The HBCU experience isn’t just about going to an “all Black school.” Attending a Historically Black College and University means receiving a top-tier education while being immersed in the joy and excellence of Black culture. The next four years will be like no other. From the palpable excitement of the marching band at football games to finding out who crossed during probate season, HBCU culture fills you with great moments and even warmer memories.
Yet despite the fun one has while attending an HBCU, being a college student is tough. For many, it’s their first time away from home, so they’re learning how to balance their studies with life’s constant demands. That’s why it’s important to always stay up! For the uninitiated, those two words don’t mean much, but for HBCU students and alumni, stay up has many definitions. No matter what college life throws at you—a pop quiz, a group project, or that one 8 AM class you have to take to graduate, taught by the department chair who’s “so friendly”— when you stay up, you can handle anything with style and grace.
Walmart understands the joy and unique challenges that HBCU students face, which is why, in collaboration with Complex News, it created the Stay Up series. Host Jillian Hardeman-Webb visited four schools to quiz students on their school’s history and to find out how their specific HBCU stays up. First up, Texas Southern University.
Texas Southern University
There’s a reason why Megan Thee Stallion chose to earn her Bachelor’s in Health Administration from Texas Southern University, and no, it’s not just because she’s from Texas. The 97-year-old educational institution has more than 120 programs for students to choose from and boasts stellar areas of study within the fields of health, law, and aviation. When Complex News pulled up to TSU’s gorgeous 150-acre campus to quiz students, not only did they prove their HBCU has a home in their hearts, but each student showed that stayin’ up is a mantra they’ll take with them long after they graduate.
Student Name: Kehlini Farooq
Stay Up Quote: “When I hear stay up, I just hear keep the positivity, and better times are coming.”
Prairie View A&M University
If you’re looking for a Black architect, there’s a high probability that he or she graduated from Prairie View A&M University. This HBCU continues to add to the rich history of Texas and historically black colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 70 degree programs, including a well-respected nursing, engineering, and psychology program, Prairie View, home of the panthers, continues to produce some of the brightest Black minds. Student Name: James Fountain.
Stay Up Quote: “Stay up means to stay persistent.”
North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina is home to some of the country’s best HBCU’s and at the top of that list is North Carolina A&T. As the largest historically black college or university in the country, A&T is also one of the leading Black colleges that produces graduates within the field of STEM. No wonder Aggie Pride—the school’s resounding rallying cry and mantra—is strong. When Complex News arrived at the 134-year-old school to quiz students on A&T history, not only did they ace it, but they proved why A&T students are top-tier.
Student Name: Faith Bullard
Stay Up Quote: “Stay up means that no matter what, you always try your hardest—110 percent, actually.”
North Carolina Central University
You never know when you’ll need a lawyer, and if you ever do, you’ll want one who’s graduated from North Carolina Central University. This institution of higher education was created to provide Black men and women with the finest education, and for more than 100 years, it’s lived up to that promise. But if you’re not interested in law, NCCU has a highly-regarded liberal arts program, providing excellence to all students, no matter what their passion.
Student Name: Neiman Sneed
Stay Up Quote: “I approach situations or challenges from this: I’m going to be a better person, regardless of how hard this is.”
Walmart knows that the brilliant, Black minds of tomorrow are earning degrees at some of the nation’s leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities today. And while graduation may be a ways away, the Walmart gift card can hopefully get some of these college students through the day.