CIAA Highlights College Pathways for High School Students in Baltimore

The annual basketball tournament showcases educational opportunities beyond the court.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is hosting its annual basketball tournament in Baltimore this week, but the conference is also using the event to highlight college pathways for high school students. On Wednesday, the CIAA held an Education Day and Career Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center, where over 3,500 students met with college recruiters from across the region to learn about preparing for and accessing higher education.

Why it matters

The CIAA's efforts to connect high school students with college opportunities goes beyond just basketball, aiming to provide educational pathways that can transform lives and communities. As a historically Black college and university (HBCU) conference, the CIAA is playing an important role in expanding access to higher ed for underrepresented students.

The details

At the Education Day and Career Expo, high school students and their chaperones met with college recruiters from schools in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Many students were able to get admitted on the spot to one of the CIAA's 12 member institutions. Livingstone College President Anthony Davis emphasized that the event is "not just about basketball" but about offering "young people educational opportunity that is the key to their future."

  • The CIAA Basketball Tournament is taking place all week long at CFG Bank Arena in Downtown Baltimore.
  • The CIAA Education Day and Career Expo was held on Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center.

The players

Raukell Robinson

Director of the CIAA Education Day and Career Expo.

Anthony Davis

President and CEO of Livingstone College, a CIAA member institution.

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

A NCAA Division II athletic conference composed of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

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What they’re saying

“Our seniors got admitted on the spot to one of our 12 institutions or maybe even multiple.”

— Raukell Robinson, Director of the CIAA Education Day and Career Expo (wbal.com)

“Being able to come to Baltimore and offer young people educational opportunity that is the key to their future, hey, it's amazing. It's not just about basketball.”

— Anthony Davis, President and CEO of Livingstone College (wbal.com)

What’s next

The CIAA Basketball Tournament will continue through the rest of the week at CFG Bank Arena in Downtown Baltimore.

The takeaway

The CIAA's efforts to connect high school students with college opportunities at its annual basketball tournament showcase the conference's commitment to expanding access to higher education, particularly for underrepresented students. By going beyond just sports, the CIAA is playing a vital role in creating pathways to transform lives and communities.