Reimagining HBCU Excellence for K–12 Scholars: Building Identity, Belonging, and Standards Early
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Posted By: Skyler Willingham on February 22, 2026 My name is Skyler. I’m the Founder & Executive Director of SUCCEED Academy™, an HBCU-inspired scholar development framework designed to help K–12 students build identity, confidence, and a standard of excellence early in life. I didn’t attend an HBCU, not because I didn’t value them, but because I wasn’t exposed to them. I didn’t fully understand what they represented or what that experience could offer. As I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand that HBCUs do so much more than educate students. They create belonging. They affirm identity. They uphold a standard of excellence that stays with students long after they leave campus. That understanding is why SUCCEED exists. I don’t believe young people should have to wait until college to feel seen, connected, and confident in who they are. By then, identity is already forming and beliefs about what’s possible are already taking shape. SUCCEED was created to give scholars that foundation early, so they can move through life with confidence, pride, and purpose no matter where their journey leads. SUCCEED Academy is not a school or a single location. It is a development framework that reimagines what HBCUs do so well and translates those principles for K–12 scholars. We bring HBCU-inspired culture into youth spaces by centering scholar identity, leadership, accountability, community, and excellence as a daily expectation, not an occasional achievement. With SUCCEED, we intentionally call our students scholars. Not because of grades or background, but because language matters. When you speak expectation into children, they begin to see themselves differently. Through partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, youth organizations, and community-based organizations, SUCCEED supports elementary, middle, and high school scholars across diverse communities. Our framework is designed to be implemented anywhere young people gather. The goal is consistent: cultivate belonging, reinforce standards of excellence, and help students develop a strong academic and personal identity. When students feel a sense of belonging and are held to meaningful standards, their behavior changes. Their mindset shifts. They take ownership of their learning. We see it in how scholars carry themselves, how they engage in school, and how they speak about their futures. Excellence becomes normalized. Confidence becomes visible. This work is for students who will attend college and for those who won’t. Every path matters. Every child deserves to experience culture, community, and excellence before the world tries to define them. SUCCEED Academy exists to strengthen the pipeline to higher education while also building life-ready scholars. It’s about identity before opportunity, culture before credentials, and confidence before college applications. We are actively building partnerships nationwide with Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, youth organizations, and community partners. We welcome collaborators who share our commitment to empowering scholars and upholding standards of excellence. This work is personal to me. It’s about reaching kids early, loving them well, and surrounding them with a village that believes in them. Because it truly takes a village to SUCCEED. If this mission resonates with you and you’re interested in partnering, we would love to connect. For more information about SUCCEED Academy or partnership opportunities, visit www.TheSucceedAcademy.com Instagram: @thesucceedacademy If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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