WVSU Celebrates 121 Years
3/12/2012
West Virginia State University has set aside the week of March 12 - 17 to celebrate the 121stAnniversary of its founding on March 17, 1891. The Founders Day convocation will be Thursday, March 15 at 11 a.m. in the P.A. Williams Auditorium of Ferrell Hall. Featured speaker will be President Hazo W. Carter, Jr.
Dr. Carter is now in his 25th year as President. Under his leadership, "State" regained its designation as an 1890 land-grant institution after a 12 year quest, attained University status and underwent two successful accreditation reviews.
President Carter has received many awards and accolades including "Distinguished West Virginian" awards, by former Governors Gaston Caperton and Bob Wise; "Honorary West Virginian" awarded by Governor Joe Manchin and Distinguished Mountaineer by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin; and designation as "President of the Century" by the West Virginia State College (now University) National Alumni Association during their biennial conference in 2000.
Tuesday, March 13
7:30 p.m.
Davis Fine Arts Theater
WVSU Choir Concert
Wednesday, March 14
10:00 a.m.
WVSU Drain-Jordan Library
Dedication of the Computational Science Center at the Drain-Jordan Library with the introduction of Stinger, the new High-Performance Computer and Visualization System
Thursday, March 15
11:00 a.m.
Founders Convocation
P.A. Williams Auditorium, Ferrell Hall
Featured speaker: President Hazo W. Carter, Jr.
Noon - Birthday Party
Ferrell Hall Lobby
Saturday, March 17
Black & Gold Gala
A Celebration of Soul - Celebrating 50 Years of Motown
6 p.m. reception & 7 p.m. performance by the group Touch
PA Williams Auditorium, Ferrell Hall.
During intermission those who have made contributions to WVSU will be honored.Tickets are $20 general admission and $40 single, and $75 couple for VIP tickets which includes the reception and preferred seating. Tickets are on sale in the University Union. VIP tickets can be purchased from David Stockton @ ext. 5159. Profits from the event go toward scholarships.
West Virginia State University was founded on March 17, 1891 by an act of the West Virginia Legislature. With the name of The West Virginia Colored Institute, its purpose was to provide an education for freed slaves and their descendants at a time when segregation was the law of the land. The Institute was one of 17 land-grant institutions founded by states following the mandate of the Federal Second Morrill Act of 1890.
From humble beginnings with one building on a 30 acre campus, a staff of three, and 20 students in the first class, the school has prospered to become the dynamic, progressive University of today. West Virginia State University is proud of its record of continuous accreditation since 1927 as verification of its standard of excellence in education and service to its students and the community. Under the leadership of President Hazo W. Carter, Jr. the former college regained its land-grant status that had been transferred in the 1950s and became West Virginia State University in 2004.