Classic College Fair Introduces Students to HBCUs

About 300 students learned about opportunities to pursue higher education and how they can prepare themselves for that journey at the Classic College Fair, held Thursday on the campus of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Fair included presentations in the recently expanded Nash Family Event & Conference Center along with about 20 information booths. In attendance were college representatives from several Historically Black College and Universities, plus schools across Northeast Ohio.

Dozens of students from John Marshall and East Tech high schools in Cleveland attended as guests of Cleveland Public Library.

The library system is partnering with the Pro Football Hall of Fame this school year to advance joint educational opportunities. As part of the collaboration, Cleveland Public Library will distribute 200 tickets to students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to attend the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.

That game is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. Sunday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and will feature Tennessee State University against Grambling State University in a “Battle of the Tigers.”

“Cleveland Public Library is proud to partner with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to support and educate our youth,” Felton Thomas Jr., Executive Director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library, said in a statement. “This partnership will help us achieve our goal of nurturing and inspiring young learners to broaden their knowledge and explore opportunities outside of the city.”

Thomas and other representatives of Cleveland Public Library toured the Pro Football Hall of Fame with Hall President & CEO David Baker on Thursday.

Classic-related events continue through the weekend. For more information, go to ProFootballHOF.com/BCFHOFClassic21/