Building Bridges Education says HBCU Week drew 3,000 students and $5 million in scholarships

Building Bridges Education wrapped HBCU Week 2026 in Boston after five days of roadshows, a summit, a fair and a gala that connected thousands of students with more than 20 HBCUs. The group says the effort produced more than 325 college acceptances and $5 million in preliminary scholarship results.

Why it matters: - Building Bridges Education's HBCU Week is now one of the largest HBCU-centered college access efforts in the country, based on participation and outcomes. - The program connected New England students with admissions officers, interview opportunities, scholarships and career pathways. - The scale matters for students who may not otherwise have direct access to HBCU recruiting events.

What happened: - Building Bridges Education celebrated the close of HBCU Week 2026 on October 16 in Boston. - The five-day program brought HBCU leaders, educators, policymakers and thousands of students together across New England. - More than 3,000 students took part in Building Bridges Education's HBCU programming over the week. - The organization said the week generated more than 325 college acceptances and $5 million in scholarships, based on preliminary results. - In its first year, Building Bridges Education served 80 students. - This year, more than 3,000 students participated in the HBCU Fair & Interview Day alone.

The details: - The week opened Tuesday with Building Bridges HBCU Roadshows, which connected admissions leaders with high school students across Massachusetts. - The roadshows focused on the academic excellence and culture of HBCUs. - On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the HBCU Summit was held at Harvard Kennedy School. - Dr. Sara Bleich helped make the summit possible through her leadership and support. - The summit brought together HBCU leaders, K-12 educators, higher education professionals, counselors and community partners. - Featured speakers included Dr. Sara Bleich, Dr. M.C. Brown II, April English, Jeneé Osterheldt, Chelsea Holley, Dominique Harrison and Cedric Walker. - On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Building Bridges HBCU Fair, Interview Day & Career and Pathways Expo took place at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston. - Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Chief Secretary April English joined students, families and HBCU representatives on the fair floor. - Building Bridges Education welcomed 23 HBCUs to Boston. - Participating schools included Spelman College, Howard University, Tuskegee University, Morehouse College, Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, Hampton University, Morgan State University, Clark Atlanta University and Bethune-Cookman University. - The event drew students from 138 schools, including 117 schools in Massachusetts and schools in Maine and Rhode Island. - On-site admissions interviews gave high school seniors a chance to receive admission offers and scholarships. - Fourteen Career & Pathways Expo partners worked with Boston Public Schools' Office of College, Career & Life Readiness to connect students with employers and future career options.

Between the lines: - The event's growth from 80 students in year one to more than 3,000 this year suggests rising demand for direct HBCU access in the Northeast. - The mix of college admissions, financial aid and career exposure shows Building Bridges Education is trying to move students from interest to enrollment. - The presence of state and university leaders signals institutional support for expanding HBCU pipelines beyond the South. - Partnerships with UNCF, Thurgood Marshall College Fund and uAspire give the program added reach in scholarships and financial guidance.

What's next: - Building Bridges Education scheduled HBCU Week 2027 for Oct. 12-15, 2027. - Next year's lineup will again include the HBCU Roadshows, HBCU Summit, HBCU Fair & Interview Day and HBCU Legacy Gala. - Organizations interested in sponsoring or partnering can contact info@buildingbridgeseducation.com. - More information is available on the Building Bridges Education website.

The bottom line: - Building Bridges Education turned HBCU Week into a large-scale recruiting and scholarship pipeline for New England students, and the organization is aiming to make the event even bigger in 2027.