Courtesy of Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University (FSU) will hold its 155th Founders’ Day celebration in conjunction with Fall 2022 Convocation on Thursday, September 22 at 2:00 p.m. in FSU’s Cook Quad.
The celebration pays tribute to FSU’s founders and recognizes the FSU Family of the Year. The event will also mark the official kickoff of the fall semester with the first-year student convocation.
The public and media representatives are encouraged to attend.
FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D., will preside over both events. Founders’ Day guest speakers also include Asia Hammock and Issiah McLean, Miss and Mr. Fayetteville State University 2022-23. Participants will gather at the Founders Monument on Cook Quad where commemorative flowers will be placed.
Fayetteville State University Founders’ Day honors the bold vision of seven Black men who pooled their resources ($136) in 1867 to purchase two lots on Gillespie Street in Fayetteville and created a self-perpetuating board of trustees to maintain the property in perpetuity as a site for the education of Black children.
“It’s always a great day to be a Bronco, but it’s especially poignant as we honor our courageous and visionary founders who paved the way to higher education and access to opportunities for our community and region,” Allison said. “As we also look forward to the promising futures of our newest Broncos at Convocation, it’s vitally important to periodically recognize our history so that we can blaze new trails and build an even brighter tomorrow.”
First established as the Howard School in one original building, the institution gained a reputation for excellence in teaching. In 1877, the North Carolina General Assembly voted to provide for a Normal School for the education of Black teachers and the Howard School became the first State Colored Normal School with its own principal.
The school moved to its permanent location on Murchison Road in 1908 and grew substantially, adding property and structures. Over the ensuing four decades it became Fayetteville State Teachers College with the authority to grant bachelor of science degrees in elementary education. It received state and regional accreditation in 1947.
Since then, the university has grown exponentially in its academic offerings and facilities. It became Fayetteville State College in 1963, then in 1969 was renamed Fayetteville State University. In 1972 the North Carolina Legislature voted to add FSU as a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system.
The celebrations set the stage for the installation ceremony of Allison as FSU’s 12th chancellor and chief executive officer, scheduled for Friday, September 23.
Allison was named to the post by the UNC Board of Governors on February 18, 2021 and took office on March 15, 2021. Serving nearly 7,000 students at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels, the university enrolled its largest first-year class since 2007 this fall and is a top destination for military-affiliated students. For the first time, FSU enrolled more than 2,000 military students this year.
