This is part of a series of blogs from Noble campus representatives to give a deeper look at campus life. This blog is written by Ayanna Pearson, College Counselor and Noble Brand Ambassador at Chicago Bulls College Prep.

At Bulls Prep, our goal as a collective community is to acknowledge what Black History means to all of us. It is to have students and alumni who can unashamedly acknowledge how African Americans have contributed to the world, country, state, city, and this school.

Black History is every time Bulls Prep alumni like Aloni Harris, Natalia Dixon, DeBorah Brooks, Ora Aguirre, Shakira Little, and Alexia McCampbell defy the odds and leap over hurdles that have been strategically set to tear them down. The consensus among these alumni is that they are unapologetically BLACK. They are their ancestors’ wildest dreams. The sacrifices of their ancestors’ blood, sweat, and tears drive our alumni and the current Bulls Prep student body to finish what they started.

These alumni are now students at historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs) or are members of the Divine 9, the nine Black Greek letter organizations in the U.S. Within the Divine 9 and at HCBUs, Black culture is rich. It is strong. It is unique. It is diverse. Our alumni, like all Bulls Prep students, are resilient!

Hear from our Bulls Prep alumni representing the sororities within the Divine 9 about what Black History Month means to them:

“Being a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, I’ve learned that Black History means standing strong for what I believe and for what is RIGHT. Black History month means being an advocate for myself and others and being an aide to society all while representing Finer Womanhood, a unique and beloved principle of my organization.”

“Black History Month, in regards to being a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., means creating a legacy for yourself and the other people after me. My beloved founders wanted to see EQUALITY, so it’s important for me to create opportunities to do these very things.”

“Being a member of an organization founded in the midst of so much adversity, as all of our organizations were, Black History Month reminds me to continue to revere all of those who came before us.”

“To me, Black History month means A LOT. Our 7 founders paved the way for us. During 1922 when my sorority was founded, racists terrorists groups like the KKK were prevalent. However, as a collective, my organization worked hard to strive for excellence, knowledge and unity.”