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By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

Last week, California State University (CSU), Sacramento (Sac State) celebrated the 80th birthday of its first students Academic University College (AHK).

Described as a “college within a college,” the BHC program is the first of its kind in the United States.

“We are using the Honors College model to provide a unique experience for students interested in Black history, life and culture,” said Dr. J. Luke Wood, president of Sacramento State. Wood spoke at the event organized to celebrate the students and launch the program, which took place on the afternoon of Aug. 8 in the university ballroom.

“While we created this with the intention of helping students from the black community, we also want you to know that we are open to everyone. We don't want to be inclusive by being exclusive,” continued Wood, who also urged students to leave Sacramento “better than they found it.”

Former President Barack Obama was featured in a video delivering a congratulatory message to the Sac State family on the founding of BHC.

Obama said the BHC told the first-year students that they were “uniquely positioned for success.”

“Focus your energy on a cause higher than yourself,” he encouraged her.

CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia said the BHC serves a model that can be replicated on other campuses.

“Sac State is an example of what we can accomplish across the CSU,” Garcia said, adding that she is confident BHC students will emerge as “bold leaders” in California and around the world.

According to Sac State, BHC is “an extended college with extracurricular programs for students offering specialized courses, unique research and creative arts opportunities, residential and learning programs, scholarships and special awards.”

It is “designed for students interested in Black history, life, culture, and contributions. All freshmen with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to apply,” the program description continues.

The event was attended by several state and university leaders, elected officials, education activists, Sacramento officials and international guests, including Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), Assemblyman Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Tani Cantil-Sakuye, President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, and Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Guateng Provincial Assembly in South Africa, among others.

Stephen K. Benjamin, White House senior adviser to President Biden and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, delivered the keynote address and read a statement from Vice President Kamala Harris.

“May you always dream with ambition and lead with conviction,” Harris was quoted as saying in the statement read by Benjamin.

In his own words, Benjamin said: “With this bold vision, history is truly being made today.”

“I hope you are both humbled and excited,” he said, reminding them that “titles do not make leaders.”

“Leaders are servants,” Benjamin continued. “Leaders give. Leaders train other leaders. Within each of them lies the power to change this world.”

During the event, Wood thanked the Tsakopoulos family of Sacramento for a $2.5 million donation to the BHC.

The college “will give us a voice, an opportunity to make a difference and a family,” said Savanna Beattie, a student in BHC's inaugural year who told guests she will study nursing and hopes to work in a neonatal intensive care unit.