Harlem Ques’ Legacy of Scholarship Continues: The Omega Black College Tour Celebrates Its 38th Year

The Xi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. located in Harlem, New York just finished their 38th annual Omega Black College Tour(OBCT) bringing high school scholars from New York across the country by bus to introduce them to HBCU campuses and get them excited about college.

This year, the tour took participants to the esteemed grounds of some of the nation’s leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) including Howard University, Hampton University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Norfolk State University, Winston-Salem State University, South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morgan State University, Delaware State University, Livingstone College, and Morris Brown College.

The Xi Phi Chapter’s Omega Black College Tour prides itself in going beyond the typical campus tour, offering intense history-based workshops, and the students participate in a journey of exploration and empowerment. On the tour each HBCU that is visited dedicates focused time to showcasing its unique mission and highlighting its diverse academic offerings. To make sure that students learn how to fund their college journey, students gain valuable insights into various financial aid options, including scholarships and grants, which are crucial for navigating higher education.

“For 165 years, HBCUs, often with great difficulty, have not only survived and exceeded
challenges to their existence but have been highly successful with their goals of service and
mission to educate Black Americans. The 2nd District proudly supports and highlights Xi Phi
Chapter’s Omega Black College Tour throughout the fraternity nationally and presents it as an
example of excellence to the Divine Nine,” Delrecole “Rico” Gales, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 2nd District Representative, stated.

Harry Watson II, CUP President, the nonprofit funding arm for Omega Black College Tour stated many scholars received admittance to institutions such as NYU, Penn State, Villanova, and others, but their decisions to visit and enroll in HBCUs reflect the transformative power of an HBCU education. “This year marks our 38th college tour with over 2000 students participating since its inception, demonstrating our dedication to developing tomorrow’s leaders,” Watson remarked.

The Omega Black College Tour recognizes HBCUs’ critical role in shaping future generations of
leaders. “This is not simply an education; it’s an act of reclamation of the self in a world that
would deny it,” said Donnell Bolden Basileus of the Xi Phi Chapter. “Here at HBCUs, they are not
merely students, but inheritors of a legacy, the descendants of those who dared to dream and
continued to build in the face of unimaginable odds.”

As the brothers begin planning for their 39th Omega Black College tour, they have created a place to donate and support their cause. Click here and help deserving scholars take the first step toward their future by exploring the rich legacy and boundless possibilities HBCUs offer.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend the the Xi Phi Chapter for their continued decades long work to introduce students to college through their Omega Black College Tour. The tour stands as a beacon of opportunity, illuminating the path to higher education for countless high school scholars. As another successful year draws to a close, the legacy of the OBCT continues to inspire and uplift, leaving an indelible mark on the future leaders of tomorrow.