A One of One Homecoming

Of all the universities in all the world, there is only one Howard University. In countless ways, highly visible or discreet, Howard has made global history time after time. The only congressionally chartered HBCU in the country, Howard stands alone as a singular  home of thought leadership, scholarship, research, and culture. Its reach has always extended far beyond its gates, and leading to better lives for all of humanity. Its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters have an unquenchable thirst for truth and an unstoppable predisposition for service that has led to the proliferation of new knowledge around the globe. 

As the first HBCU to establish medical, law, dental, and pharmacy schools, Howard not only created the foundation for minority representation in a wide range of critical fields, it produced graduates who served overlooked and marginalized communities. In hundreds of professions, tens of thousands of graduates have made it their mission to leverage excellence as a force for good. 

Howard’s 2025 Homecoming represented the celebration’s 101st anniversary and a perfect time to reflect on the myriad ways Howard is “one of one” — as the first, the only, or the top university in a full panoply of areas of achievement. During more than a week of traditional and new events, the Howard community paid tribute to the university’s storied history and embraced the promise of what’s to come, reveling in the camaraderie of family. 
The theme, “A One of One Homecoming,” set the stage for an appreciation of Howard’s legacy and lineage, from the lifesaving blood plasma research of Dr. Charles Drew, the groundbreaking national leadership in treating diseases such as sickle cell disease, and Dr. Clive Callendar’s transformative success in producing Black organ donors to the historic democratic firsts embodied by alumni who were the nation’s first Black Supreme Court justice, popularly elected governor and U.S. senator, and mayors of major U.S. cities, and the first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president of the United States.

The university’s achievements have always proven that embracing talent from every community pays dividends, including scores of athletic championships. Howard is the only HBCU to win NCAA men’s national soccer titles, for example, and as recently as this semester, the university has won numerous titles across sports. The university’s Research One designation has put it among the nation’s higher education institutions with “the highest research activity,” the only HBCU to ever be recognized in that elite cadre.

Its graduates have gone on to notch historic Nobel Prize, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award wins, among incredible accomplishments in virtually every field of endeavor. Today, Howard’s students continue to excel in national competitions, its alumni continue to be recognized as global leaders and innovators, and its faculty continue to tackle the world’s most complex and persistent challenges.

As evidenced by the university’s No.1 HBCU ranking by both Forbes and LinkedIn, Howard remains in a class alone. The 2025 Homecoming served as a reminder that the university’s storied past is a precursor for its ongoing impact.