SC State Royal Court gains new insight at national leadership summit
Students returned with deeper purpose and practical tools to represent the university.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Olivia Ratliff didn’t just show up to represent South Carolina State University at the HBCU Kings and Queens Conference, She came to learn how to lead with depth and intention.
As the 89th Miss SC State University, Ratliff participated in sessions on emotional intelligence, digital branding, and public engagement, each offering tools she plans to apply throughout the year.
“I walked away with clear ideas about how to lead with more purpose,” Ratliff said. “Sessions like ‘Queening from a Healing Heart’ helped me reflect on how to serve from a place of empathy, not just performance. And the digital branding workshops gave me new strategies for building engagement.”
Ratliff said the most valuable part of the experience was building a network of fellow HBCU queens who shared similar pressures and ambitions.
“Kings and Queens allowed me and members of my court to set a strong foundation for the year,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend.”
Leadership with accountability
The annual HBCU Kings and Queens Conference brought student leaders together from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country for a week of training focused on leadership strategy, personal branding, etiquette and mental wellness. The SC State Royal Court described the experience as one that reshaped how they think about their roles on campus.
Bryce McIntosh, the 12th Mister SC State University, said the conference helped him connect with peers across the HBCU landscape who understand the expectations and challenges of representing a campus community.
“It gave me a chance to connect with others who take this responsibility seriously,” McIntosh said. “Everyone brought a different perspective, but we all understood the significance of being trusted to represent our schools. That shared experience pushed me to think more critically about how I’ll lead this year.”
Jamarcus Elder, Mister 1896, said one workshop challenged him to reflect on the consistency between private behavior and public representation.
“It focused on self-awareness, personal accountability and protecting your image,” Elder said. “That kind of alignment matters when you’re in a visible role.”
Blake Nichols, Mister Garnet and Blue, said a session helped him reframe his personal experiences as sources of strength and relatability.
“The phrase that stayed with me was, ‘God let you go through it so you can grow through it so you can flow through it,’” Nichols said. “It helped me look at my own experiences differently, not as baggage, but as something I can use to connect with others.”
Preparation and presence
Jakari Jones, Miss 1896, said the conference balanced wellness with practical preparation. She attended breakout sessions on fashion and platform development, along with a wellness-focused forum titled “Queens Only.”
“Being effective means being sustainable,” Jones said. “These sessions reminded me to pay attention to my mental health and to make thoughtful decisions about how I show up in spaces, not just for others, but for myself.”
Jones said she plans to translate the insights into campus outreach, including newsletters and social media initiatives.
For Sierra Curnell, Miss Senior, the conference created space to consider how her leadership could be more consistent and intentional.
“I’ve attended other leadership programs, but this one asked different questions,” Curnell said. “It made me consider how my actions, big or small, reflect the community I represent. That kind of awareness reshaped my thinking.”
Looking ahead
As the academic year begins, SC State’s Royal Court returns with new strategies, refined perspectives and a stronger sense of responsibility, not just to represent the university in name, but to serve with clarity, care and purpose.
For more information about Royal Court and student life at SC State, visit www.scsu.edu/campus-life.