The student selected as Mister Wilberforce serves as an official ambassador and representative of the university. The role emphasizes leadership, service, school pride, and student engagement. Mister Wilberforce represents the institution at campus events, community functions, and official university programs while also promoting positive student involvement and leadership development.
The position is part of Wilberforce University’s broader Royal Court, which also includes Miss Wilberforce University and class-based titles such as Mr. and Miss Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. Together, these students help shape campus culture, organize initiatives, and act as role models within the student body.
Wilberforce University itself is a historic HBCU located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Founded in 1856, it is recognized as the first private historically Black college or university owned and operated by African Americans. The university is named in honor of William Wilberforce, the British abolitionist known for his leadership in the movement to end the transatlantic slave trade.