Student Life

Black Student Union

BSU celebrates Black history, culture, and excellence, builds community across grades, and opens doors to college through our annual spring HBCU tours. BSU meets Tuesdays and Fridays with advisor Jamen Suter-Donaldson. All students are welcome.

On the Road: HBCU Tours

Every spring, BSU takes students across the country to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For many, it is their first flight and their first time away from home.

2027

Stay Tuned for Our Spring 2027 Trip

Planning is underway for the next BSU HBCU tour. Talk to Mr. Bass or Jamen to learn how to get involved.

2026

Texas and Louisiana

BSU set out on a cross-state expedition to HBCUs in Texas and Louisiana. At every school, students toured campus, sat in lecture halls, and connected with current students to begin imagining themselves there.

ARISE BSU students under the Huston-Tillotson University arch
Huston-Tillotson University, Austin
ARISE BSU students at Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University, Houston
ARISE BSU students at Dillard University
Dillard University, New Orleans
  1. Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TexasA group photo at the iconic TSU letters to kick off the tour.
  2. Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TexasAustin's historic HBCU, rooted in community since 1875.
  3. Dillard UniversityNew Orleans, LouisianaOak-lined avenues and a proud legacy dating to 1869.
ARISE students at Huston-Tillotson University
All smiles in Austin
An ARISE student at Dillard University
Picturing the future at Dillard
ARISE students in an HBCU lecture hall
Picturing themselves in the lecture hall
ARISE students meeting current HBCU students
Connecting with current students
ARISE BSU students and chaperones at dinner
Much love to Mr. Bass and Ms. J for chaperoning
2025

Florida to North Carolina

Twelve BSU students in grades 9 through 12, joined by two ARISE alumni, toured six HBCUs in four days.

ARISE BSU students in front of a mural at Florida A&M University
In front of the mural at FAMU
ARISE BSU students on an HBCU campus
Taking a break between tours
ARISE students smiling on the FAMU campus
Feeling at home on campus
  1. Bethune-Cookman UniversityFloridaA rich history and a campus that feels like family.
  2. Edward Waters UniversityFloridaA close-knit campus with standout athletic facilities.
  3. Florida A&M UniversityFloridaContagious energy, the story of the Rattler, and a powerful alumni network.
  4. Savannah State UniversityGeorgiaHistoric architecture, the school chant, and cafeteria food students are still talking about.
  5. South Carolina State UniversitySouth CarolinaGenerous scholarships and vibrant Greek life.
  6. North Carolina A&T State UniversityNorth CarolinaThe biggest campus on the tour, and a memorial to the Greensboro Four.

For many of our students, these trips expand their vision of what is possible and where they see themselves next. Several are already planning to apply to the colleges they visited.

ARISE students on a guided HBCU campus tour
Student guides led every tour
ARISE BSU students on a museum field trip
BSU field trip
Jamen Suter-DonaldsonBSU AdvisorEvan BassHBCU Tour Advisor