‘A place where everyone can fit’: HBCU recruitment fair presents new opportunities for San Juan Unified students

Students from across San Juan Unified School District had the opportunity to explore their futures in higher education at El Camino Fundamental High School on Sept. 18 during this year’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) recruitment fair, hosted in partnership with United College Action Network (U-CAN).

The event, which was open to 11th and 12th-grade students across the district, brought recruiters from more than 30 HBCUs directly to campus, giving students the chance to connect one-on-one with college representatives.

For many, the fair was a chance to explore institutions rooted in rich cultural history.

“What interested me was getting connected and building culture. With me being a mixed kid, I feel like HBCU furthers what I want to do,” said 12th-grade student LaShaun. “I heard that HBCUs look forward to giving opportunities to people that feel like they can’t have those types of opportunities.”

In addition to gaining insight into scholarship opportunities and financial aid, students could qualify for application fee waivers, receive “on-the-spot” admissions from selected colleges and even be considered for scholarships during the fair.

“U-CAN has been around since 1988, and it has been our motto that you can go to college no matter what. No matter what social class you’re from, no matter what you look like, no matter how much money you have, you can go to college,” said Angelice Ferrell, chief operating officer for U-CAN.

According to school leaders, the fair also helps students see themselves as future college graduates and discover possibilities they may not have considered before.

“I think there’s a perception from students that they’re maybe not college material or there’s not a place that would be a good fit for them,” said Evelyn Welborn, principal at El Camino. “But there are such a diverse number of schools here that have a lot of different majors, cultures and communities, and there’s really a place where everyone can fit.”

That message of belonging was echoed by students throughout the fair.

“To me, [the recruitment fair] shows that they care because we are from different backgrounds. If you look around, there aren’t just Black students here. There are people from other colleges and backgrounds, and I like the fact that we’re all in this room together to think about a future and go somewhere that actually fits us,” said 11th-grade student Ojehi.

The HBCU recruitment fair reflects San Juan Unified’s commitment to preparing students for post-secondary education, career and life, while honoring and supporting the diverse backgrounds and aspirations of its learners.