Sacramento State’s Black Honors College Celebrates Its Inaugural

By Madelaine Church | Special to The OBSERVER Sacramento State hosted an intimate, star-studded celebration to inaugurate its Black Honors College on Aug. 8. Students and supporters were warmly greeted by the marching band and cheerleaders team as they entered the University Union Ballroom. Drums echoed as attendees buzzed with excitement. Inside the ballroom, an overhead screen displayed photographs and biographies of the first 70 students enrolled for the fall semester. Sac State aims with the college to create an inclusive environment for individuals interested in learning Black history, culture and contributions. Grace Ballou, a marketing student, enrolled in the Honors College for the upcoming fall semester. An exchange student from Ivory Coast in West Africa, Ballou chose Sac State for its diversity and representation of Black culture. “I feel represented … I feel really happy and blessed to be here,” Ballou said. Attendees of the launch of Sacramento State’s Black Honors College watch as former U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a recorded message inside the University Union Ballroom on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Madelaine Church, OBSERVER The Black Honors College is open to all students, regardless of race or culture, and requires a GPA of 3.5 for admission. First-year...