Columbus hosts its first HBCU alumni weekend, a three-day celebration of culture, community and legacy featuring networking events, football and fundraising.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The energy and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is taking center stage in Columbus this weekend, as the city hosts its inaugural HBCU Alumni Weekend from Sept. 5–7.
The three-day celebration brings together HBCU graduates, current students, community members and even alumni from The Ohio State University for networking, career advancement, cultural events and college football.
“This is our inaugural weekend of celebrating the legacy and the contribution of HBCU alumni and the amazing things we do in the city,” said Lawrence Lemon, co-chair of HBCU Alumni Weekend and a graduate of Kentucky State University. “This will be an annual event, so look forward to it next year.”
Though the timing of the event aligns with Grambling State University’s high-profile game against Ohio State, organizers say the weekend was already in the works.
“I say God does all things well. This was already on the books for us to do,” Lemon told 10TV. “But when we found out that Grambling was going on the same weekend, it just made it the chef’s kiss of God’s blessing.”
Lemon, who was born and raised in Columbus and is also being honored this weekend for his contributions to arts and culture, said the weekend is open to everyone — not just HBCU alumni.
“You absolutely do not have to attend an HBCU to come out. We actually welcome OSU alum,” Lemon said. “It’s put on by HBCU family, and when we talk about family, those who understand the culture and the legacy of HBCUs, you understand that we have many cousins.”
HBCU Alumni Weekend kicked off Friday morning with a free Job & Career Fair at the Shine Bright Community Center, followed by a welcome reception at Cut 132 in Easton Town Center. The weekend continues Saturday with a pregame tailgate at Fairfield by Marriott near campus and an official after party at Canopy by Hilton in the Short North.
The celebration concludes Sunday with the HBCU Ball & Parlay Scholarship & Awards Brunch, also hosted at Cut 132, where community leaders and alumni will be honored for their contributions across multiple sectors.
Awardees include Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin (Morehouse College), U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (Central State University), Superintendent Angela Chapman (Tennessee State University) and Lemon himself. The brunch also serves as a fundraiser for scholarships benefiting local students currently enrolled in HBCUs.
“The HBCU education and alum are some of the vital sources of our community, and without HBCU alum, many things would not be happening across the world and across the nation,” Lemon said.
Proceeds from the weekend will go toward scholarships for current HBCU students as well as HBCU alumni involved in entrepreneurship or community impact. The scholarship effort is organized by the group 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, which is part of a national network of groups that offer mentoring and other programs to help young African American men.
“These are nonrestrictive funds to help support the life and the legacy,” Lemon said. “We are donating into their future and pouring into their future.”
Many HBCU Alumni Weekend events are free to attend, though registration is required. Tickets, event details and sponsorship opportunities are available at www.hbcufamily.org.
“This is a moment of culture, of celebration, of legacy and moving into the future,” Lemon said. “We are excited about this week, and the scholarships are definitely going to pour into the future of HBCU alumni, as well as the city of Columbus.”
