Track-and-field event at Washington Heights’ Armory shines a spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

NEW YORK — Traditionally Black schools or universities, or HBCUs, date again practically 200 years and survive by being artistic and discovering new methods to have fun college students and encourage enrollment.

A track-and-field occasion in Washington Heights put quite a few HBCUs within the highlight Saturday.

Faculty sophomore Malcom Garbutt triumphs at balancing athletics and lecturers. Success involves the 19-year-old on the observe and within the lecture rooms at Delaware State College.

“A variety of college students truly do not know in regards to the alternatives out there to them at HBCUs. Like, Delaware State wasn’t on my unique checklist,” Garbutt stated. “I used to be going to go to Temple [University], however they did not have a males’s track-and-field group, and so I contacted the coach at Delaware State College, and he truly knowledgeable me that based mostly on my GPA, my SAT scores, I used to be certified for a full educational trip. So an HBCU actually opened the door for me for getting a free faculty training, in addition to pursuing my dream working observe and discipline.”

There are greater than 100 HBCUs within the nation. 

About 30 campuses had been represented by the younger athletes of this HBCU Showcase on the Nike Observe and Subject Heart on the Armory in Washington Heights.

“Observe and discipline is definitely a really huge sport amongst HBCUs, as with all different sport, however working is one thing that is very accessible to everyone, like, no matter financial class. Everybody can discover entry to a observe,” Garbutt stated.

He traveled with teammates from Delaware to New York Metropolis for the occasion whereas his mother and father, Sylvian and Carla, and his sister Nyla arrived from the Philadelphia space to cheer him on.

“I am tremendous proud, tremendous, tremendous proud,” Carla Garbutt stated.

“I am proud that he selected to go to an HBCU, too, as a result of he may’ve went to different schools,” Nyla Garbutt stated.

“HBCUs are right here to remain. I imply, they only want extra enrollment,” Sylvian Garbutt stated.

VIP visitor speaker Mayor Eric Adams was dropped at the middle of the observe because the competitors took a quick pause.

Adams stated it was vital to him to come back, give a shout out to HBCUs and speak in regards to the alternatives they supply

A part of the occasion is a university honest with recruiters from colleges and companies giving recommendation. They inform us HBCUs have  “unmatched” historical past, tradition and mentorship.

Scholar Destini Pickens agrees. She’s a senior at Florida A&M College. 

“We’ve got alternatives for internships, in addition to simply representing our faculty. So it is like, we’re right here as athletes, and we’re additionally right here to care for training and enterprise, too,” she stated.

For Pickens, Garbutt and the opposite college students, competitors is a pure a part of this, however most vital is the assist they get from the HBCUs and from one another.