Bison For Life: 10 Famous Ladies Who Went To Howard University

August 23rd, 2012 - By Stephanie Guerilus

If you’ve been living under a rock for like…forever, Howard University is the historical black college in Washington, D.C. that has been one of the leaders for turning students into future leaders of tomorrow. The school also been the alma mater to many high profile black celebrities. Here are 10 ladies who enrolled at HU and either graduated (some with honors) or made a big impact during their time there.

taraji

http://www.starscolor.com

Taraji P. Henson
The Academy Award nominated actress hustled to make her way through college and support herself. She was first enrolled at North Carolina University Agricultural and Technical. She then transferred to Howard and majored in theater. Henson had a job as a secretary at the Pentagon and was a singer and dancer on a cruise ship to help cover the costs of her education. She graduated in 1995 with a degree in theater arts.

Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • whatever

    Please Lala went to Howard for a minute. Would she even be on this list if not married to Carmelo?

  • Veratta Pegram-Floyd

    I was supposed to attend an HBCU for undergrad but when it came time for them to send me my financial aid package, they never did so. I ended up at a predominately white institution for both undergrad and grad school (the grad program I wanted did not exist in ANY HBCUs). At some point, I want to work in an HBCU (or several of them). I am SO HAPPY to see this HBCU LOVE!!

  • Nique

    HU!

  • http://twitter.com/4theLuvOfAlicia dj leesh

    Ummm what about Lynn Whitfield?????

  • Noneya

    LaLa didnt earn a degree so remove her, listing her is like listing Puffy… someone who attend HU but didnt get a degree!!

    • HowardGirl

      Actually, if you check the official declaration for alumna status it requires that you have completed one year and have completely withdrawn from the university. So, by that standard she may be alumna. ~Bison Love

      • Noneya

        No thanks, that must be an HBCU thing, most 4 yr colleges/universities define alumni as someone who graduated with a degree!

        • P.

          It’s not an HBCU thing. It’s the definition of what an alumni is. Period. Generally, however, people do not “claim” those who did not earn a degree, but the definition states that attendance at that place of education makes an alum.

        • HowardGirl

          It is not an HBCU thing. It is a private university thing. Private universities can dictate and define what alumna/us status means for that school. But to be clear plenty of non-HBCUs have similar policies. Ideally, the policy is designed to be able to retain association with successful people who, for whatever reason, did not complete their degree, but did complete some studies and bring honor to the university. For example, Bill Gates did not complete his studies, but he would clearly be someone a university would like to list as a notable alumnus. By our policy he would be an alumnus. Further, this is not a widely known or utilized policy. This evidenced by my fellow Bison being unaware of the policy. Do not fear that we are simply enrolling people for a year and claiming them as alumni. 9/10 women listed have degrees and are fierce leaders in thier fields. Our legacy continues.

    • whatever

      I agree just being on campus doesn’t qualify you as actually going there.I wonder if she would even be mentioned if she wasn’t married to carmelo

  • Jahna

    Howard’s campus station is WHBC, not WHUR, which is the commercial station owned by the university.

  • FAMU Rattler

    Kool..but it’s only right that you do a “Rattler 4 Life” For the alumni of that house on the hill……FAMU!!!!!!

    • OMEGA MAN

      I second- third- fourth- and fifth that! STRIKE RATTLERS STRIKE!

  • ashley

    PLEASE Change BisonS to Bison……. Please….it’s just so WRONG!!!

  • Ms_Sunshine9898

    As disappointing as my experience was at Howard being a transfer student, I can’t help but get a little bit of pride when I tell people I went to Howard for a year. . .

    • Karen

      What was so “disappointing” about your experience there?

      • Ms_Sunshine9898

        being a transfer student told I have housing only to find out i don’t, getting the run around from my “advisor”, refusing to let take my finals after I spent a week sick in the hospital WITH a doctors excuse from the HU Hospital, the Administration was the worst, could never get enrolled in my in time to get the classes I needed because of the Admin putting hold on my account due to scholarship payments unprocessed by the school resulting in the “try again next semester”, signing up and getting involved in activities was about who you knew, not what you knew, even as a “volunteer”, incompetent instructors (some of them, not all). my experience at Howard was a mess, it probably would have been better if I started as a freshman instead of a transfer. . . .

  • Sal

    you for got someone on the list. her name is shauntay Hinton, Miss Usa 2002 a student at Howard University.

  • Ann

    HBCU in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We just don’t get enough recognition. HBCU grads please support HBCUs financially, unfortunately with Congress and Senate trying to cut funding for HBCU, our donation, whether it is small or large amount will help.. I donate back to a HBCU. Beautiful and smart Black females.

  • yaya

    The Real HU!!!

  • HowardGirl

    Bison is both the singular and plural form of the word. For all that is distinguished and dear please remove that s from Bison. Thank you.
    To the fam…
    HHHHHHHHH UUUUUUUUUU!

    • Anon

      YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!! :)

    • HUAlum2010

      You know!!

  • sexcgenius

    Sorry, Phyilicia Rashad deserves but has not been awarded an Emmy.