Delta Sigma Theta Connects More Than 3,000 Georgia High Schoolers to HBCUs at 50th Southern Regional Conference

More than 3,000 Georgia high school juniors and seniors filled the Georgia World Congress Center on August 5th for HBCU Impact Day, the signature community service event of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Southern Region’s 50th Southern Regional Conference. The day connected students with admissions representatives, educational leaders, and resources built to move them one step closer to college.

Students came from Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County Schools, Cobb County Schools, DeKalb County Schools, Decatur City Schools, homeschool associations, and other metro Atlanta communities. More than 50 HBCUs took part in the college and career fair, giving students the chance to meet admissions counselors, explore academic programs, and learn about campus life.

The program opened with an entrance led by Jackson State University’s “Sonic Boom of the South” Marching Band. Students then heard from a panel of HBCU presidents: Dr. George T. French Jr. of Clark Atlanta University, Dr. Daniel K. Wims of Alabama A&M University, Dr. Patricia Sims of Drake State Community and Technical College, Dr. Denise Jones Gregory of Jackson State University, and Dr. Mark A. Brown of Tuskegee University. The panel offered advice on preparing for college, academic success, leadership, and the value of an HBCU education.

One of the day’s central initiatives was the sorority’s partnership with the Common Black College Application, which allows students to apply to up to 65 HBCUs through a single application. Delta Sigma Theta covered the application fees for approximately 3,200 students, removing a financial barrier that often keeps students from applying to multiple schools.

The event went beyond admissions. Students took part in interactive workshops, an HBCU-inspired pep rally, and the Southern Region’s HBCU/PBI Career and College Fair. Eligible students received voter registration resources ahead of upcoming elections, and participants joined a community service initiative tied to the sorority’s public service mission.

Southern Regional Director Amaris Johnson said HBCU Impact Day demonstrates the organization’s commitment to educational development and academic excellence. As the Southern Region marks its 50th Regional Conference and nearly a century of service, the event showed how Delta Sigma Theta continues to invest in the next generation of scholars and leaders.