Bogan High School 2025 graduate Aaron Williams is still sorting through college acceptance letters. According to ABC7 Chicago, Williams has already been accepted into more than 83 colleges and universities, and this is only after opening half of the letters he has received. Additionally, he’s already earned at least $8 million in scholarships. This is more than any of his six siblings. Per the outlet, one of his older siblings has earned $1 million in scholarships. “And, they’re still coming in. Daily, he gets emails. They’re a little bit behind,” his mother, Ericka Smith, told the outlet. Williams also added, “To know that all the hours of me applying for scholarships, and having to log them on school links, and just putting in the effort, and having a community to support me and guide me through this process is relieving to know that it paid off in the long-run.” Williams may not be surprised by the influx of great news, as he had already predicted a path of excellence when he...

Between March 11 and June 27, 2025, the Education Department ‘s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) dismissed 3,424 complaints — an unusually high number that has alarmed former officials and advocates amid the Trump administration’s plans for significantly cutting staff. According to POLITICO, court documents state that OCR received 4,833 complaints during that time, dismissing 96 due to insufficient evidence and resolving 290 through settlements, voluntary agreements, or technical assistance. OCR enforces federal civil rights laws in schools and other Education Department-funded institutions nationwide, its website states . Civil rights advocates argue that the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights law — such as discrimination based on gender identity, LGBTQ+ category, and race — draws concern due to the mass dismissals and increases the chances of neglecting critical cases. “The nation’s students and schools deserve a robust federal civil rights enforcement office that...

Bowie State University, Maryland’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) , has received new funding to increase the number of nurse educators in the state. According to a school news release, the university has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the Maryland Department of Nursing, administered through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, marking the department’s largest grant to date. The funding will be used to support 20 doctoral faculty members in its Ph.D. program over four years with the overarching goal of advancing the nursing workforce by bolstering nurse educators statewide. Bowie State University serves over 6,100 students, according to the school’s LinkedIn. It offers 29 undergraduate majors, 21 master’s degree programs, 16 specialty certificates and three doctoral programs with focus areas such as science, technology, business, education and related disciplines, its website states. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there will be 193,100...

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to overhaul the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The proposed changes, according to ABC News, could block debt relief for thousands of public and nonprofit workers, including those who work for organizations supporting immigrant communities, transgender youth, and diversity and inclusion efforts. The Department of Education’s draft rule would allow officials to disqualify entire organizations from PSLF if they’re involved in so-called “illegal activities” the department has defined. Critics argue that the vague language used could become a political tool, particularly against groups focused on equity, identity, or civil rights. “That’s definitely an indicator for me that this is politically motivated and perhaps will be used as a tool for political punishment,” Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors and reviewer of the rule, said in an interview with ABC News. What PSLF Was Designed To Do...

Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford, an educator with over 25 years of dedicated service, was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame on June 20, becoming only the sixth Black woman to receive the honor. The induction joins a long list of accolades, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, recognition in the U.S. Congressional Record by the late Rep. John Lewis, and multiple honors from President Barack Obama for her work advancing equity and excellence in education. As a Black female leader in STEM education , Jones Ford is committed to using her platform to inspire underrepresented students to pursue similar paths. “I’m incredibly proud to be among such amazing educators, but it lets me know there’s still work to be done as far as bringing recognition, because I know there are so many teachers of color who deserve this platform,” Jones Ford told AFROTECH™. She said that she wanted to use her platform to share her experience and to bring...

Recently, more than 125 students graduated from Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy, a one-of-a-kind, free 10-month program launched in 2021 through a partnership between Apple and Michigan State University (MSU), according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. But the Apple Developer Academy is about more than just coding. It equips Detroiters with real-world skills and the confidence to thrive in app development, business, and today’s ever-evolving tech landscape, per the release. A Pipeline For Real-World Innovation What makes Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy truly unique is its approach. Beyond mastering Swift coding, students dive into AI, UX design, marketing, and project management. The program is also backed by the Gilbert Family Foundation, which helps connect graduates with internships, mentors, and career opportunities across Detroit. “As Detroit continues to emerge as a national hub for technology, the Apple Developer Academy is creating pathways for Detroiters of all...

Recent graduate Sabrin Khalif is ensuring her parents’ sacrifices weren’t in vain. According to CBS News, Khalif has earned not only a high school diploma from Irondale High School in New Brighton, MN, but also an Associate of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from nearby Anoka-Ramsey Community College. This feat holds emotional weight considering her parents, who were raised in Somalia, never had a chance to finish school even at the elementary level. The pair moved to the United States in hopes of creating a better life. “All of the aspirations my parents wanted, it’s now set on me,” Khalif told the outlet. “Not only to fulfill it, but also to show them that all of their sacrifices, everything that they gave up on, they’re able to say, ‘Hey, it was actually worth it.'” What’s Next? Looking ahead, Khalif intends to further her studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Minneapolis-St. Paul and will be pursuing a bachelor’s in human physiology and a bachelor’s in public...

University of Virginia (UVA) President James E. Ryan has informed the school’s governing board that he will resign. His decision follows growing pressure from Department of Justice (DOJ) officials over the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, The Washington Post reports. The Trump-aligned DOJ reportedly made it clear they expected Ryan to step down, escalating tensions between political leaders and higher education institutions caught in the crossfire of ideological battles over DEI, according to the outlet. Controversy Over The Dissolution Of UVA’s DEI Office In March, UVA’s Board of Visitors, largely appointed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, voted to dismantle the university’s DEI office. This move aligned with federal efforts aimed at removing DEI programs from public institutions while allowing for the reassignment of “permissible” elements within the university. Officials were required to provide a report on compliance within 30 days. Critics...

Thanks to online support, this recent high school graduate can now afford to go to college. In May 2025, Mykale Baker received his diploma from Mills Creek High School in Gwinnett County, GA, while adorned with two medals, People reports. Though most graduates might celebrate with a party or dinner with loved ones, Baker instead clocked in to help his co-workers at Burger King. A video of him working at the fast food restaurant in his cap and gown went viral on TikTok, garnering over 706,000 likes (at the time of this writing). Maria Mendoza, 45, was the customer who spotted Baker and shared the video with the caption, “This young man deserves a scholarship!”   @mariabonita528 This young man deserves a scholarship!!!! @Carlos_Eduardo_Espina @Burger King #daculaga #burgerking #youngkid #graduated #hardworking #pesopluma #nuevavida ♬ NUEVA VIDA – Peso Pluma “I saw him with his sash and medals. I see Mykale right there, just working with a smile,” Mendoza told WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta. “I...

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks point guard, has donated to support the construction of a center that will educate the youth. There is an active GoFundMe that was launched to commemorate the legacy of Tamir Rice, A 12-year-old Black boy who was shot and killed by Timothy Loehmann, a white police officer, in 2014 at the Cudell Park Recreation Center in Cleveland. The child had been playing with a “toy black airsoft pistol with a removable magazine” at the time, a news release reports. A Center In His Legacy Samira Rice, Tamir’s mother, has made the GoFundMe to raise funds in support of a new center in his honor to empower the youth through arts and education, notes Complex. She’s asking for $23 donations to commemorate what would have been Tamir’s 23rd birthday. The project has a $110,000 target and has already raised $92,717 (at the time of this writing). With over 1,000 people contributing, Irving made a significant donation towards the project, committing $50,000. “I miss my son so...

Kande Sill is proof of the importance of exposing children to STEM routes early. The 16-year-old U.K. student has a passion for design and engineering, which was made possible by following her parents advice to attend a school with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), she revealed on “The Perfect Balance Trod Class” podcast. “I never really had much of a directed interest in engineering before this, but when my parents said that maybe I should try out going to the school, a very STEM focused school, that was kind of when I got into engineering and I realized I quite enjoy learning about engineering,” Sill, who attends a University Technical College, explained on the podcast. According to Black News, she is now making a mark in the sector, serving as an inspiration for others. As part of a project, she created the “Enhancing Medical Delivery” prototype to deliver medical supplies more efficiently to underserved communities globally. Its design includes...

Voice assistants and speech recognition tools have struggled for years to understand the way many Black people naturally speak. Commands get misinterpreted. Responses often miss the mark, and as a result, users usually feel unheard unless they change their voices to fit technology that wasn’t built with them in mind. Howard University and Google Research are working to change that. The two institutions have collaborated on Project Elevate Black Voices and have released a first-of-its-kind dataset: over 600 hours of African American English (AAE) collected from communities across 32 states, according to a press release from Howard University, obtained by AFROTECH™. The goal is to help artificial intelligence systems recognize, respect, and respond to the full range of Black speech, not just edited, flattened, or code-switched versions of it. Project Elevate Black Voices is a multi-year research initiative co-designed and led by Black researchers to build high-quality AAE speech data...

Innovative learning labs are being planted in southern underresourced cities to combat the digital divide. Ed Farm Launched in February 2020, Ed Farm, with the support of Apple and the Alabama Power Foundation, works to reach students, teachers and the workforce with the goal of establishing an epicenter for education technology, Ed Farm President Waymond Jackson told AFROTECH™ during the Future of Learning Summit 2025 on June 5. Photo Credit: Samantha Dorisca The organization initially focused on the Birmingham, AL area, launching with a partnership with Birmingham City Schools before expanding to Montgomery Public Schools and Atlanta Public Schools by 2021. Today, its efforts have scaled to Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California, per The Business Journals. The arrival of Ed Farm came just weeks before the pandemic. “We were just working with one school district, which was Birmingham City Schools. What I continue to tell my team was that we positioned to be a...

Kendrick Lamar’s impact will be studied. The songwriter and rapper, who broadly reps Compton, CA, had quite a year. The release of his rap diss “They Not Like Us” in 2024 led to five Grammy awards including “R ecord of The Year” in 2025. Lamar also was the headliner at the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show held in New Orleans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NFL (@nfl) While this last year has been electric for the rapper, his talents and contributions to the world of Hip-Hop had been undeniable as a result of albums that include “To Pimp A Butterfly” (2015), “Mr Morale & The Big Steppers” (2022), and “DAMN” (2017), which earned him a Pulitzer Prize. “Throughout his career, Kendrick Lamar hasn’t met the cultural moment so much as he’s defined it,” Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s global head of content and editorial, said in a news release. He’s defined it so much so that it will now be taught in higher learning. According to WHYY News, Temple University...

Tennessee State University (TSU) has finalized an agreement with state leaders that will reallocate $96 million in state funds to stabilize the institution’s operations and restore financial confidence, according to the Tennessee State University Newsroom. The move is considered a critical step toward ensuring TSU’s sustainability after years of systemic underfunding and financial instability. The funds were initially designated for deferred maintenance as part of a $250 million capital improvement allocation in 2022. However, the funds will now be used over the next three years to support university operations. University officials described the arrangement as a transformational opportunity that will relieve cash flow concerns and fund improvements to student services, staffing, and long-term infrastructure, the HBCU reported. “This agreement provides TSU with the opportunity to solve its financial challenges and regain its legacy as one of our nation’s great, historic institutions...