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HBCU Legacy Bowl Career Fair provides students opportunities to network with over 100 companies

Event in convention center free to HBCU juniors, seniors and recent graduates and open for registration

Feb 20, 2024 at 06:36 PM

Andrew Lang

As part of the HBCU Legacy Classic, the New Orleans Saints held a career fair and panel on Thursday, February 23, 2023

As the HBCU Legacy Bowl game nears and teams begin practices for the game, HBCU students from all over the nation are also getting an opportunity to showcase their skills on a different level.

The annual HBCU Legacy Bowl Career Fair will take place in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Feb. 22 and 23 is open to HBCU juniors, seniors and recent graduates with free admission. Over 900 students are pre-registered for this year's event from 56 schools.

Shaneika Dabney-Henderson, New Orleans Saints vice president of production and chair of the Legacy Bowl advisory committee, said at the opening press conference for the Legacy Bowl that she has met students who have gotten jobs as a result of attending the career fair.

"This isn't smoke and mirrors," Dabney-Henderson said. "This is not a publicity stunt. This is a real tangible opportunity that I wish I would have had access to when I was in school."

Over 900 students from 56 different HBCUs are preregistered for the 2024 @Allstate HBCU LEGACY BOWL CAREER FAIR thus far. We are anticipating a significant participation increase over the next 48 hours.@du1869 has now lapped @XULA1925 in the current LEGACY CUP standings. A… pic.twitter.com/xXSxnlQzRC
— HBCU LEGACY BOWL (@HBCULegacyBowl) February 20, 2024

The event features an attendance contest between the three of the New Orleans-based HBCU schools (Dillard University, Xavier University, and Southern University of New Orleans). HBCU Legacy Bowl co-founder and former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams stated he was "a little disappointed" with the turnout from the three local schools last year.

"We got over 100 companies and 13 NFL teams that are at this career fair and they are not just looking at kids, they are giving out jobs," Williams said. "That's what college is all about right. That's why you send your kids to college, to get a degree and to get a job, get out the house and get a job, and we got them right here for you."

Dillard is currently fielding the most pre-registered students at 117 among all HBCUs and also putting them in the lead for the Legacy Cup which goes to the HBCU from New Orleans which fields the most graduates at the career fair. The minimum number of students to win the trophy and the $5,000 scholarship for the school is required at 250.

Students can register to attend this event at teamworkonline.com and find at more information at hbculegacybowl.com.

Notes from HBCU Legacy Bowl practice

The first practices took place for the HBCU Legacy Bowl at Yulman Stadium on the campus of Tulane University with Team Robinson practicing in the morning and Team Gaither practicing in the afternoon. The two teams will alternate practice slots each day through their final practice Friday.

Berry said the players are still acclimating to new verbiages and playbooks for the all-star game and players will progress throughout the week as they near the game.

"We just want to compete, compete and take care of each other, make sure everybody leaves back healthy, but ultimately you want to see guys compete and ultimately at the end of the day we'd like to get W," Berry said.

Photos: HBCU Legacy Bowl practice 2/20/2024