This summer, Howard University alumni from various regions across the United States continued a cherished tradition of hosting freshman “send-off” gatherings — events designed to welcome the Class of 2029 into the Bison family with early connections, mentorship and a sense of community.
These annual send-offs, held in cities across the country throughout July, aim to help incoming students and their families prepare for life at Howard. During these events, students participated in icebreakers and got their first glimpse of Howard culture. Some even received scholarships.
The Atlanta Howard Alumni Chapter had over 400 attendees at their annual send-off experience, Bison Fest. The event, held on July 27, blended culture with community connection. Guests were welcomed with a Divine Nine Greek step show and a live performance by the Knowledge Is Power Program Atlanta Collegiate Band.
Erin White, class of 1998, and president of the Howard Atlanta Alumni Club, did not attend a freshman send-off event herself, but she now embraces the responsibility of preparing incoming students for life at Howard as a 1998 graduate, paying forward her own experiences.
“No matter where I go, there’s a member of the herd there to welcome me, to support me, to give me information, to bring me into the folds, and to help me understand the culture of where I am,” she said.
White establishes the idea of truth and service to incoming freshmen before they reach campus by embedding the values in the send-off.
“We make sure our Keynote highlights it, we make sure we show it in the service of how we do things, how we greet incoming freshmen in their families, and alumni,” she said.
Wendell Johnson,class of 1966, and former Atlanta Alumni Club president, taught the university’s alma mater song at Bison Fest. Johnson is what members of the Atlanta Club call a “Golden Bison,” a title given to alumni aged 65 and older.
Johnson, who launched Bison Fest in 2003, hoped to remind incoming freshmen of their responsibilities to honor and preserve the legacy of the university, according to White.
The Atlanta Alumni Club raised roughly $85,000 in scholarships this year, which were given out at Bison Fest to incoming and current students. Several scholarships were distributed, ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The Atlanta send-off helped Sydney Dowell make new connections and feel comfort knowing she had new people by her side, she said.
“Other freshmen that are feeling the same type of nervousness and excitement that I am… I think it was a great way to celebrate while also saying goodbye,” said Dowell, an incoming marketing major.
Atlanta was not alone in its July celebration. The Prince George’s County Howard Alumni Chapter in Maryland welcomed their new Bison on July 14.
Tachelle Craddock, class of 2005, and send-off chairwoman for the chapter, said there is a deeper meaning to welcoming incoming students.
“That transitional period was a mix of excitement and fear,” she said. “I just remember how much it meant to feel supported.”
Craddock explained the chapter builds on the strong African and diaspora communities in Prince George’s County to uphold Howard’s core values of community and cultural pride.
Prince George’s County is home to sizable Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ethiopian and Caribbean populations. The area hosts cultural events such as the Celebrate Africa Festival, religious observances, and other community gatherings that reflect these heritages.
She noted that the county’s rich cultural presence provides a familiar and supportive foundation for students as they begin their journey at Howard.
This connection fosters a welcoming atmosphere at the freshman send-offs, helping students immediately feel part of a larger community. “We’re already like family — that spirit carries into the Howard community,” she said.
She believes that it’s a shared communal effort, Craddock said, the support found in Prince George’s County mirrors the environment students will encounter at Howard.
“There’s weight to what they’re walking into,” Craddock said. “It’s not just about starting college – it’s about continuing something bigger.”
The Maryland event welcomed around 140 attendees, including 37 incoming students. Craddock said the send-off is the starting point for long-term engagement between students and alumni.
“The purpose of this send-off was support, encouragement and expectation of greatness,” Craddock said.
Incoming freshman Mo Kabia from Maryland said, “the send-off definitely gave me the sense of family from Howard. Coming to Howard, I already knew a couple of people, and they were really welcoming and nice, and the send-off was no different.”
That feeling of belonging is what alumni like White hope to instill.
“There’s a responsibility to do right by Howard’s name…It doesn’t mean that you don’t question Howard,” White said. “But it does mean that you have a forever connection and that you are never alone.”
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
