Two University Students named White House HBCU Scholars
The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs has named two Delaware State University students – Jordan Spencer and Imani Wulff-Cochrane – among the recently announced group of 2023 HBCU Scholars.
Spencer and Wulff-Cochrane are part of a group of 102 HBCU Scholars selected for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and civic engagement from a competitive pool of more than 300 students. The selected scholars represent 70 of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and will serve as ambassadors for the White House Initiative on HBCUs, the U.S. Department of Education, and their respective HBCUs.
Jordan Spencer – a graduate student studying Public Administration from Harrisburg, Pa. – served as the Vice President of the 2022-2023 Student Government Association. This summer he worked for Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and he currently serves on the Student Affairs Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Spencer was also a White House HBCU Scholar in 2022.
Imani Wulff-Cochrane – a sophomore Pre-Education major from Newark, Del. – serves in a number of student organizations, including Hornets in Motion, the National Coalition of Negro Women, Profound Ladies, and Aspiring Educators. She aspires to be an education equity advocate.
A critical component of the HBCU Scholar Program is a partnership with NASA to foster innovation and opportunity for the cohorts. HBCU Scholars will partner with one another to developing ideas to commercialize technology derived from NASA intellectual property that can improve their campus and surrounding communities. HBCU Scholars will have the opportunity to present their IP ideas in-person at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland during the National HBCU Week Conference in September.
“Our 2023 HBCU Scholars are talented students who embody the culture of excellence and inclusion championed by our nation ’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and everyone across the Biden-Harris Administration, I congratulate each of our 2023 HBCU scholars on this prestigious recognition and thank them for their commitment to serving their communities. I’m thrilled to see the HBCU Scholars program continue to expand its reach and provide such exciting professional development, networking, and educational opportunities to some of our nation’s brightest and most promising young leaders.”
The HBCU Scholars will also be attend the 2023 HBCU Week National Annual Conference on September 24-48 in Crystal City, Va. This year’s conference theme is “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence Through Innovation and Leadership.” During the conference, they will participate in sessions designed to engage a spirit of innovation, leadership, as well as personal and professional development. Most importantly, scholars will have opportunities to engage with one another and showcase their individual and collective talents.