HBCU Honors. Credit: HBCU Honors BET
The third annual HBCU Honors presented by BET brought faith, culture, and and black businesses to the forefront as three influential trailblazers were recognized for their lasting impact on the Black community and HBCU Legacy.
The 2025 ceremony, taped in Washington, D.C., honored gospel legend Pastor Shirley Caesar, cultural activist and artist David Banner, and pioneering entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd.
The HBCU Honors is a nationally televised celebration that highlights the legacy and leadership of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the alumni who continue to shape industries and communities across generations. This year’s honorees reflected the wide reach of HBCU excellence, spanning ministry, music, activism, and corporate leadership.
Pastor Shirley Caesar, a Shaw University alum, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades long career in gospel music and ministry. Widely known as the “Queen of Gospel,” Caesar has used her voice to uplift and inspire generations while remaining deeply committed to service and mentorship. Her tribute emphasized the role of faith and community in shaping leadership and preserving Black culture, values that align closely with the mission of HBCUs.
Southern University alumnus David Banner was honored with the Cultural Impact Award for his work as an artist, activist, entrepreneur, and storyteller. Throughout his career, Banner has used his platform to address social injustice, challenge systems of inequality, and advocate for Black communities. His acceptance speech became one of the most memorable moments of the evening, drawing strong reactions across social media.
During his speech, Banner emphasized the role his upbringing and education played in shaping his journey. He credited his mother for encouraging him to leave Mississippi to pursue a college degree and reflected on how that decision helped shape the man he is today. Banner shared that the award was not only a recognition of his current success, but also a tribute to his roots, stating, “I am also accepting this award for the young man who was shaped by Mississippi, by Southern University, and by the collective power of our people.”
Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of the ActOne Group and a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, received the Visionary Founder Award. As the first Black woman to build and own a billion dollar staffing firm, Howroyd was recognized for transforming the workforce industry and creating opportunities on a global scale.
In a post on Instragam she said, “Receiving this recognition connects directly to the foundation that my family built, and that NCAT provided alongside the community that shaped my path forward.”
Her journey to corporate leadership highlighted the impact of HBCUs in developing leaders who create jobs and drive economic change.
This event was also hosted by Fisk Univserty alum Kym Whitley. This ceremony blended the celebration of HBCUs with entertainment through performances from Jekalyn Carr, Y’Anna Crawley, Raheem DeVaughn, MAJOR., Gabby Samone, and Tarrey Torae. The Morgan State University Choir and Howard University dance team added a strong sense of HBCU pride to the night.
The program also spotlighted the next generation through the HBCU Honors Rising Star Talent Search and introduced the Media Futures Fellowship, an initiative designed to amplify student voices and create pathways into media and corporate careers.
Airing on BET and BET HER during Thanksgiving weekend, the 2025 HBCU Honors celebrated Black excellence while reinforcing the lasting influence of HBCUs on culture, leadership, and opportunity.
Spartan Echo 