DSU’s Edgar Ortiz Named HBCU All-Star

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) has named Delaware State University junior Edgar Ortiz among its 2016 HBCU All-Stars.

Mr. Ortiz, a 4.0 GPA aviation management major from Freehold, N.J., was selected along with 72 other HBCU students from among 300 nominations for the honor. The HBCU All-Stars were chosen for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement.

In addition to his academic success, Mr. Ortiz was a residential assistant at Evers Hall and this year is a senior residential assistant at the University Village Apartments. He also does community service work during DSU’s annual Inspired Day of Service.

Mr. Ortiz said he was surprised by the honor.

“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” Mr. Ortiz said.  “They didn’t have to pick one from each school.”

Mr. Ortiz, who aspires to be an air traffic controller, is the second DSU student selected as an HBCU All-Star. Leah Williams, a 2015 and 2016 DSU graduate represented DSU as an HBCU-All Star in 2015.

Over the next year, the students will serve as ambassadors by providing outreach opportunities and communicating with other students about the value of both education and the initiative as a networking source. Using social media, relationships with community-based organizations, and sessions with industry professionals, the students will share proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to achieve their educational and career potential.

They will also participate in the White House HBCU Week Conference, national and regional events, and webinars with Initiative staff and other professionals on a range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.

“During the course of one academic school year, the 73 All-Stars will distinguish themselves as exemplars of the talent that HBCUs cultivate and as noble ambassadors of their respective institutions,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “The Initiative is looking forward to working with this third class of All-Stars and is confident this opportunity will allow the Initiative to meaningfully connect with HBCU students and advance academic excellence at their schools.”

The All-Stars were selected from over 300 students from 24 states, the District of Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Virgin Islands. They will work together and as a group and network with one another to achieve their goals.

Mr. Ortiz will also meet with his HBCU All-Star colleagues for an event at the White House in October. It will be the second special trip he has taken representing DSU; in early 2016 he traveled with two other students to Seattle, Washington, to be a part of the HBCU Town Hall event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.