The Mr. Collegiate African American Pageant™ is back for its 28th Anniversary celebration and competition on November 7-10, 2018 in Houston, with the finals on November 10  at Prairie View A&M University. Applications are now being accepted for candidates for the 2018 program with a deadline of September 30.

When we think of pageantry in America, we think of the beautiful and talented women in sequin gowns, swimsuits and talent. Well, the producers of the Mr. Collegiate African American Scholarship Pageant (MCAASP) has been dispelling this imagery since 1990 when the pageant was created to empower Black college men and to counteract the negative imagery of them as perpetuated in the society.

Questioned as to why a pageant for men, Pageant Director Frederick V. Roberts is committed to the pageant because "pageantry has no gender." Roberts stated that "when we look at our ancestry we find that the early Egyptians used pageantry as a ceremony of ascension and coronation." W. E. B. DuBois also produced the "Star of Egypt" pageant back in the early 50's to focus on achievement of Blacks in all facets of life. Using the principles of character, self-esteem, positive role modeling and services, the MCAASP) hopes to grow the next generation of African American male leaders. 

The goal of the pageant is to dispel the myth that one has to be a product of a negative environment by creating a model of excellence for a positive belief in oneself and race, and encouraging individual and group achievement in the pursuit of excellence.  Roberts is also confident that the Black Panther blockbuster movie will spark a new interest in the male pageant.

The Mr. Collegiate Pageant Program, the first of its kind for College men in general, was created in 1990. However, the first pageant was not staged until April 1992 and Charles Clemens of Lincoln University was selected the first Mr. Collegiate.

Since then, other winners include Steven Daniels, 1993-94 (Alabama State), Stacey O. Washington, 1994-95 (Virginia State), Christopher Sanders, 1995-96 (Kentucky State), Adoris Turner 1997-99 (Jackson State) and Damany Mayfield 2001-2002 (Virginia State)The candidates compete for more than $8,000 in scholarships, gifts and prizes, and the opportunity to represent the national program throughout the world.

Candidates compete in personal interview, service platform (oratory), talent, formal attire and onstage interview and question.  The winners will receive some $8,000 in scholarships, gifts and prizes and the opportunity to represent the program at special events, visits to K-12 and colleges around the country.

The pageant is in its twenty-eighth year and originally was limited to Black College Kings, however this year's event is opened to Black men 18-30 years of age who are enrolled in four-year colleges and universities. The program is being sponsored in conjunction with the National Leadership Conference on Black Men, set for November 9-10, 2018 at PVAMU.  The summit will focus on helping to create the next generation of leaders in the likes of President Barak Obama, Dr. Cornell West, Mark Morial, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, Benjamin Chavis, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Eric Holder and Colin Powell, etc.

Application Deadline is: September 30, 2018 .

For an application and other information, please contact: The Mr. Collegiate African American Scholarship Program: P.O. Box 5433, Prairie View, TX 77446-5433. Email: mrcollegiate@yahoo.com.