By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

Last week, California State University (CSU), Sacramento (Sac State) celebrated 80 students who are enrolled in the inaugural class of its Black Honors College (BHC).

Dubbed a “college within a college,” the BHC program is the first of its kind in the United States.

“Using the honors college model as a way to create a unique experience for students who are interested in Black history, life and culture,” said Dr. J. Luke Wood, President of Sacramento State. Wood was speaking at the event organized to celebrate the students and launch the program, held the afternoon of Aug. 8 in the university ballroom.

“While in our minds we were creating this with the intention of serving students from the Black community, we also want you to know that we are open to anyone and everyone. We do not want to be inclusive by being exclusive,” continued wood, who also challenged the students to leave Sacramento “better than they found it.”

Former President Barack Obama was featured in a video sharing a congratulatory message with the Sac State family for launching the BHC.

Obama said the BHC told the students in the BHC’s first cohort that they are “uniquely poised for success.”

“Channel your energy to a cause higher than yourself,” he encouraged them.

CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia said the BHC serves a model that could be replicated at other campuses.

“Sac State is exemplifying what we can do across the CSU,” said Garcia, adding that she is confident the BHC students will emerge as “courageous leaders” in California and around the world.

According to the Sac State, the BHC is “an enhanced co-curricular college for students providing specialized coursework, distinctive research opportunities and creative arts, residential living and learning programs, scholarships, and distinguished recognition.”

It is “designed for students who are interested in Black history, life, culture, and contributions. All incoming students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to apply,” the program’s description continues.

Several state leaders, university leaders, elected officials, education advocates, Sacramento officials and international guests attended the event, including Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Tani Cantil-Sakuye, President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Guateng Provincial Legislature in South Africa, among others.

Stephen K. Benjamin, Senior White House Advisor to President Biden and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement delivered the keynote and read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris.

“May you always dream with ambition and lead with conviction,” Harris was quoted in the statement read by Benjamin.

In his own words, Benjamin said, “History is indeed being made today with “this bold vision.”

“I hope that you are both humbled and excited,” he said, reminding them that “titles don’t make leaders.”

“Leaders are servants,” Benjamin continued. “Leaders give. Leaders build other leaders. Within each one of you is the power to change this world.”

During the event, Wood thanked Sacramento’s Tsakopoulos family, for a $2.5 million donation to the BHC.

The college “will give us a voice, a way to make change, and a family,” said Savanna Beattie, a student in the BHC’s inaugural class, who told guests that she will study nursing and hopes to work in a neonatal intensive care unit.

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