A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Pathways to Black Excellence: HBCU Scholars Share Their Dreams
What happens when young Black students look around a hospital and see no one who looks like them? They become the change they want to see. Meet Paris Holiday and Lenroy Elbowie, two extraordinary scholars headed to Hampton University and Florida A&M University, respectively, both with dreams of transforming the medical field through representation.
Paris, a Philadelphia native and future Hampton student, shares how breaking her leg years ago became a pivotal moment in her life. Looking around the hospital room at predominantly white doctors, she felt uncomfortable and decided then that she would become the Black anesthesiologist that future generations could look to for comfort and inspiration. As a first-generation college student with neurodivergent siblings, Paris brings a unique perspective on diversity and inclusion, viewing her education not just as personal advancement but as building a legacy of Black doctors within her family.
Meanwhile, Glenroy carries forward a rich family tradition of HBCU excellence. With relatives who attended Morgan State, Howard, Hampton, and Virginia State, his decision to attend FAMU continues a proud legacy. Caught between becoming an anesthesiologist or plastic surgeon, Lenroy articulates a powerful vision for how HBCUs prepare students to advocate for change when faced with institutional barriers. His philosophy of "leading with purpose means lifting up others as you climb" showcases how these young scholars view their educational journeys as opportunities to create systemic change.
Both students represent the transformative power of HBCUs in nurturing the next generation of Black excellence in healthcare. Their stories remind us why supporting these institutions and students matters—because representation saves lives. Vote for your favorite contestant in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Award competition and help these future medical professionals bring their vision of equitable healthcare to life.
Welcome to a better chance for youth television show with your host, monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity, an opportunity for hope and a future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of A Better Chance for Youth show with your host, monique Robinson.
Speaker 3:Hello guys, and thank you for watching. Now, look, we have interviewed some of the most amazing scholars who are headed to our nation's historically black colleges and universities. Now today is the final day of the Takesha A Davis Scholarship Award first round of interviews. Now, you know, I always have to show off my shirt. So this shirt here you know, today I think I'm with the black inventors today, so thank you for the group that sent me this shirt, because guess what I get? To show people and be a walking billboard to let them know that black history isn't just in February, it is every day. Sound familiar. I got a book titled that. Look it up, it's on Amazon Now.
Speaker 3:Anyway, we have some of the most amazing scholars who have been here and they have told us who they are, they have told us what school they're going to. But, most importantly, our scholars need your support. So if you have a favorite contestant, vote for them. Voting does cost a dollar and although, although we have 66 now, we have the top 50, next week we will have top 40. After all, interviews have been shown and they only can stay if they have the most votes and then, after they have the most votes, the contest must continue. So after our first commercial break, I will bring on our first guest.
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Speaker 3:Welcome back. Welcome back. So I told you as soon as the commercial was over I was going to have a friend with me today. So welcome. Tell the audience who you are, where you are from and what school you will be attending this fall.
Speaker 4:Okay, my name is Paris Holliday. I'm from Philadelphia and I will be attending Hampton University in the fall.
Speaker 3:Awesome, awesome. So you're going from Philly. Oh, that's a good food in Philly. I'm a foodie, I must admit, like when I go to Philly I always get a pretzel, a cheesesteak, and then I try to get you know the world famous. You know everything else, but let me focus, I gotta focus. So you're going to hampton to major in what?
Speaker 4:I'm majoring in biology on the pre-med track cool.
Speaker 3:So what's your ultimate? Goal I want to become an anesthesiologist wow, you don't try to put people to sleep yeah, basically you sum it up you're like, you're gonna see me, it'm gonna knock you out, that's all you get. No, that's it. That's all. That's cool. That's very cool.
Speaker 4:Why um, I believe I know that I wanted to be a doctor for a long time because at first I did want to be a nurse and a lot of people around me, like my mom is a nurse and I don't really know many black doctors so I was like that's going to be me and I want all of my cousins and my siblings to look up to me and be like that's what I want to do. Also, I want to start a legacy, basically in my family, of black doctors.
Speaker 3:Cool, I like it, I like it, I like it. So you're going to start a legacy. So so, um, are you first gen? Um, I believe. So, yeah, that's cool, I like that. Well, congratulations on starting your legacy at the hampton university. Now, look, that's one thing you're gonna learn when you go to hbcu. Everything starts with d. When it comes to your school, everything I go to b. That's how they're gonna say I go to the. That's how they're going to say it. I go to the Hampton University. And then sometimes people say I go to the Hampton by the sea. Or if it was a Howard person on here, you would say I go to the real HU. I'm just being messy, just playing, but that is what they say. Now, in starting this competition, it was 60-60. I was rough. Now I'm down to the last two interviews or three. You all had to do an essay and, being at the field that you're going in, I know this question probably woke up so many alarms. Do you remember the question or you want me to read it?
Speaker 4:I remember the basis of it, but I would like you to read it again, okay.
Speaker 3:As a scholar. How can attending an HBCU shape the understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI, and what opportunities do these institutions provide to actively engage in DEI initiatives on campus?
Speaker 4:Okay. So I think that attending an HBCU will help understand what DEI is, because, ultimately, from the beginning that HBCUs were created so that Black people can have the same opportunities and be put in the same fields that white people were put in, because we weren't given equal opportunities to be our greater selves. So I believe that DEI will basically motivate me to be my best person. My best person.
Speaker 4:Like I said before, I wanted to be an anesthesiologist and I think that this career came from when I broke my leg a few years ago and I looked around the room it's a lot of white people as the doctors and in that moment I was like this is very scary for me, very uncomfortable, and I don't want another Black child to feel like this. So from then on, I made it my goal to strive to go to HBCU, to strive to be that person that a little Black child can go into the hospital room and basically see and feel comfortable, feel motivated and feel just protected by. Also, dei isn't just something that I see in, like school or work in a workplace every day. Me personally, I have two neurodivergent siblings and I think that it taught me to understand deeper what DEI means and how it's important to understand and support people who experience the world differently, like black people and yeah awesome.
Speaker 3:Now that's. That's pretty cool. You said you have two neural divergent siblings yes okay, so that that kind of played a role in your ultimate goal in the future as well. Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3:That's good. Well, you know what? I surely appreciate your transparency and I appreciate you stopping by Now. Audience, if you haven't voted for someone, you know it costs a dollar, but you know parents wouldn't mind you voting for her. Now, before we get out of here, before you get out of here because I have to go to the next guest, tell us once again who you are, where you're from and what school you plan to attend this fall.
Speaker 4:I'm Paris Holiday. I'm from Philadelphia and I plan to attend the Hampton University in the fall.
Speaker 3:Awesome, awesome. Thank you for coming and I look forward to seeing you in the next round. Thank you, awesome, awesome. So, guys, that was Ms Paris going to Hampton by the sea. Now, after this commercial, I will bring on our next guest.
Speaker 5:Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Neeson. I'm president and founder of the Common Black College application. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time, for only $20. Hbcu graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields since the late 1800s. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success and they have a vested interest in seeing that you do well. That, coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you will establish lifelong relationships, are just some of the many benefits of your attending an historically black college and university. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College App, visit our website at commonblackcollegeappcom to apply now. Thank you, and get educated.
Speaker 3:Welcome back. Welcome back. See, we switch up so quick. I told y'all after a commercial break I was going to have a new guest. Like we're getting them in here and out of here. All 66 contestants, you all from this period of this week. You have heard from. Now we have a brand new candidate. Tell us who you are, where you're from and what school you plan to attend this fall.
Speaker 6:My name is Lenroy Elbowie, I'm from the DC Washington metropolitan area and I'm attending FAMU. In the fall, go Rattlers.
Speaker 3:Oh, I told you guys I have been, you know they done did this, they done struck me. They done said strike, strike, I don't know. Like, did you all get together at this FAMU? You know group of people? Now, you know, my rule in this contest is, if you have somebody going to the same school as you, y'all need to link up. It's really important for me, for you all, to build relationships, because it's easier to go to campus together than experience life all by yourself. So that's my challenge to you. So what do you plan to major in at FAMU?
Speaker 6:I plan on majoring in biology and I'm also doing a pre-med track.
Speaker 3:Wow, what's the ultimate goal?
Speaker 6:I'm between anesthesiologist and plastic surgeon. My aunt influenced me. She's also a black graduate and she is a plastic surgeon now with her certification in anesthesiology. So she's really been pushing me to do plastic surgery that's kind of cool.
Speaker 3:I don't scare you like though you'll be scared of like, not really. No, you're brave. I don't know if I could deal with like the blood or looking at the before and after, you know. Yeah, I see, I see what you're saying I get that a lot after you know.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I see what you're saying. I get that a lot.
Speaker 3:Hey, the sky is the limit. I'm not trying to defer you because you know hey.
Speaker 6:I feel like you need more black doctors and black people in the medical field, though, so that's a big motivator as well.
Speaker 3:That part. You need to go somewhere and you bring in your own table and not asking nobody for it. Exactly, I like that. That's really, really good. So your aunt motivated you and I heard you say that your aunt graduated from HBCU.
Speaker 6:Not that aunt. She actually has a degree from Howard but she graduated from U Miami. But the legacy of HBCUs in my family is pretty deep. I have a lot of family members who attended HBCUs and they're big inspirations. My great-great-aunt attended Morgan and she pledged AKA. My great-uncle attended Howard University, my great-uncle attended Howard, even my uncle Adolphus. He has an art exhibit at Howard University. Oh wow. My aunt and sister attended Hampton my other aunt, and they also pledged AKA. Both my parents live in Virginia State and all my cousins attend or currently attend HBCUs. So I'm very proud to attend family okay, so they're running your bloodline.
Speaker 3:Is what you tell me exactly so you had no choice.
Speaker 6:He's like yeah my mom just bought me this book today. I plan on reading it soon that's.
Speaker 3:That's a really good book, um, and you know you're going to the, the highest. What's what's the thing there? So let me know seven hills I'm just testing to see if you knew like I knew. But you know, people come on and they say they go into schools and they don't know the history. But that's good. You, you're ready to be on the highest. Are you gonna be in the band? You're gonna be marching 100.
Speaker 3:no I'm not gonna be in the band. I wouldn't either. It's too hot to be out there practicing I wouldn't survive. I wouldn't either. It's too hot to be out there practicing, I wouldn't survive I mean, they're always good to watch though the family band is great, actually the best hbcu band.
Speaker 3:You about to get disqualified already. We won't. I'm sorry, we're not gonna disqualify him, but everybody knows who my favorite band in the in the hbc world is, although I should be speaking for my own school. Uh, what before? It's just got a band recently. I do love what before it's been. But my ultimate favorite band is southern.
Speaker 6:Sorry it's not damn you.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm about to focus on this competition. See, at least I didn't say Bethune today. Wow, hell. Wow, cass, you don't like them either. Not at all. That's just so mean. So in preparation for this competition, everybody had to do an essay. Now, because you're field, I know you had plenty to write about. Now, this round, you're not going to read your essay, you're just going to take your stance on your essay, like you know what are your absolute thoughts about the topic and how it relates to you Do you remember.
Speaker 6:Yes.
Speaker 3:OK, let me hear it.
Speaker 6:So first I want to start off with talking about how the role models in my family who have taught me the values of self-determination, collective progress and the importance of creating spaces where Black excellence is not the exception but the expectation, but then to touch on DEI Personally, I've seen FAMU students take action and report the underfunded circumstances, and the DEI restrictions have been rolled back significantly and they've gained institutional support at FAMU and has driven students to advocate and organize, coming together, using their voice to incite change. I believe that DEI makes space for people to have opportunities, and not only makes space but gives them a chance. Diversity, equity, inclusion aren't just principles I support, but I plan to live by them and lead with them. I intend on pursuing a career in biology, where I will focus on advocating for underrepresented voices and work to eliminate barriers that limit opportunity, and I also want to ensure that Black and Brown students have the access, support and encouragement they need to thrive in any environment that they enter.
Speaker 6:For me, dei has been a big thing in my life because I went to school in Prince George's County where I'm surrounded by all Black and Brown students who are given opportunities to learn. That's another reason that drive me to go attend an HBCU because I wanted to be in an environment similar to that, to grow and climb and build other people around me. Because I believe leading a purpose means lifting up others as you climb, and I'm committed to building a future where opportunity isn't determined by background but by brilliance effort and heart.
Speaker 3:Oh wow. So I know they probably read. I can't wait to hear you read your entire essay. You know, guys, today's just an excerpt because we, you know, we want y'all to come back and continue voting now if you haven't voted. Voting does cost one dollar. We don't make anything off of this. Any funds raised go directly to the school because you know they, they need to feel that that support and love. So if you haven't voted, the link is always in the chat or the link is always provided in the newsletter and all 66 that, even if you just were a finalist, that's good, because you had to follow directions to get there. So before we get out of here, tell us who you are, where you're from and what campus you will grace this fall.
Speaker 6:I'm Glenroy Ogilvie. I'm from the DC metropolitan area and I'll be attending the Highest of Seven Hills, Florida A&M University, Go Rattlers.
Speaker 3:Rattlers Awesome, awesome, awesome. So I wish you much success as we go through the competition. I tell everybody check your emails, because we send out stuff all the time, and if the email don't work, check the newsletter, of course.
Speaker 7:Thank you for your time. This game provides an exciting and educational way to learn about notable alumni, historical events, sports news and more. This trivia game is sure to be a hit and perfect for college-bound youth alumni and the entire family. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support, educate and entertain. Get the HBCU Trivia Game today. Go to hbcutriviagamenet to order.
Speaker 8:For inspiration, motivation and the good news of Jesus Christ. Go to hbcutriviagamenet to order great programs on the Daily Gospel Network. Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, amazon Fire, apple TV, all mobile devices and the internet.
Speaker 2:Tune in to a better chance for youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network, the television show dedicated to highlighting incredible students on their quest to change the world. Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. Catch a Better Chance for Youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. Thanks for watching a Better Chance for Youth television show with your host, monique Robinson, the television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, god bless From your friends. On A Better Chance for Youth television show with your host monique robinson.
