHONY: Well, my coach preaches a lot, um, about wanting guys to graduate, come back, when we have open gyms and things like that.

So I want to leave a legacy of being one of the, the best players he had, or putting up a banner, you know, having a ring, you know, certain things like that.

BEMO: Nice.

ANTHONY: So I want to be able to leave here, when I leave here, I want to be able to come back and have history up in the banners, or I can show history.

BEMO: Yeah.

And graduation is on your mind.

ANTHONY: Right, definitely.

BEMO: You're not just playing to play.

ANTHONY: Definitely want to graduate and get my bachelor's.

Definitely.

BEMO: Nice.

That's my man, Anthony.

Anthony, thank you for your time.

ANTHONY: No problem.

BEMO: Now make sure y'all check out what we have going on for HBCU Week.

You wanna dunk on me real fast?

(laughter).

Oh, man, oh, man, that was great, right?

Now that you've had a small taste of HBCU culture, let's take it to our host, Tetiana Anderson, as she has a special conversation with Bowie State's president, Dr.

Breaux.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TETIANA ANDERSON: Welcome to HBCU Week.

I'm your host, Tetiana Anderson, here at Bowie State University, and I'm joined by President Aminta Breaux.

And Dr.

Breaux, I want to start by taking a look back.

If you had to describe the past five years in one word, what would it be, and why?

DR.

AMINTA BREAUX: Oh, I definitely would say it's been transformational.

We have transformed as an institution.

Everyone here on the campus has transformed as we've gone through, especially the last two and a half years, uh, so much uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

But even before that, we were working on our strategic plan entitled "Racing to Excellence," and we were transforming to meet the needs of the students today.

So it's been an exciting time, and the word that comes to the forefront of my mind is transformational.

TETIANA: And you talked about meeting the needs of the students today, but I'm wondering about, um, the past.

Put in context the historical situation of HBCUs for, for everybody.

DR.

BREAUX: Well, Bowie State University was founded in 1865, and many of our HBCUs have been around for over 150 years.

We've been the anchors of our communities, part of the economic engine of this country.

Our graduates have gone on to do amazing, amazing achievements.

Uh, when you look at the history of HBCUs, you have to recognize that we make up just about 3% of the colleges and universities in the country, yet we produce about 20% of the African American graduates overall, 25% of African Americans in the STEM areas.

And we've contributed greatly to so many areas, from the medical profession to about 70% of our graduates have gone on to become judges.

So we have this long and rich history, uh, that is integrated into the fabric of our country.

TETIANA: Since you took over as president in 2017, you've been responsible for a lot of growth, a lot of physical growth.

We're actually sitting in the ELCC, which is a product of, of your work.

Talk about the structural development, uh, and the innovation that's been taking place on campus.

DR.

BREAUX: Well, we're sitting in the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community, which opened just in the last year and a half, and we're very excited about all that it offers to our students.

What it is designed to do is to bridge learning environments from the classroom into the real world.

Students here can live, and they can study, and they can work all in the same building.

Part of this facility is a residential hall.

It's home to 557 students who call this home.

But at any given time, if they have the latest idea or innovative thought about how to move forward on a new product or new business, they can use these facilities to help encourage and support those innovative ideas from ideation to creation.

And so it's a very unique building because it does bridge these learning environments to support learning wherever it may happen.

And it came from the idea that learning is happening from the classroom and outside the classroom, on your way to the classroom.

That's how we want students to think in order to meet the needs of the workplace today, or if they find that they need to create a new business or a product, they have the wherewithal to do that.

TETIANA: I'm interested in the importance of increasing funding when it comes to some of the specific programs, like the Student Freedom Initiative that you've developed here, and how important that is to do just what you talked about, keep students excited about learning.

DR.

BREAUX: Well, here I have to recognize that I cannot do this alone.

It takes a team on this campus, in our community, supporting our learners on their journey to success.

And we owe so much to Robert Smith, who started up the Student Freedom Initiative in recognition that financial resources remains the number one obstacle to our student population achieving success and reaching their goals.

Uh, SFI is designed to provide an alternative funding source for our students.

Instead of just having them take out the loans and go further in debt, it affords them an opportunity to embark on internships along the way to ensure that they are encouraged to continue on their journey and go into the workforce, but then reach back and bring somebody behind them.

And so they're able to pay off their debt commensurate with their ability to earn an income that allows them to do that.

So it's a very unique way of looking at affordability for a college experience, and I applaud his efforts and his leadership in forgiving debt at one of our other HBCUs and making sure he took care of that class at, at Morehouse College.

But also thinking about, well, if I can do that, how can I inspire and support the next generation?

What more can I do?

So we applaud his efforts and his leadership.

TETIANA: Your push to remove the barrier of student debts is incredibly important when it comes to our ability to build generational wealth.

DR.

BREAUX: Yes.

TETIANA: And I'm wondering how that fits into your calculus.

DR.

BREAUX: It's at the high level of our priorities is growing wealth, making sure students have the wherewithal to afford to come here, but knowing how to manage their resources.

But you hit on something that's more, even more important, and that is growing generational wealth.

Not just stopping with this generation, but saying, "What more can I do to reach back and bring someone forward?"

Leaving this place better than the way you found it.

And we start that messaging from day one with our students in our "BSU for Life" campaign.

That's a focus on messaging to the students, making sure they understand Bowie State University didn't just pop up out of nowhere.

It is here because of generations before, alumni, friends of the university, who saw fit to support and saw value in what we were doing.

And we talk about one of our legacy donors, Nelson Wells, who was a former slave, and he saved up his funds.

Upon his death, he bequeathed, uh, over $2,000 to the university to ensure that this institution is here today.

So he could do that at that time.

I look at my students when I greet them, and I will do this at convocation once again when we welcome them officially and say, "If he could do that, what can you do to leave an impact and a lasting legacy here at BSU?"

So we owe a lot to those who came before and those who support us today.

I mentioned Robert Smith, but we owe a lot to MacKenzie Scott.

She gave us the largest gift, unrestricted, and said, "I entrust that to Bowie State University to utilize $25 million in the way that you see fit."

We have taken the majority of those funds and put it to our endowment to grow our endowment for generations to come.

So we're very much focused on generational wealth, helping our students grow generational wealth, but this institution to preserve the lasting legacy.

TETIANA: So the students here have been up to some incredible things.

What are some things that stand out for you?

DR.

BREAUX: We've been fortunate to have new partnerships come to Bowie State University.

We're partnering with organizations such as Adobe, LAIKA Studios, which is a stop animation studio out on the West Coast.

Uh, A&E Networks has come to us, and they are providing internships.

The Maguire Foundation, Strada Education Network.

What this does for us is to afford new opportunities for our students.

And one of those examples is also Target that started an HBCU competition where one of our students was one of three selected for his award-winning T-shirt design that sold in, and actually sold out, in Target stores.

And it's right behind you, and it has an amazing, amazing design.

And so I'm going to give a shameless plug here to Sharone Townsend for his wonderful T-shirt design that sells in Target.

Uh, we also have a Broadway Tony Award winner, uh, in Myles Frost, who is in the lead role as Michael Jackson in "MJ The Musical."

So if you haven't seen that yet, I'm going to give a plug there, too.

I've seen it, it's amazing, and he's amazing in it.

Uh, we have another example with, uh, one of our students who was on the "Shark Tank" a couple of years ago and won $300,000 from Mark Cuban for her veggie burger design.

So we wish Danita all the great success for what she's doing with the latest and greatest veggie burger that's out there.

These are just some of the examples of our young entrepreneurs who are out there leading the way and being innovative and creative in their thinking and bringing their amazing talents to bear in their various disciplines.

TETIANA: I love a veggie burger.

DR.

BREAUX: Oh, this one's a good one.

You have to get it.

TETIANA: Okay, I'll try.

DR.

BREAUX: I'll get you the information.

TETIANA: Okay.

Thanks for tuning into HBCU Week.

I'm Tetiana Anderson.

Now come join us on campus at Bowie State University.

DR.

BREAUX: Uh-oh.

Oh, no pressure.

TETIANA: Dr.

Breaux.

DR.

BREAUX: I don't know when I signed up for scratchin.

I thought I would be... ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TETIANA: And where are we standing outside of?

DR.

BREAUX: This is the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Nursing.

It's home to state-of- the-art, uh, laboratories, smart classrooms, amazing equipment inside here for our nursing simulation lab that allows us to prepare nurses in a real-world type of experience.

Part of it is set up like a hospital, another part like a doctor's office, and they're able to, uh, develop all types of scenarios on the robotic mannequins that are in here.

And it's just an amazing setting that allows students to get as close to that real-world experience as possible before they go out.

TETIANA: Hands-on, practical.

DR.

BREAUX: Hands-on.

TETIANA: And that's, of course, such an in-demand profession right now.

DR.

BREAUX: It is.

There's a huge shortage of nurses, and some have left the profession with so much that's happened with the pandemic.

So we're very pleased that we can increase the pipeline going into the workforce in the medical profession.

BEMO: Hey, everybody, it's still HBCU Week.

I'm here with my man, Frank.

Hey, Frank, how you doing, man?

FRANK UZOMA: Hey, good, man, how you doing?

BEMO: I'm great, I'm great.

FRANK: I'm glad to hear it.

BEMO: Tell me about your HBCU experience here at Bowie.

FRANK: Oh, man.

The HBCU here at Bowie has been phenomenal.

Um, I've been here for probably about a year and a half now... BEMO: Okay.

FRANK: And it's something that you just can't beat.

The diversity here, the inclusion that everyone brings to you.

BEMO: Oh, time out, time out, time out.

You say there's diversity at an HBCU?

FRANK: It's crazy, right?

BEMO: Yeah, talk about it, man.

Because I think people think Black is just one thing.

Talk about it, yeah.

FRANK: No, it's not.

You see so many people from so many places.

Um, you see people from across the world.

You see people from France.

You see, you just meet so many different people... BEMO: Wow, wow.

FRANK: ...from so many different backgrounds.

It's always a great thing here.

BEMO: I love it.

I love it.

And I take it that you're in the nursing program.

FRANK: Oh, yes, that's why we're here.

BEMO: And also, a little birdie told me the nursing school, this building, is one of the new joints.

FRANK: It is one of the new joints.

BEMO: How's that feel, how's that feel?

FRANK: It feels phenomenal to be in a place where they have invested into to make people better nurses in general.

BEMO: Nice, mm-hmm.

FRANK: Like, the place here alone is just phenomenal.

Like, we get the real-life experience even though we're not in the hospital, and you just can't beat that.

BEMO: You don't say?

FRANK: Exactly, right?

It's crazy.

BEMO: Okay, okay, so we're in the nursing program.

FRANK: Yeah.

BEMO: All right.

I know you want to leave a legacy here in Bowie.

So what's something that you want to leave behind?

FRANK: What I want to leave behind mostly is men can do nursing as well.

I feel like a lot of men don't really want to get into nursing because they feel like it's more of a woman position job.

BEMO: Yeah.

FRANK: But I want people more to know that, men, I love nursing.

This is, I feel like, my place in life.

Like, I really enjoy being here.

I really enjoy doing this.

BEMO: Mm-hmm.

FRANK: I feel like a lot of other Black men like myself should also come in, experience this, and they probably will enjoy it as well.

BEMO: Okay, okay.

Are there any secrets that you want to give to the future male nurses and future nurses in general... FRANK: Hmm... BEMO: ...that might bring them here to Bowie or any HBCU in general?

FRANK: Definitely talk to people in the nursing program, that's one.

To get an experience, to know what you're looking for.

Definitely also talk to your nursing professors as well.

They can give you insight on things that will, you know, tell you what you should need for next semester, things that, to keep you ahead of the game.

And keeping ahead of the game in the nursing program is always something that you're always going to want to do.

BEMO: Nice.

I tell you one thing, sitting here, man, it does seem like a hospital.

FRANK: It does, right?

BEMO: Exactly uncomfortable.

Just to be specific.

FRANK: A little bit, a little bit.

BEMO: All right, thank you, Frank.

We appreciate your time, man.

CROWD: We are Bowie State University.

The first HBCU in the state of Maryland.

STUDENT: Welcome to... CROWD: HBCU Week!