NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service)-Two accomplished Tennessee State University students have been selected as HBCU Scholars through the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity.  TSU’s Erin Armstrong, a senior health science major, and Chandler Vidrine, a Ph.D. student in the public policy and administration program, were chosen for the prestigious program. They were among 110 students selected from HBCUs nationwide.  

Selection criteria included exceptional academic achievements, leadership potential, and community service. The HBCU Scholars program, now in its 10th year, aims to empower students through mentorship, leadership development, and networking opportunities with industry leaders and policymakers.

Armstrong, a Nashville native, is an honor student and attends TSU on an academic scholarship. She currently serves as the senior class press with the TSU Student Government Association and aspires to become a pediatric dentist. She expressed her excitement about starting her senior year at TSU with this recognition.

“I’m excited about being able to represent my university on a broader scale, growing professionally, developing more leadership skills, and advocating for HBCUs across the nation,” she said. “Academically and personally, I am just excited to see myself evolve. I entered TSU being shy, and now I’m a representative of the university at an all-time high.”

Vidrine is from Ville Platte, Louisiana, and completed his undergraduate degree at Southern University, a fellow HBCU in Baton Rouge. He said that he chose TSU for its promising online program and to reconnect with the HBCU culture. The doctoral student emphasized the significance of the White House HBCU recognition for him as a first-generation college graduate.

“This testimony means everything,” Vidrine said. “When I was selected as an HBCU Scholar, I was super excited, especially with me being a first-time college graduate from my family.”

He looks forward to networking with peers from diverse backgrounds. “It’s always good to share different ideas as well, and how to address certain situations and utilize those innovative ideas.”

The HBCU Scholars will also be invited to the 2024 HBCU Week National Annual Conference, from September 15-19, in Philadelphia, PA. The annual conference theme is “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet.” In a press release from the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized that The White House initiative for HBCU students, aligned with the department’s mission to “Raise the Bar,” and encourages students to “uplift their communities, foster unity, strengthen democracy, and contribute to economic growth.” 

“For 10 years, the HBCU Scholars program has celebrated the exceptional academic talent and achievements of students at our Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This year’s 110 outstanding students exemplify Black excellence – and fill us with hope for the promise of tomorrow. We couldn’t be prouder to support them on their journey.”

Through workshops, leadership programs, and networking events, the TSU students, along with other selected HBCU Scholars, will have the opportunity to enhance their skills and expand their horizons.

As Armstrong and Vidrine embark on this journey for the 2024-25 school year, their selection as HBCU Scholars highlights the recognition and support from the White House Initiative for exceptional students at Tennessee State University.