Petersburg, VA  – Virginia State University has been named as a finalist in nine categories for the 2018 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Awards. Sponsored by HBCU Digest, the HBCU Awards is the first and only national awards ceremony honoring individual and institutional achievement at HBCUs throughout the country. The categories are as follows:

Best Board of Trustees
Virginia State University Board of Visitors

Female Alumna of the Year
Mrs. Gladys West

Best Business Program of the Year
Reginald F. Lewis Business School

Best Female Student of the Year
Ms. Brianna Bundick-Kelly

Best Male Athlete of the Year
Mr. Trenton Cannon

Best Male Coach of the Year
Mr. Reggie Barlow

Best Men’s Team of the Year
Trojan Football Team

Best Male President of the Year
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah

Best HBCU of the Year
Virginia State University

According to the HBCU Digest website (www.hbcudigest.com), more than 700 nominations were received for this year’s nomination process, an event record. Winners are selected by a panel of previous winners, journalists, HBCU executives, students and alumni for the merit of accomplishment and for generating positive coverage for HBCU campus communities.

The 2018 HBCU Awards will be held on June 22 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.