A select group of Alcorn State University (ASU) students recently attended the Historically Black College and Universities’ (HBCU) Legacy Bowl and Allstate Career Fair hosted by the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
This event, which has been held since 2022, was held February 20th and 21st in Elite Hall at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. HBCUs in attendance were Jackson State, Southern University, Alabama A&M, Texas Southern, etc. The overall purpose of the Career Fair was to provide job opportunities and career advice to HBCU Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
The Career Fair is more than just a way for students to connect with major cooperations and showcase their resume in hopes of receiving a job offer, it also provides athletes with the opportunity to present their talents to National Football League (NFL) scouts. Edwin Summerour, a former ASU football player, stated, “Playing in the HBCU Legacy Bowl was a huge goal for me; it meant everything. It was proof that I’m one of the top players in HBCU football, and it validated all of the hard work and preparation I put into it. Having the opportunity to showcase my talent in front of NFL and Canadian Football League (CFL) scouts was my ultimate goal. Starting at Alcorn as a walk-on and working my way up to becoming an All-Conference player made the journey even more rewarding.”
Students from the various HBCUs received the opportunity to speak with top companies and corporations such as the National Football League, including the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and more. Other companies participating in the event were Allstate, Delta Airlines, Walmart, Zales, MFS Investments, USDA, various public schools, children’s hospitals, etc.
Senior Erriyonna Remond, a Political Science major, stated, “The HBCU Legacy Bowl and Career Fair was an amazing and insightful experience. I’m so grateful to have been in a space filled with different agencies and companies that gave HBCU students such as myself a chance to expand our horizons and grow in our own respected career paths.”
