If you walked into the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas last month, you didn’t just step into a college information session. You walked into a room filled with pride, possibility, and intention.
HBCU hoodies and school colors were everywhere. Greek letters sparked conversations across generations. Old friends reconnected while young people took it all in — seeing, many for the first time, what historically Black colleges and universities could look like as a real pathway forward. A DJ kept the energy high, conversations lingered long after the program ended, and at one point, the room even broke out into line dancing.
That mix of culture and opportunity was no accident. It was the vision of the Wichita HBCU Alumni Collective, a newly formed organization working to build a year-round pipeline connecting Wichita youth to HBCUs — and connecting alumni to students who need guidance, support, and examples of what’s possible.
The Collective’s mission is simple but powerful: expose young people to educational options they may not know exist, and then help them understand how to access them. For many students, HBCUs are not part of the conversation at home or in school. They may have never met an HBCU graduate, don’t know how scholarships work, or don’t realize the breadth of academic and professional opportunities available.
Founder Kiana Knolland said the goal is not to center one person’s success story, but to widen the circle of opportunity. By bringing alumni, current students, and professionals together in the community, the Collective hopes to normalize HBCUs as a viable, attainable choice — not a distant idea.
The January gathering served as the organization’s kickoff, and the turnout made it clear the interest is there. More than 400 people attended.
While social media influencer D’Aydrian Harding helped draw attention — particularly among young Black boys eager to meet him — organizers say the crowd was built through intention, not hype alone. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Collective reached out to 60 to 70 youth-serving organizations across Wichita, from mentoring programs to school-based initiatives. The goal was to meet students where they already are and ensure trusted adults helped spread the word.
That strategy paid off. The room included students seeking direction alongside adults eager to show them what’s possible.
The program itself was designed to keep things real. One panel featured HBCU alumni from a range of fields — energy, health care, entrepreneurship, fashion, and corporate leadership — who spoke honestly about what their HBCU experience gave them, beyond degrees or job titles. A second panel featured current HBCU students who talked candidly about why they chose their schools, what surprised them, and how the HBCU experience can differ from attending a predominantly white institution.
For many students in the audience, the most impactful part came afterward. During a speed-networking session, 15 to 20 additional HBCU alumni and professionals stayed to talk one-on-one, answer questions, and begin relationships that organizers hope will grow into mentorships.
The evening also paused to honor the legacy of William Polite, a Morehouse College graduate remembered for his love of HBCUs and commitment to uplifting others. His family was presented a key to the city and a state certificate of resolution.
Still, the Collective is clear: the energy of one night is just the doorway, not the destination.
Next comes the work between the moments — pairing high school students with mentors, supporting current HBCU students through alumni connections, and building partnerships so students can return to Wichita for internships and career opportunities. Plans include repeat gatherings, college send-offs before students leave for campus, and welcome-home events when they return.
The message the room carried — and the Collective hopes to sustain — is simple:
Your options are bigger than what you see every day. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
For more information, contact: WichitaHBCUAlumniCollective@gmail.com
