U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, was honored by The United Negro College Fund during a ceremony in Washington D.C. for his work in support of historically black colleges and universities.

“UNCF has a powerful mission: to advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement,” Gohmert said in a statement released by UNCF. “I have seen and learned first-hand that these institutions contain a huge percentage of students who are the first in their family ever to attend college. Once that first family member attends, it blows the ceiling off for following generations who so often go on to do extraordinary things.”