By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
The 2026 Alpha South Regional Convention and FOCUS HBCU College Fair brought more than 1,500 students to the Raleigh Convention Center last Thursday. Running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the annual event connected students from across North Carolina with representatives from historically Black colleges and universities throughout the Southeast region of the U.S., offering information on admissions, scholarships, academic programs, and extracurricular opportunities.
In addition to traditional college outreach, the fair featured resources for ACT and SAT preparation, military recruitment, and exposure to programs in band, cheer, arts, and choir. Organizers and partners, including the College Foundation of North Carolina, described the event as one of the largest of its kind in the state, with educators, college presidents, deans, and recruiters all in attendance to guide students through the transition to higher education.
The Raleigh event is part of a broader, growing effort to expand access to HBCUs at a time when such initiatives face increased scrutiny nationwide. The Alpha Phi Alpha-led fair builds on a longstanding mission to connect Black students and other underrepresented groups with institutions that have historically played a critical role in American higher education.
For colleges like Alabama State University, the Raleigh fair represents a key recruiting opportunity in a region where many students may not be familiar with out-of-state HBCUs.
Gregory Clark, the V.P. for Institutional Advancement and President of FAMU's National Alumni Association, said the event has proven to be an effective way to introduce North Carolina students to the school’s academic offerings and campus culture.
“A lot of students here haven’t heard much about Alabama State before they attend this fair,” Clark said. “But once we start talking about our business programs, internships, and the overall experience, you can see that interest build.”
Clark noted that the connections made at previous fairs have already led to increased enrollment.
“Last year, we met several students right here in Raleigh who are now freshmen at Alabama State,” he said. “A couple of them are thriving in the marching band, fully involved on campus, and doing exactly what we hoped they would—finding their place and succeeding.”
The fair also incorporated interactive elements designed to engage students and test their knowledge of HBCU history and culture. Trivia questions—such as how many HBCUs are located in North Carolina or where Martin Luther King Jr. attended college—were used to spark conversation and encourage deeper exploration of historically Black institutions.
The event follows a similar HBCU-focused initiative held earlier in March in Charlotte, where the National Coalition of 100 Black Women hosted a free college fair at First Baptist Church West. That gathering brought together students and families from across the region to explore post-secondary options, including four-year universities and trade schools, while also connecting them with local college and career planning organizations.
The growing network of outreach efforts aimed at strengthening the pipeline between North Carolina students and HBCUs across the country extends far beyond a single day. For students, it offers a chance to envision new possibilities; for colleges, it provides a direct line to prospective applicants; and for communities, it reinforces the enduring importance of HBCUs as engines of opportunity and advancement.
