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Best Of 2023: 10 HBCU Moments That Made Us Proud This Year

From Fantasia enrolling into college to sports teams that made history, check out these top HBCU moments full of Black excellence.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 11: Fantasia Barrino attends THR Presents Live: The Color Purple at Crosby Hotel on December 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)

By Malaika Jabali · Updated December 15, 2023

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01 The Color Purple star, Fantasia Barrino, enrolls in Central State University for a business degree after once dropping out of high school

02 Fisk University became the first HBCU with a intercollegiate gymnastics team

LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 06: Fisk University gymnasts cheer on their teammate during a meet at the Orleans Arena on January 6, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images)

03 Iconic costume designer, and Hampton grad, Ruth Carter became the first Black woman to win two Oscars

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Ruth E. Carter, winner of the Best Costume Design award for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” poses in the press room at the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

04 Megan Thee Stallion returned to her alma mater, Texas Southern University, to gift $175,000 worth of scholarships

HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 8: Megan Thee Stallion surprises recipients of the Flamin Hot scholarship fund at Texas State University on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in Houston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

05 In another win for TSU, their cheerleaders became the first HBCU team in history to win a national title

DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 15: Texas Southern Tigers cheerleaders perform during the first half against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the First Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 15, 2023 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

06 Howard’s all-black swim team won its first conference championship in over 3 decades

NCAA Swimming: Howard University Darin Johnson in action, prepare to swim vs Virginia Military Institute at Burr Gymnasium Pool. Washington D.C., 10/29/2022 CREDIT: Simon Bruty (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164236 TK1)

07 Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, and Spelman faculty and students stood up to protest Cop City, the controversial public safety training facility in Atlanta

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 21: Darryl Alexander Sams, 2023 Co-Valedictorian speaks onstage during the 2023 139th Morehouse College Commencement Ceremony at Morehouse College on May 21, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

08 Howard Law grad Summer Lee became 1st Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress

BALTIMORE – MARCH 2: Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., speaks during House Minority Whip Katherine Clarks news conference with freshman women of the 118th Congress at the House Democrats 2023 Issues Conference in Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, March 2, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

09 Zahara Jolie, Angelina Jolie’s daughter, crossed over into Spelman’s “Sweet” Mu Pi AKA Chapter in Atlanta

10 Bowie State University’s Justina Miles stole the show at the Super Bowl Halftime with Rihanna with her ASL interpretation