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How Mariah Houston is Building Her Own HBCU Legacy

5/18/2026

Nichols School

For Mariah Houston ’26, choosing a college was never just about academics. It was about finding a place that felt like possibility.

A place with community, tradition, opportunity, where she could grow into the person she hopes to become, while remaining fully herself in the process.

This fall, Houston will attend Spelman College in Atlanta, continuing her family’s long connection to Historically Black Colleges and Universities while carving out a path distinctly her own.

“When I stepped on campus, I just knew,” Houston said. “It felt different from anywhere else I visited.”

That feeling began during Spelman’s “A Day in the Life” program last October, where prospective students spend time on campus attending classes, meeting current students, and experiencing daily life at one of the nation’s premier HBCUs.

Houston arrived interested in the school. She left convinced.

“Everyone just seemed happy,” she said. “The environment was so welcoming, and being surrounded by people who wanted to do big things — and who looked like me — was really important.”

For Houston, the decision represented both continuity and independence.

HBCUs have long been part of her family story. Her grandfather immigrated from Jamaica to attend Howard University, beginning a legacy that eventually included Houston’s parents, aunts, and uncles. Growing up, Howard was naturally part of nearly every college conversation.

But while Houston knew she wanted the culture, mentorship, and tradition that HBCUs provide, she also wanted to find the campus that best matched her own personality and goals.

Spelman quickly became that fit.

Located in the heart of Atlanta’s vibrant collegiate community, Spelman combines the intimacy of a small campus with the energy of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, which includes neighboring institutions such as Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.

Houston was drawn not only to the academics and traditions, but also to the atmosphere surrounding the school itself.

“I love Atlanta,” she said with a laugh. “The food, the people, the community, there’s just so much energy there.”

She also appreciated the sense of security and support she felt while visiting campus, something that mattered deeply as she prepares to move farther from home.

“They’re very big on safety,” Houston said. “The campus is gated, there’s security everywhere, and it just felt like a place where people genuinely care about the students.”

At Spelman, Houston plans to major in psychology and pursue a pre-med track, with the goal of becoming a child psychiatrist. During her campus visit, she connected with faculty members, mentorship programs, and student organizations focused on healthcare and community impact.

“I want to help people,” Houston said. “Especially children. I think understanding people and helping them through difficult situations is really important.”

That sense of purpose has already shaped much of Houston’s Nichols experience.

A leader on campus, Houston currently serves as president of the Black Student Union, where she has helped organize events, foster dialogue, and advocate for greater community engagement. Along the way, she says she discovered a new confidence in her own voice.

“I used to be terrified of public speaking,” Houston admitted. “Now I’m getting up at the podium and speaking in front of people all the time.”

Her growth at Nichols extended beyond leadership roles. Through athletics, dance, clubs, Green Key tours, peer tutoring initiatives, and community service opportunities, Houston immersed herself fully in campus life, something she now encourages younger students to do as well.

“I think Nichols is special because of the people,” she said. “You find your closest friendships by getting involved.”

Faculty mentors played a major role throughout that journey.

Houston credits her college counselor, Ms. Olczak, with helping guide her through every stage of the admissions process, from course selection and essay development to navigating a deferred admission decision from Spelman before ultimately earning acceptance in April.

“She was a huge part of everything,” Houston said. “Whenever I was stressed, she always knew how to calm me down and help me focus.”

Teachers, including Ms. Blue, Dr. Alexander, Mr. Ptak, and Mr. Morris, also helped Houston grow academically and personally, reinforcing the close-knit environment she says prepared her well for Spelman’s community-centered culture.

“I think Nichols and Spelman actually have a lot in common,” Houston said. “The relationships with teachers matter. People know you personally. They want to see you succeed.”

Perhaps the biggest transformation, though, came in Houston’s understanding of herself.

“When I first came to Nichols, I felt like I was trying to fit into what I thought a Nichols student should be,” she reflected. “But over the last two years, I feel like Nichols started fitting into me instead.”

That realization now follows her to Atlanta, where she will begin building her own community. Houston will also share the experience with fellow Nichols graduate Ari Carter, another familiar face heading south this fall. The two know they will branch into their own circles and experiences, but there is comfort in beginning such a major transition alongside someone who already feels like home.

And as Houston prepares to leave Buffalo for warmer weather, new opportunities, and one of the country’s most celebrated college communities, she does so with a growing confidence in exactly who she is.

Not just someone continuing a family tradition. But someone ready to build one of her own.

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