The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) recently named Cricket Wireless their 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year. This is a huge honor—one that we accept with pride and gratitude.

Cricket has been a supporter of the MEAC since 2019 through our involvement in sporting events, championship games as well as community programs in conjunction with participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The MEAC is made up of eight HBCUs across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University. We see our relationship with the MEAC, as well as their eight member institutions, as more than a sponsorship opportunity but rather a chance to invest in our young people and their communities—communities where we live and work.

One way we’re helping inspire the next generation of Black leaders is through our Campus Ambassador program, which gives select students from HBCUs an opportunity to be Cricket brand advocates on their respective campuses. In fact, we recently utilized the talents of one of our campus ambassadors to capture and produce all of the video content for our Black History Makers social campaign.

Additionally, as the official wireless sponsor of the 2021 National Battle of the Bands (NBOTB), we presented event organizers with a check totaling $24,000 to support the music programs at each of the participating HBCUs.
Through our sponsorships of the NBTOB, Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-off and Cricket Celebration Bowl, as well as our support of initiatives like the MEAC Countdown to Kickoff and our Campus Ambassador Program, we hope to bring greater awareness of HBCUs and the commitment to excellence that continuously takes place on and off the field.