Los Medanos students will be given the opportunity to attend a total of nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the spring semester of 2026. Students will leave March 21st and return March 27th. It will mark the 9th year that the tour will take place, as 14 students will be selected to travel to HBCUs across the country, as well as additional tours to the Civil Rights Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The chaperones for the tour are Umoja counselor Faith Watkins, Transfer and Career Services employment coordinator MJ Alexander and Professor Jordan Clark.
Watkins, who is an HBCU alumni from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, expresses why HBCUs are special. “Each institution has its own personality, each campus has its own style, so there’s a university and college for everyone. Something that HBCU graduates say is that you don’t choose your HBCU, the HBCU actually picks you, and read, once you get there, you will know that it is the place that you’re supposed to be,” Watkins said.
Students may have an idea of which HBCU they would like to transfer to, and through the tour, it can either solidify their decision or it can give them an opportunity to learn about a different HBCU and explore the campus. “Oftentimes, students who have gone on the tour may have a specific school in mind, and they like the school, and then they end up really enjoying and potentially transferring to an institution that they didn’t even know existed. So it’s an opportunity for students to learn more about African American history,” added Watkins.
Student Cameron Turner, who expressed interest in going on the tour, explains the importance of having a tour like this for students, “I think there’s so much history at HBCUs. The history that you don’t really see here at colleges on the West Coast. The history of people of color that have gone the HBCU route and end up becoming who they are because they went to an HBCU,” Turner said
“One thing that I have noticed about my graduating class that went to HBCUs is that they are doing well in life as opposed to other universities,” added Turner.
Student Jaden Ellis emphasizes the diversity on HBCU campuses and their goal to help students reach their goals, “HBCUs are great to branch out to support local communities and are targeted towards that ethnic group. Also, as well as accepting and being diverse enough and giving a more cultural experience than just education-wise,” Ellis said.
“When you go to an HBCU, they are there to guarantee that you graduate. This is the college that’s for you. It’s more of a family campus; they are there to guarantee that you graduate,” added Ellis, expressing the purpose of these universities.
A sense of community is built within these colleges and universities where students can accomplish their goals and strive for success. Faith Watkins reflects on her experience, stating, “I built long-lasting relationships at my HBCU campus, you feel like you do have a community, and you leave with a family,” Watkins said.
This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance; students who are interested can go to the Los Médanos College website and apply. The requirements consist of a 400-600 essay on why they want to attend the tour, and additionally have a letter of recommendation, and must have completed 12 units with a GPA of 2.0 or more. If students are selected for the tour, they have to commit to attending a total of five meetings that will discuss more information on the tour. The cost is completely free for selected students, but they have to make sure that they meet the requirements and start applying, as applications are due by Nov. 23rd.
