HBCU Night a resounding success for the Brooklyn Nets

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

More than 2,000 local high school and middle school students got to experience the power and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the Brooklyn Nets’ HBCU Night last week. There was a college fair with representatives of 20 HBCUs and a panel discussion that featured several high profile individuals who reflected on HBCU culture and academic excellence.

“The momentum around this night, the number of lives that we’re able to impact, has grown,” said Jackie Wilson II, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets. Last year, there were about 1,000 students in attendance. That number more than doubled this year.

“They were eager, excited, engaged, participating in the panel, participating with the admissions officers,” said Wilson. “If we can continue to use our platform to educate and provide access to opportunities, it’s inspiring both to me and the organization.”

Caitlyn Davis, founder and CEO of HBCU Yearbook and an HBCU graduate, collaborated with the

Nets on special merch inspired by HBCUs. There was representation from all of the Divine Nine, a group of Black fraternities and sororities, who performed at halftime. Dre Martin, founder and executive director of HBCU Night, a nonprofit organization that creates awareness around HBCUs, gave a shout out to Criscia Long, senior director of entertainment at BSE Global, who oversaw the on-court presentations and performed with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

“It means a lot to create something for the students, and also being able to provide a resource for the parents to be able to pass along to their kids,” said Martin. “There’s a lot of historical context and reference. I wanted to bring that intersection with the Brooklyn community, communities all over, to come to Barclays Center and enjoy this experience that’s educational and fun.”

Martin said some of the kids just came to see the Nets play, but they became engrossed in the HBCU component. Watching them listen more and more intently as the afternoon and evening progressed was incredible, he said, and felt fulfilling.

“HBCUs provide more than just your traditional education,” said Wilson. “They provide a sense of community, a sense of self and belonging. HBCUs change the way that young Black students see themselves.”

Gasparotto and Chapple named Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Recipients

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

Last week, U.S. Figure Skating announced the recipients of this year’s Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours awards. These scholarships are given to support the training and development of BIPOC figure skaters who demonstrate good sportsmanship, commitment, perseverance, and determination to be their best.

A total of six skaters will receive awards, two of whom are coached by Rohene Ward. Alexa Gasparotto, who competed in the senior women’s division at the recent 2023 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, is the singular recipient of the Elite Award of $20,000.

Nathan Chapple, who competed at the World University Games last month, received the new Notable Award of $2,000.

“It’s incredibly special that they have this opportunity,” said Ward, who competed several times at the U.S. Championships and is now a renowned coach and choreogra- pher. “It can be life-changing and give them access to things they didn’t have before for their training.”

Gasparotto and Starr Andrews made this the first U.S. Championships in 23 years in which two Black women competed in the senior women’s division. “Even more to the story, they both have Black coaches,” said Ward. “That’s what I think Alexa needed: a Black coach. She needed someone to understand her, to know how to push her…and navigate through this process with her. That’s what Nathan needed as well.”

Chapple did not qualify for the U.S. Championships, but he was selected to represent the U.S. at the World University Games, an international multisport competition for athletes who are also college students.

After skating well in the competition, he was invited to skate in the gala exhibition.

“That was such a different experience—being around skiers, lugers, bobsledders, ski jumpers, and speed skaters,” said Ward. “We marched with 150 U.S. athletes into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony. There’s no other experience other than the Olympics that you’re going to get to feel like that.”

It fueled Chapple’s competitive desire. “[World University Games] was my first international and such a good experience,” said Chapple, who is also going to continue his studies with a focus on computer science. “It prepared me for next season.

“Getting this [scholarship] means a lot. I have support from other people, not just at my training rink,” he continued. “It means a lot that I have people that support what I’m doing and what I want to do with the rest of my skating career. I want to keep competing internationally, hopefully on the world level.”