New Jersey Scholars from Pathways to College enjoyed this year’s Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic at Prudential Center in Newark. The annual event features a basketball double-header with teams from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as scholastic, entrepreneurial, and cultural activities.

For many Scholars, the experience was their first exposure not only to their hometown arena, but also to opportunities at HBCUs. Four took center stage: Grambling State (Louisiana), Hampton (Virginia), Howard (Washington, DC), and Jackson State (Mississippi).

Whether the draw was peer bonding, the Black college experience, competitive college basketball, the Battle of the (marching) Bands, or the venue, students shared their enthusiasm in their own words:

Emani, grade 12: “Something new I discovered was the culture and being in a sanctuary with just HBCUs and how much fans loved it.”

Nyrie, grade 10: What was your favorite part of this trip? “Just being with everyone at the game because it helped me get to know them.”

Orlando, grade 11: “The whole environment was alive. I enjoyed the game, the food, the people. Overall, great trip and being with other Scholars.”

Social activities are an important part of relationship-building for Pathways to College, an after-school program that has been preparing students of color for success in college and in life since 2003.

# # #

Contact: Alyssa Alston, Director of Communications | communications@pathwaystocollege.org | 202-924-1691

Pathways to College is an after-school program providing information, guidance and support to help African American and other students of color become the best high school students, college applicants and college students they can be to prepare for lifelong success. Although we welcome all students of color, we focus on under-served African American high school students, whose potential has been marginalized for generations.