WHEELING, W.Va — For nearly two decades, Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach Director at the YWCA Wheeling, Ron Scott, dreamed of creating a program to connect local students with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Two years ago, with support from the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley through the Mountain Heritage Fund (a partnership with the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation), Elizabeth S. Hess-Gebhard Fund and the Hess Family Fund, that dream became a reality.
“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for almost 20 years,” Scott said. “The reasoning behind the whole thing, I just wanted exposure to HBCUs. The only way to really start a pipeline from the Valley to HBCUs is to get students some kind of exposure.”
Men of Change launched annual HBCU Tours during spring break, giving local students the opportunity to travel, visit campuses, and immerse themselves in Black history and culture. The first trip brought 35 students and chaperones to Atlanta, home to four HBCUs within walking distance. The following year, participation grew to 45.
“The response from parents and students was 100% all for it,” Scott shared. “They wanted to know how to get their kids there. For students, it was completely free thanks to the foundation’s support and some additional community contributions.”
Students toured campuses including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College, while also visiting African American museums along the way. A stop at West Virginia State University, an HBCU closer to home, gave students a red-carpet welcome that included a campus tour, a meal, and a Q&A with the university president.
The tours go beyond seeing colleges. Students also connect with alumni and community members. One highlight came when Wheeling native Nick Banks, now living in Atlanta, hosted the group at his home. “He invited all Wheeling natives in Atlanta to come over,” Scott said. “He told the students, ‘Get out of the Valley, but not to leave it—bring something back.’ That message really stuck.”
To top it off, the program is already creating a tangible impact. “We got our first student who applied and was accepted to an HBCU because of the trip,” Scott said. “She visited Clark Atlanta, loved it, and even though she had missed the deadline, she applied for spring admission. That’s the goal—to create a pipeline where students not only see these schools, but picture themselves there.”
Looking ahead, Scott hopes to expand the program to include sophomores and juniors, giving students more time to consider HBCUs as an option. The next tour is planned for Washington, D.C., with stops at Howard University and the Smithsonian museums.
“I really think we’re this close to making this pipeline possibility happen,” Scott reflected. “These trips show students a different culture, a different atmosphere, and let them see what’s possible.”
