Urban League Takes Students on HBCU Tour

The Springfield Urban League (Springfield, IL) hosts a HBCU College & Cultural tour each year over spring break, offering high school students an enriching experience that exposes them to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as other culturally significant historical and national landmarks. This tour is designed to inspire and educate students, broadening their horizons and deepening their understanding of their heritage and history.

During the recent 2026 HBCU Tour, “The South Got Something to S.A.Y.,” six of the participating students received on-the-spot college acceptances, four to Tuskegee University and two to Tennessee State University, while traveling on the bus.

The six students were Lanphier High School student Anastasia Roby (Tuskegee University), Southeast High School students Zyeire Rye (Tennessee State University and Tuskegee University) and Aaron Holman (Tuskegee University) and Springfield High School students Lawrence Jones (Tuskegee University) and Brian Kirkham Jr. (Tennessee State University). In addition, Zyeire received a $10,000 scholarship to Tuskegee University.

Dylan Flowers, manager of the Urban League’s Youth Leadership and Development Program, said it was the first time on the HBCU tour that so many students had received on-the-spot college acceptances.

“I couldn’t help but get a little emotional, not only because I’ve seen these kids’ hard work and dedication, but because they advocated for themselves when opportunity presented itself. That confidence, that preparation, that courage is what sets them apart,” Flowers said. “This is exactly what ‘The Movement’ represents and why we remain committed to this work. When we invest in our scholars, we’re not just changing individual lives, we’re shaping a stronger, brighter future for our entire community.”

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