BHS graduate Jiyahna Price invited to White House during conference

Jiyahna Price, who graduated #9 in her class from Belleville High School (Class of 2020), is a junior studying Environmental Science on a full-ride academic scholarship at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL.
She was selected to represent her university for the HBCU Scholars Recognition Program and was acknowledged by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The goal of the program is to promote diversity among the workforce and showcase HBCU talent. Through the program, Jiyahna also had the opportunity to attend the Annual National HBCU Week Conference, Sept. 20-23 in Washington D.C. She was one of 86 students across the United States and the first from Bethune-Cookman University to be selected for this opportunity, which gave her a chance to network with other talented students and professionals.
“It was amazing to meet students from other HBCUs, small and large,” Jiyahna said. “We also met several government officials who reminded us that we continue to pave the way for people of color by demonstrating our talent and capabilities.
“This opportunity has truly taught me what it is to be an HBCU student and that my accomplishments are not only a representation of myself, but also of my family, my school, my ancestors, and future black generations. It was definitely a proud moment for me.”
Jiyahna has also finished her summer internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the federal agency that seeks to better understand the environment and contributes in managing and conserving coastal and marine resources. During the 2022-2023 school year, she will continue to work for her school and NOAA doing an assistantship through their Center for Coastal & Marine Ecosystems (CCME) Program. She maintains a 3.85 grade point average.
Read more about the conference on essence.com/news/national-hbcu-conference/