On Monday, November 5, more than 200 students and parents from Baltimore-area schools—including GFS—gathered in Garland Theater for the school’s second annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) night. Hosted this year in conjunction with Gilman School and Friends School, a panel made up of HBCU students, alumni and faculty and staff spoke to the audience about their experiences and the value of attending an HBCU for college. 

Mike Molina, Gilman School faculty member and Xavier University alumnus, moderated this year’s panel. Panelists included Damon Brown, Assistant Attorney General for the Maryland Transit Administration and Howard University alumnus; Latrina Fisher, Associate Director of Admissions at Spelman College; Purnell Hill, Gilman School alumnus and Morgan State University Class of 2022; Dr. Kari Miller, Director of Honors and Scholars Development at Howard University; Danielle Tidline ’08, Spelman College alumna and Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation; and Toni Woodlon, Bowie State University alumna and Middle School Assistant Principal for School Culture & Community Life at Friends School. Mr. Molina led the panel discussion which tackled topics ranging from the unique ways in which HBCUs can help students in their career paths to determining the right college fit, to financing a college education. The discussion was followed by an in-depth Q&A with students and parents hailing from area independent, public and parochial schools and more eagerly asking questions of the panelists well after the official conclusion of the program. 

HBCU night was started in 2017 at GFS and partnered with Friends and Gilman this year to continue to grow and expand the event.  

Thank you to Mr. Molina and all of the wonderful panelists for supporting this event. A very special thank you to Gilman School, Friends School, GFS Director of Community Life and Inclusion Carolyn Lewis, the GFS Office of College Counseling—Director Ann Marie Strauss, Senior College Counselor Stephanie Metruk and Assistant Lynn Lyon-Vaiden—and to everyone who supported and attended to help create an outstanding evening.