(Black PR Wire) The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities announced today that 73 students from across 63 HBCUs have been named as the 2016 HBCU All-Stars. The All-Stars, comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, are being recognized for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and civic engagement.

“During the course of one academic school year, the 73 All-Stars will distinguish themselves as exemplars of the talent that HBCUs cultivate and as noble ambassadors of their respective institutions,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “The Initiative is looking forward to working with this third class of All-Stars and is confident this opportunity will allow the Initiative to meaningfully connect with HBCU students and advance academic excellence at their schools.”

Over the next year, the students will serve as ambassadors by providing outreach opportunities and communicating with other students about the value of both education and the Initiative as a networking source. Using social media, relationships with community-based organizations, and sessions with industry professionals, the students will share proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to achieve their educational and career potential. They will also participate in the White House HBCU Week Conference, national and regional events, and webinars with Initiative staff and other professionals on a range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.

“We’re looking forward to working with this new class of HBCU All Stars,” said Deputy Under Secretary of Education and Acting Executive Director White House Initiative on HBCUs Kim Hunter Reed. “Our goal is to provide a unique opportunity for these talented students that exposes them to critical national conversations and thought leaders. No doubt they will make their mark and represent their campuses well.”

The All-Stars were selected from over 300 students from 24 states, the District of Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Virgin Islands. They will work together and as a group and network with one another to achieve their goals.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Below is a list of the 2016 HBCU All-Stars, in alphabetical order by hometown state, the school they attend and the school’s location.

ALABAMA
Birmingham – JerAnthony Colvin, Talladega College, Talladega, Ala.
Catherine – Shannon Baldwin, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College, Huntsville, Ala.
Tuscaloosa – Jasmine Lavendar, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

ARKANSAS
Opelousas – Russell Williams, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark.

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles – Paris Adkins-Jackson, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.
Riverside – Breanna Lumpkin, Lane College, Jackson, Tenn.

CONNECTICUT
Norwalk – Andre Earls, Wiley College, Marshall, Texas

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Brittney Young – Howard University, District of Columbia

FLORIDA
Fort Lauderdale – Kennedy James, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va.
Miami Gardens – Dominique Nicholson , Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami – Kiara Johnson, Houston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas
Tampa – Victoria Harrison, Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Fla.

GEORGIA
Albany – Angelica Howard, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.
Albany – Chelsea Basley, Albany State University, Albany, Ga.
Atlanta – Jarell Jordan, Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.
Atlanta – Gabriel Carter, Oakwood University, Huntsville, Ala.
Atlanta – Alicia Montgomery, Savannah State University, Savannah, Ga.
Dehli – Vishal Singh, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga.

GHANA (ACCRA)
Abednego Commey, Tougaloo College, Tougalo, Miss.

ILLINOIS
Chicago – Ashley Reid, Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.
Chicago – Christopher Simpson, Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.

LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge – Kalaia Tripeaux, Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, La.
Mount Hernon – Karla Martin, Xavier University, New Orleans, La.
Rustonm – Endiah Green, Grambling State University, Grambling, La.

MARYLAND
Baltimore – Wanda Parks, Coppin State University, Baltimore, Md.
Beltsville – Benjamin Webster, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md.
Fort Washington – Ashleigh Williams, Hampton University, Hampton, Va.
Lanham – Donovan Blake, Bowie State University, Bowie, Md.
Silver Spring – Rachel Kenlaw, Howard University, Washington, D.C.

MICHIGAN
Detroit – Michael McGee, Hampton University, Hampton, Va.
Detroit – Tiffany Brockington, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Detroit – Vester Waters, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Miss.
Oakland Charter Township – JaMon Patterson, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.

MISSISSIPPI
Madison – James Griffin, Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss.
Lamar – Savahn Jordan, Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss.
Raymond – Sabrevian Davis, Hinds Community College, Raymond, Miss.

MISSOURI
Blue Springs – Alexis Pulliam, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
Kansas City – Jeanna Johnson, Dillard University, New Orleans, La.
St. Louis – Jabreia Taylor, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Ky.

NEVADA
Las Vegas – Joselyn Miller, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Ala.

NEW JERSEY
Freehold – Edgar Ortiz, Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
Turnersville – Pearis Bellamy, Hampton University, Hampton, Va.

NEW YORK
Brooklyn – Destiny Modeste, Paul Quinn College, Dallas, Texas
Staten Island – Brianna Fugate, Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.

NIGERIA (LAGOS)
Temilade Aladeniyi – North Carolina Central University, Durham, N.C.

NORTH CAROLINA
Concord – Paul McGee, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C.
Durham – Tremell Parker, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.
Durham – Asheley Taylor, Bennett College, Greensboro, N.C.
Fayetteville – Kenya Glover, Livingstone College, Salisbury, N.C.
Fayetteville – Terrance McNeil, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Fla.
Henderson – Niya Brooks, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C.
Lexington – Deja Young, North Carolina Central University, Durham, N.C.

OHIO
Akron – Britney Gibbs, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio

OKLAHOMA
Muskogee – Nicholas Simon, Langston University, Langston, Okla.

PENNSYLVANIA
Boothwyn – Anitra Jackson, Cheney University of Pennsylvania, Cheney, Pa.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Aynor – Malcom Shealer, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn.
Orangeburg – Kingsley Uche, Claffin University, Orangeburg, S.C.
Orangeburg – Quinn Smith, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C.

TENNESSEE
Memphis – Janeisha Harris, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.
Memphis – Jasmine Dean, Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss.
Memphis – Kimble James, LeMoyne Owen College, Memphis, Tenn.

TEXAS
DeSoto – Wendon Blair, Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas
Houston – Kaleb Taylor, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
Houston – Sekia Wyatt, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
Manville – Elijah Sharpe, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo.
San Antonio – Damon Lake, St. Phillips College, San Antonio, Texas
Texarkana – Stacy Roberson, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.

VIRGINIA
Bristow – Chayse Lavallais, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, Prairie View, Texas
Newport News – Ravin Vick, Norfolk State College, Norfolk, Va.
Norfolk – Na’eem Wilkins, Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C.
Richmond – Danielle Ebelle, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va.

WEST VIRGINIA
Bluefield – Michael Bennett, Bluefield State University, Bluefield, W.Va.

VIRGIN ISLANDS
St. Kitts – Joash Liburd, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, UVI