ThenNow

The Celebration Begins!

F o r A l u m n i

A n d F r i e n d s

s p r i n g 2 0 1 2

v o l u m e 1 4

n o . 1

The Future

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WSSU Legacy Word SearchCan you find the following words? Then look for them in this issue of Archway as you read about the early challenges our founders faced—and the amazing legacy they established as the school’s foundation.

Hint: Hidden words may be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Some are in reverse.

ACADEMIC

ADVOCATES

AGRICULTURE

ART

ATKINS

BRICKS

CARPENTRY

CHATHAM

COLUMBIAN

CULTURAL

DEMANDING

DEPOT

DETERMINED

DRAMA

DUTY

ELEVATE

FUNDING

GLOBAL

HANES

INDUSTRIAL

INSPECTION

INSPIRES

INTELLECTUAL

LAMSON

LEADERSHIP

LEGACY

MAGAZINE

MCKINLEY

MORAVIANS

MUSIC

NORTHEAST

PRIDE

REYNOLDS

ROOSEVELT

SEWING

SKILL

SLATER

SLAVERY

SOUTHLAND

STANDARDS

STRICT

SUCCESS

SUPPORT

TEA

TEACHING

WHEELWRIGHTING

WINSTON

Y S T S M W S C G D A R E B C S R I L D

U E E U E U H N H G E N H R A U E N T E A D S T C R I E R A I P V I R P Y T I P C I E C A D I I E Z T I C C P P N E C O C O E N N C C P A L Y H P K E O O L I T S S L A I U O G S R W S A S N R L L M T S E M U L M A V E N S R V M T T D E E S

J E N T M M R V D W I E I Y R G S C D A D B U A E B A E Z A F D F G Y B L T A E T R B R H L I J T H S A M D H A F U C H E N Q T S E T A V E L E Z C I T B A A T N O I T C E P S N I D L W R K G I L W R S O U T H L A N D G L A T I L I T N O O S T R I C T Y F W I N S T O N E N O G N

L A R U T L U C K D U I B K A G S L Y A N O S M A L H S F D U A D C I E F C E Z

A M A R D T A L N P L T H N V N A D H Y K O M O R A V I A N S I Y E U G S F I P S D R A D N A T S E N Y L W E F F C Y N P R I D E M R H R G U T S L A T E R Y N

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

In this issueThe Early YearsThis year, as WSSU celebrates its 120th anniversary, Archway will present highlights from the school’s history, beginning in this issue with events that led to the founding of Slater Industrial Academy in 1892.

Transforming Education to Develop the Whole StudentWhile not expressed in precisely those words, there is no question that Simon Green Atkins’ commitment to student success extended far beyond the classroom. His philosophy—and results—gained national attention.

A Legacy of Selfless ServiceWSSU’s founding family was involved in leadership roles with the school until 1961 and remains active as donors and supporters. A granddaughter of S.G. Atkins shares special memories of her family.

Special Insert: PathwaysGifts from individuals, foundations and businesses have supported the school’s growth since the late 1800s and continue to be vital to the future of WSSU and its students.

DepartmentsChancellor ReflectsOn the YardAlumni SpotlightTime OutClass NotesFrom the NAA

ARCHWAY is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications within Winston-Salem State University’s Division of University Engagement

WSSU Alumni House, Winston-Salem, NC 27110 (336)750.2150; fax (336)750.3150

We welcome story ideas and class notes. Send them to archway@wssu.edu

Chancellor: Donald J. Reaves, Ph.D. Executive Director of Marketing, Alumni and Community Relations: Nigel D. Alston Chief Marketing Officer: Sigrid Hall-Pittsley Editorial Team: Jo Hunter, Concentrics Communications; Rudy Anderson; Jackie FoutzHistory Consultants: Simona Atkins Allen, Dr. Elinor Smith, Thomas FlynnPhotographer: Garrett Garms ’07 Archway Design: G Graphics ~ marketing by design Pathways Design: Concentrics Communications

20,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $0.786 per copy.

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8

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WSSU Legacy Word Search

page 10

page 6

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chancellor reflects

inston-Salem State University traces its roots to the founding of Slater Industrial Academy in 1892. For the past 120 years,

students have come to this campus for an education that met their needs, needs that were specific to the times. And as those needs changed over the past 120 years, so too has the education offered to our students. As part of our anniversary recognition efforts, Archway will feature stories that reflect on our history, our current efforts, and the work being done to ensure the future of this university. It is only fitting, therefore, that we begin with our history. Most of us have read the story of Dr. Simon Green Atkins, our founder, beginning with one building, one teacher and 25 students. That he succeeded with so few resources is a wonderful story, but we want to expand the awareness of those efforts and others as we explore the important heritage of Winston-Salem State University. We must remember, for example, that 120 years ago there was no Winston-Salem, only the Village of Salem and the Town of Winston. It was also a time when there was no desire to support public education for anyone, but particularly for African Americans. Reconstruction had created an even greater climate of hostility for people of color that certainly influenced those in control of the government and those with the most financial resources. Yet, Dr. Atkins was able to obtain funding from John Slater, a New England philanthropist who did support the need to educate “the lately emancipated population of the Southern States.” That grant from the John F. Slater Fund created the foundation for what we have today. Simon Green Atkins was an educator. He was also a truly remarkable individual. Along with others in his family, he made lasting contributions to this community, this state and to our nation. From the beginning, he had a vision and he also had the tenacity and courage to pursue a commitment to education for young African Americans. He knew the impact education would have for his students, for future generations, and for the broader society. He knew the teachers and tradespeople trained at Slater would be able to find jobs that would allow them to provide for themselves and their families. These young people would improve the economic future of their communities by way of their own contributions and by providing opportunities for others. He understood that Slater graduates would be able to teach and to train other young African Americans, thus increasing the impact of the school and the economic stature of the Black community. For him, it was about creating an on-going spiral of knowledge that would be passed from generation to generation. He was a man of the times, but he was also a visionary who understood that knowledge was power. Over the years, Slater Academy changed to meet current needs and evolved, becoming Winston-Salem Teachers College, then Winston-Salem State College, and finally Winston-Salem State University. The name changes were more than just altering words. The changes represented the ongoing transformation of an institution of higher education as it moved from training elementary school teachers to preparing doctors, nurses, professors, social workers, physical therapists, computer scientists and others. That means that this institution, at every stage of its development, has made the changes necessary to remain relevant and, most importantly, to provide students with the foundation needed to be successful on campus and after graduation. It is only fitting, therefore, that we begin the celebration of our 120th anniversary by reminding ourselves of the beginning. While we will continue to face challenges in 2012 and beyond, it is almost impossible to imagine the daunting obstacles that Simon Green Atkins was able to overcome. If we are to be successful going forward we must continue to demonstrate the same determination to make a difference that Dr. Atkins demonstrated in 1892. We owe that to WSSU’s past, its present and its future.

Donald J. Reaves, Ph.D.

WBoard of Trustees 2011-2012Mrs. Debra B. Miller ’78, ChairMr. Victor Johnson, Jr. ’61, Vice ChairDr. Vivian H. BurkeMr. F. Scott BauerMr. Martin B. Davis ’86Dr. James C. Hash, Sr.Mrs. Sue HendersonMr. Jeffrey T. LindsayDr. Karen McNeil-MillerMr. James R. NantonMr. Keith W. VaughanMr. Charles F. WallingtonMr. Austin V. Grier

Winston-Salem State UniversityFoundation, Board of Directors2011-2012Mr. James E. Martin, ChairMr. Timothy A. Grant ’80, SecretaryMs. Martha Logemann, TreasurerDr. Lenora R. CampbellMs. Peggy CarterMs. Michelle M. CookMr. Tony EbronMr. Kelvin Farmer ’86Ms. Catherine Pettie Hart ’74Mr. Fred HarwellMr. Harold Kennedy IIIMr. Elliott Lemon ’83Ms. Cheryl E. H. LockeDr. Charles Love ’66Mr. Arthur E. McClearinMr. J. Walter McDowellMs. Patricia D. Norris ’93Mr. Ray OwenMs. Stephanie L. Porter ’81Dr. Donald J. ReavesMr. Curtis Richardson ’76Ms. Shirley Danner ShouseMr. Clifton H. Sparrow ’80Ms. Claudette WestonMs. Cynthia Williams

Ex Officio Directors

Mrs. Debra B. MillerMr. Gerald HunterMr. Gordon Everett ’78Mr. Gordon Slade ’93Mr. Austin V. Grier

Emeritus Directors

Ms. Florence P. CorpeningMr. Victor Johnson, Jr. ’61Dr. Steve Martin

4 SPRing 2012 To view the university’s Strategic Plan, visit www.wssu.edu/strategicplan.

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It’s been quite a journey—one that spans 120 yearsand encompasses a rich legacy

of vision, determination and courage.

As alumni, faculty, students, staff and friendsof Winston-Salem State University,

you play a key role in this ongoing story.

We invite you to join us as we dedicatethe three 2012 issues of Archway magazine

to capturing points of pride for the past, the present and the future.

T H E E A R LY Y E A R SE X T E N D I N G T H E L E G A C Y

S H A P I N G O U R F U T U R E

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1950

From a one-room schoolhouse in 1892, Simon Green Atkins laid the foundation for an enduring legacy that continues to shape lives and strengthen opportunities for success.

If he had been born a generation earlier, his opportunities would have been significantly limited and his name might never have been known beyond his family and friends. But Simon Green Atkins was born in 1863, two years before the end of legalized slavery. He grew up on a farm, learning the value of hard work early in life.

As an elementary school student in his hometown of Haywood in Chatham County, he attracted the attention of Mrs. Annie Cooper, a pioneer in the field of education who was associated with Saint Augustine’s Normal and Collegiate Institute in Raleigh and also traveled to remote areas to instruct rural people. Young Atkins was described this way:

“His eagerness to know the truth, his power of mind to perceive, comprehend and analyze, his retentive memory, soon gave him first place among his fellows in the school in the village.”

He attended Saint Augustine’s, graduated in 1884 with distinction and was immediately invited to join the faculty at Livingstone College in Salisbury, where he remained for six years, serving as both treasurer and faculty member the last two years.

Even as a young man, Atkins sought ways to extend opportunities to others. Summers were spent conducting institutes for black teachers in various counties. Earlier in his career he helped found an organization that would have considerable impact on education for blacks in the state, the North Carolina Teachers’ Association.

In 1889, Atkins married Oleona Pegram of New Bern, an accomplished teacher educated at Scotia Women’s College in Concord, NC and at Fisk University in Nashville, TN. Sharing his commitment to education, she would be a lifelong soul mate and supportive companion in the work that lay ahead.

Giving voice to the visionA skilled communicator, Atkins served as editor of The Southland, a monthly magazine founded in 1890 by President J.C. Price of Livingstone College—the first Negro magazine published in the South.

EarlyYears...

The

Primary source: The History of Winston-Salem State University, 1892-1995 by E. Louise Murphy Revised and Edited by Frances Ross Coble, Simona Atkins Allen, and Wilma Levister Lassiter

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1892 Sept. 28 - Slater

Industrial Academy founded

1895 State of North

Carolina recognizes the school

1897 State charters the school as

the Slater Industrial andState Normal School

Winston (above) and Salem (below) in the late 1800s

6 Spring 2012

1925 School changes its name to Winston-Salem Teachers College, extending

its curriculum and becoming the first African American institution of higher learning in the nation to grant the B.S. degree in elementary education

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This young, talented educator attracted the attention of progressive business and community leaders across the state and, in 1890, the town of Winston offered him a position as principal of Depot Street Public School, which at the time was “considered the largest and most important public school for Negroes in the state.”

It proved a fortuitous move. In an era when many blacks across the South faced major hurdles as they sought to take advantage of their new freedom, the towns of Winston and Salem were being developed by leaders of extraordinary foresight. In Simon Green Atkins, they saw a man who could bring progress not only to his race but to the community as a whole.

When Atkins presented his proposal for an institution to teach “industrial training, good citizenship, and high practical ideals and ideas,” the charter was quickly granted by Forsyth County for a private school with an independent board of trustees.

The initial board included members of both races: J.S. Hill, E.P. Mayo, William A. Blair, H.R. Starbuck, Thomas H. Sutton, J.C. Alston, C.N. Grandison, C.B. Cash, and S.G. Atkins. Other early supporters included Henry E. Fries, A.H. Eller, R.J. Reynolds, along with ministers from both races.

The foundation is laid

Slater Industrial Academy was chartered on September 28, 1892. The school was named for a benefactor, John Fox Slater, a wealthy New England textile manufacturer and philanthropist.

The institution was founded for “training of head, hand, and heart,” and demonstrated the strong link between the home, the school and the community. It was designed to be highly functional in three general directions: 1) toward the training of teachers for the Negro public elementary schools of North Carolina; 2) toward giving its students an appreciation of the dignity of all useful labor and of the compatibility of intellectual and manual skills and occupations; 3) toward the making of a constructive contribution in the solution of the difficult problems of race relations which had developed during that era.

Located on the corner of what later became Stadium Drive and Atkins Street, it was literally a one-room schoolhouse—a 20-foot by 40-foot frame structure. The lot measured 50 feet by 140 feet—quite a contrast to

today’s 116-acre campus. Classes began in September 1893 with 25 students and one teacher.

From these humble beginnings would grow an institution that has stood the test of time, with a growing campus and student body ... an expanded range of learning opportunities ... and an enduring commitment to equip students for success in a rapidly changing world.

When Simon Green Atkins came to Winston-Salem in 1890, “along with his schoolwork he pressed two points: The idea of home-getting and improvement for his people, and the idea of mutual understanding and cooperation between the races.”

While quality education for blacks was clearly a priority for Simon Green Atkins, he did not stop there. Shortly after arriving in Winston, he presented a proposal to town leaders and received backing for the creation of a residential community known as Columbian Heights near the school campus to demonstrate the importance – and opportunity – for quality home ownership for blacks.

He and his wife were the neighborhood’s first residents. The house was later moved to campus and today serves as offices for WSSU Alumni Relations.

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

1963 College name changes

to Winston-Salem State College

1969 Name changes to

Winston-Salem State University

1972 July 1 - WSSU becomes a

constituent institution of the University of North Carolina

The first school structure

2012 Today, WSSU has an enrollment of nearly 6,500

students and offers more than 40 bachelor’s programs and 10 graduate programs.

Early classes

ArchwAy 7

1953

School of Nursing established

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Along with academic courses, Slater Indus-trial Academy offered courses in carpentry, woodworking, brickmaking, blacksmithing, wheelwrighting, shoe making, cooking, sew-ing, and other industrial courses. When the first brick building, Lamson Hall, was built in 1896, it required more than 100,000 bricks—all made by students.

The school’s reputation spread far beyond the local community and even beyond the state, as evident in this quote by Alexander McClure, editor of the Philadelphia Times:

“In no place in the South have we seen such thorough and practical education of colored people .... They are not only educated in the school, but they are trained in every mechanical industry, and with a degree of method and skill in teaching that inspires the highest measure of pride in the people.”

The school’s program expanded to include agriculture, which was supported by citizens of both races by raising money with which to purchase a farm adjacent to the campus.

The plan attracted the attention of leading educators of the state “as well as the hearty support of such men as President McKinley ... Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President Cleveland ... and many others.”

For years, Slater students grew their own food and performed all work involved in maintaining the campus. There was no hired help outside of the faculty. This meant that funding—always in short supply—could be used to attract and retain well-qualified teachers.

Particularly among those training to be teachers, many incoming students had to make up for deficiencies in their earlier schooling, and Atkins worked diligently to continually raise standards, refusing to settle for an easy way out. In a letter written to the U.S. Commissioner of Education, he stated his position clearly:

“We are making special efforts to elevate the standards of our school all along the line. I am convinced that the teaching forces of my race must be elevated, and think it is the duty of our higher insti-tutions to make this demand. We are determined that every student who comes out with our stamp upon him shall bear the test and shall by all means add to the moral and intellectual power of the race.”

The best instructors were sought for all areas, and many were graduates of some of the well-known schools of the period, including Pratt Institute of New York City and Hampton Institute. C.G. O’Kelly, a grad-uate of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania,

While not expressed in precisely those words, there is no question that Simon Green Atkins’ commitment to student success extended far beyond the classroom. His philosophy – and results – gained national attention.

Transforming education to develop the whole student

8 Spring 2012

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taught music and art and directed drama. Mrs. Oleona Pegram Atkins, wife of S.G. Atkins and “a gracious lady, taught English, and was accurate and exacting as well as demanding.” Cultural programs were presented regularly, often featuring well-known speakers and artists.

A global perspective was established early on, supported by local Moravians who were staunch advocates for the school and encouraged students from abroad to attend Slater. By the turn of the century, three Africans and one Nicaraguan were registered at Slater.

Entering the 1900s

On July 30, 1900, Atkins reported to Superintendent C.H. Mebane that “the ordinary facilities for instruction in the school had been improved, and that the classroom accommodations were up to the best standard. The library had received additions, and the literary and religious societies of the institution were never in so healthy a condition. The general influence of the school for developing strong character in the pupils, he stated, was decidedly noteworthy.”

In just eight years, the young school had captured the nation’s attention, demonstrating the power of a can-do attitude, winning support across racial lines and laying the foundation for long-term success among those willing to make the most of the opportunities before them.

Challenges would continue into the 1900s. So would growth and strong leadership as the school remained true to its founder’s principles and extended its legacy.

In order to prepare those who came to Slater for the sort of education that would “bear the test,” certain standards and procedures were set in motion. For example, this rather strict schedule was adopted in 1898 for both students and teachers:

1. Rise at 6:00 a.m., inspection, 7:00 a.m.2. Notice-bell for breakfast 7 a.m.; breakfast 7:30 a.m.3. School in session from 8:30 to 1:304. Chapel devotion 1:30 to 2:005. Dinner at 2:006. Industries from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.7. Tea at 6:00, followed by short praise service8. Study hour begins at 7:30 p.m.; study hour out at 9:30 p.m.9. Retire; lights out at 10:00 p.m.10. Sunday preaching at 11:00 a.m.; Sunday School at 1:30–2:30 p.m. Christian Endeavor meeting 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Professors took turns monitoring the study hours and also served as critics for the Columbian Literary Society, a local group formed in 1896 to remove academic weaknesses through educational reading and study.

Words To Live By

“We are determined that every student who comes out with our stamp upon him shall bear the test, and by all means add to the moral and intellectual power of the race.”

Today’s WSSU students encounter those words daily as they pass Dr. Simon Green Atkins’ statue. Most important, they experience the impact of that commitment as the university continually assesses how best to equip students for long-term success in an ever-changing world.

ArchwAy 9

Primary source: The History of Winston-Salem State University, 1892-1995 by E. Louise Murphy Revised and Edited by Frances Ross Coble, Simona Atkins Allen, and Wilma Levister Lassiter

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Except for a period of nine years (1904-1913) when S.G. Atkins took a leave of absence to serve his church in a full-time capacity, the Atkins family guided the school’s development from its founding until 1961.

Dr. Elinor Atkins Smith, granddaughter of S.G. Atkins and daughter of Francis Atkins, shared the following reflections in her address to the WSSU School of Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony in December 2011.

By the early 1930s S.G. Atkins was not in good health. He retired in spring of 1934 and died in June. His fifth son, Francis Loguen Atkins, then became president.

That had not been his life’s plan. Francis began his education at age six in the little school built for Slater Industrial Academy. After high school he was eligible to teach in the public schools but could not be admitted to the better colleges. So, he completed the college prep course at Slater and was then admitted to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

He graduated valedictorian of his class and made preparation to go to Yale to study to become a minister. However, in his senior year he received a letter from Henry Fries, chairman of the Slater Board of Trustees, inviting him to join the teaching staff at

Slater and to assist his father. He accepted the invitation, returning to teach, and to be the assistant principal at Columbian Heights High School.

He continued his own education, attending the University of Chicago in the summer of 1921. In 1923 he was given a leave of absence for further study and earned his master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, NY. Returning to Slater, he became the registrar and continued as assistant to the president. Two years later he took another leave to complete doctoral residency requirements at Columbia and prepared to write the dissertation. But his presence was again needed at the college, and he came back to assume other duties. He was dean of the school when his father died. The rest is history. He served 41 years here including 27 years as president, retiring in 1961.

Progress continues

While his father had set a torrid pace as an educator and community organizer, Francis Atkins made his own mark despite the fact that he suffered a major stroke in March 1936. He received the honorary Doctor of Laws from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1941 and was honored as the city’s outstanding Negro Citizen of the Year in 1950. Under his presidency, WSSU became the first historically black college in the nation to grant the B.S. degree in elementary education. It also became the first predominantly African American university in North Carolina to obtain full membership in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and full membership and accreditation in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. And, the school continued to grow.

Probably the most outstanding curricular development during his presidency was the opening of the nursing program in September 1953. Students in the four-year program earned a B.S. in nursing and were eligible to take the boards and become RNs. Of that first class of 33, only 11 survived to graduate in 1957. Two honor students from that class, Mary Scott Isom and Sadie Brown Webster, later became directors of the nursing school at WSSU.

WSSU’s Founding Family:A Legacy of Selfless ServiceSimon Green Atkins’ commitment to service, and his lifelong devotion to the school he founded, was passed on to his children and grandchildren.

10 Spring 2012

26470-2_WSSU.indd 10 3/24/12 10:08:07 AM

Without question, the school of nursing was Francis Atkins’ special project—his pet department. Someone must have known that when they named this building after him.

And now we come to Jasper Alston Atkins – my Uncle Jack, Daddy’s baby brother and closest friend and colleague. He graduated as valedictorian from Fisk University and was an honor graduate of Yale University Law School where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal and was the first black person admitted to membership in the Order of the Coif, the national law honor society. He was a staunch and active participant in the civil rights battle all of his life.

When he first left Yale, he moved to Oklahoma where he advocated for African Americans and American Indians. Moving to Texas in 1927, he jumped in the fray to secure voting rights for African American Texans. He also served as secretary of a construction company, secretary of the Houston Informer—the black owned newspaper there—and was the grand attorney for the Odd Fellows in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

He was an author and publisher, essentially describing inequities in voting and education

in relation to African Americans. He returned to Winston-Salem, his home, when he learned of his brother’s stroke. He steadied the boat until his brother’s health returned, assuming the position of executive secretary for the school. In 1946, he was also responsible for the establishment of the National Alumni Association, an organization of alumni associations of HBCU’s. Under his leadership and encouragement, he effected the continued vital life of the WSSU Alumni Association.

Jack Atkins was a pillar and a motivator in the ongoing development of WSSU. He was also a soldier in the battle for civil rights. In addition to the Texas voting rights cases, he filed other law suits that became the catalyst for actions that ultimately contributed to the desegregation of public education in this state and more equitable support for the HBCUs in the University of North Carolina System.

A common thread and historical antecedent of these men was their unspoken commit-ment to the notion “greater love hath no man....” Three different paths converged onto one avenue—helping others—an avenue paved with lessons from the past that informed their present and facilitated their move toward goals of the future.

In sharing personal reflections on the courage and commitment to service that characterized her grandfather, father and uncle, Dr. Elinor Smith made this important point:

“This legacy is apropos to WSSU as a school and to you as today’s students—not just African Americans but those of other racial groups as well.

“If you are Jewish, someone in your ancestry more than likely worked in a sweat shop in New York. If you are Asian, someone in your family may have laid the trolley tracks in Philadelphia for 15 cents a day.

“Someone in your Caucasian, European background heard about the lady with a lamp who said, ‘Give me your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free’ and fled toward America. Someone on an island in the Caribbean decided that sun and sand did not compensate for substandard wages and poor living conditions.

“So the stories of courageous action I am sharing with you today reflect a heritage that is common to us all – one we must each work to preserve and extend as we move forward, individually and as a school.”

Francis Atkins, in all likelihood, did not plan to be president of WSSU. His career goal was toward ministry. Yet, when asked to come back to teach and assist his father, he did not hesitate.

Time after time he made the attempt to pursue an advanced degree, and each time he was needed at the university. He looked back and saw the worth of his father’s work and the ongoing need to continue the struggle toward improved education for as many as possible. He moved forward, taking with him the work ethic of his father and his own religious convictions in relation to helping others.

Jack Atkins was a long way from home and well on his way to a lucrative career in law when he got the call that his brother Francis had suffered a stroke. He did not pause or give a moment’s thought before

rushing back to give support to his brother and to the school. He may have planned to stay temporarily, but he stayed for more than two decades, drawing on his firm legal foundation to advance the cause of the school and his race.

Dr. Elinor Smith, granddaughter of Simon Green Atkins.

ArchwAy 11

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120 Years

After reading this brief summary of WSSU’s founding and early history, here’s how a cross section of current students, alumni and staff responded.

“This makes me so proud ...”

“After reading the article I

have a greater amount of pride

in my university. What was

most striking to me was that

S.G. Atkins committed his

life to servicing the commu-

nity and was devoted to the

education of black people.

His love for education and

the go-getting attitude he

displayed is inspirational ....”

“I’m so proud to be at WSSU because I can contribute to the work of educators who made ‘teaching’ a profession upon which all professions are built. My hope is to continue the legacy of those who came before us so we can prolong a sense of pride in generations to come.”

Vicki PulliamSophomore

“What strikes me is the persistence and determination of the Simon Green Atkins family to hold on to the dream of producing and preserving an educational institution throughout the challenges of the early years. Hopefully, the passion and determination that was exhibited by our early leaders will ....”

12 Spring 2012

Manuel P. Vargas, PhDProfessor & Dean

School of Education & Human Performance

Dr. Travis L. TeagueAssociate Professor &Program Coordinator,

Motorsports Management

Dr. Notis PagiavlasAssociate Professor & Founding Director

of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Management & Marketing

26470-2_WSSU.indd 12 3/24/12 10:08:17 AM

120 Years

“This makes me so proud ...”

“I am so proud to be at WSSU because its foundation is robust. This university has very strong values that shape students into strong and encouraging leaders for tomorrow’s future. I did not know that WSSU was the first HBCU within ....”

“Understanding the univer-sity’s humble beginnings has inspired me to be more and give more. After reading the story, it gives a new revelation to “enter to learn and depart to serve.” The hard work that Mr. Atkins put into making a foundation ....”

Scan here to read the rest of these comments or go to www.wssu.edu/anniversary

ArchwAy 13

Dr. Travis L. TeagueAssociate Professor &Program Coordinator,

Motorsports Management

London MicklePresident, Staff Senate

Joevan Palmer Senior

Dr. Notis PagiavlasAssociate Professor & Founding Director

of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Management & Marketing

She’cora Evonne DavisFreshman“I am very proud of my

affiliation and contribution to

this community of students,

faculty, and staff that extend

their caring attitude to folks

outside the walls of the

university. We are a powerful

resource that can change lives

and offer options for personal

and professional growth

to those that seek the

challenge of success.”

“College is all about education, however, the love and support given throughout the campus gives me more determination. This makes me so proud that my HBCU is top ranked and also filled with wonderful people wanting to step out and help the community. WSSU is a wonderful school all around!”

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on the yardcampus news & events

14 Spring 2012

he Department of Physical Therapy at WSSU recently

received the Cultural Pluralism Award at the annual confer-ence of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professionals, which included national and international representatives from over 100 member schools. The award was based on the department’s demonstrated leadership in promoting cultural pluralism through the establishment of free physical therapy services at the Com-munity Care Center in Winston-Salem, its work in health disparities research, and its global learning initiatives. “We are extremely proud of the work being done by the students and faculty in

our Department of Physical Therapy,” said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences. “Through our doctoral program, we are training students to be outstanding professionals in the field of physical therapy. Equally important are the lessons they are learning about the importance of giving back to their communities, both those in which they live and

those which they can serve on a more global basis through actual hands-on activities and through research that can have a positive effect on the health disparities that con-tinue to exist.”

PT Department recognized for leadership in cultural pluralism

WSSU has received a three-year grant totaling $99,285 from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ HBCU initiatives program to support a project to integrate India into the school’s liberal arts curriculum. “We are extremely excited about this award,” said Dr. Joti Sekhon, director of International Programs at WSSU. “There were 39 applications for this specific grant, and we were one of only four to receive funding.”

“The grant will be used to enhance the cross-cultural and global competence of students by providing the resources necessary to allow faculty from across the campus to develop or restructure courses as a means of infusing knowledge about India into the university’s curriculum. Given the growth of India’s role in the world economy, our students must have increased knowledge of the country from historical and contemporary perspectives.”

Grant supports WSSU’s focus on India

Dr. Flack named to AHA boardDr. Sylvia Flack, the executive director and founder of WSSU’s Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities, has been named to the American Heart Association’s Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Board. “It is vital that we focus on heart disease and stroke prevention among all age groups and all ethnicities within our community and throughout the Mid-Atlantic,” she said. “I am proud to help guide the American Heart Association’s Mid-Atlantic Affiliate in these endeavors.” Flack is the founding dean of WSSU’s School of Health Sciences and Professor of Nursing. Her research focuses on the medical-ly underserved, health disparities, HIV/AIDS, elderly minorities and breast cancer. She serves on a number of other local, state and national boards and commissions as well as volunteer-ing with the American Heart Association.

T

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ArchwAy 15

WSSU’s Campus Activities Board won the 2011 Board of Excellence Award at the 2011 NACA South Regional Conference last October. This award recognizes the best activities boards in the NACA South Re-gion. WSSU was recognized in the category for Small Universities with a budget of up to $40,000.

he new student center at WSSU will be called the Donald Julian Reaves Student Activities

Center for its chancellor, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees. Construction on the 96,000-square-foot building began in March 2011 and is expected to be complete in May 2013. It will include a campus hall, dining area, fitness area, meeting rooms and office space. “Chancellor Reaves has provided the vision, leadership and support necessary to take Winston-Salem State to the next level,” said Debra Miller, chair of the board. “He has created a renewed focus on what is necessary for our students to be successful in the 21st century.”

Student Activities Center named for Chancellor Reaves

WSSU recognized for campus activities

Students in the Motorsports Management program will have access to a race car and hauler thanks to Richard Childress Racing. RCR donated the car and is leasing the hauler to the university for $1 per year.

WSSU is the only four-year university in the country and the only historically black college to offer a bachelor’s degree in motorsports management. “This donation is a major step in our vision of having a race car for our educational purposes as well as being able to utilize it as a great marketing piece for the entire university,” said Dr. Travis Teague, coordinator of the program.

T

Some Key Dates 2012May 12 - GraduationAugust 12 - Ramdition beginsAugust 20 - Fall Classes beginOctober 19 - Founder’s DayOctober 20 - Homecoming

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ongratulations to WSSU’s “Red Sea of Sound” marching band, which was

chosen for the second consecutive year to participate in the annual Honda Battle of the Bands. This year’s event was held January 28 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The WSSU band was one of eight chosen from 41 participating HBCUs. The bands are selected by HBCU presidents and band directors as well as through online fan voting. Each school earns a $20,000 grant for its band scholarship fund and an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta.

Some 2,000 student-musicians par-ticipated. Each band had 12 minutes to showcase the musical skills, style and show-manship that earned them their place in the 2012 Invitational Showcase. “It is quite an honor to be able to have a return performance at this prestigious event that showcases the best HBCU bands in the country,” said Dr. Michael Magruder, interim chair of the fine arts department, director of bands and professor of music at WSSU. “The Battle of the Bands provides an outstanding performance experience

for our students and the financial grant certainly is important support for our music program. I am extremely proud of our band members and delighted for them to receive this well-deserved recognition. Also, we certainly appreciate the support we received from those who voted for us and made this opportunity possible, and those who attended the event to cheer us on.”

WSSU marching band chosen again for national event

on the yardcampus news & events

16 Spring 2012

D’Walla Simmons-Burke, director of choral and vocal studies, along with Daniel Smith, a music business major from Raleigh, and Anthony Howard, a music education major from Butner, NC, represented WSSU through their participation in the “105 Voices of History” HBCU National Choir performance at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on January 22. Simmons-Burke was nominated by her colleagues to be a Presenting National Conductor at the concert. Smith and Howard were selected as members of the choir that included representatives from each of the nation’s 105 HBCUs. Smith, a baritone, and Howard, a tenor, both sing in WSSU’s choir and Schola Cantorum.

The Burke Singers women’s choral group and the Schola Cantorum men’s chorus from WSSU provided entertainment at the 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration in January at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. In addition to more than 75 presenters ranging from musicians to award-winning authors, storytellers and dancers, the festival saluted the contributions of the state’s historically black colleges and universities. North Carolina has 11 HBCUs, the largest number of any state in the nation, and all of them were represented at the festival.

Choral groups participate in Museum of History celebration

The Burke SingersWSSU represented in national choir performing in Nashville

We are proud of WSSU’s“Red Sea of Sound”!

C

Daniel Smith, baritone and Antony Howard, tenor

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alumni spotlight

ArchwAy 17

aphne K. Sharpe ’95, initially entered WSSU in 1983 as a freshman from

Tarboro, NC. Since the age of 11 she had dreamed of becoming a registered nurse. At the age of 17, she was determined to get a nursing degree from the best nursing program in the state, WSSU. But after completing two years, she left school, moved away and started a family. Yet, the urge to finish what she had started at WSSU still burned. So, in 1990 Daphne moved back to Winston-Salem and made an attempt to return to her alma mater. However, at that time a flexible schedule was not available. There were no night classes, and she needed to work. Then, someone told her about a program at Forsyth Technical Community College, where she could get some of the courses she needed at night while figuring out her next move. “Next thing I knew, I was graduating with an ADN—Associate Degree in Nursing—from Forsyth Tech in 1993.” That same year, she began work as a registered nurse at Forsyth Medical Center. But Daphne was determined to finish her

dream. She returned to WSSU and graduated Cum Laude in May 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In 2003, she entered Duke Univer-sity and graduated in September 2005 with two Master of Science degrees in Nursing (MSN)—a MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner and a MSN in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership.

Now a WSSU instructor

Daphne became an instructor in WSSU’s Division of Nursing in 2008 and completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree in 2010 from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She did all that while a single parent. “It was my family and dear friends that helped me accomplish my dreams through the years—some of those were friends I met at WSSU.” Looking back, Daphne said it was her experience as a traditional and non-tradi-tional student that helped prepare her for all the journeys she has faced since. “As faculty I can identify with the baby freshman entering, or the older student who

has decided it’s time to come back and get their degree. Each group of students has its own challenges, fears, anxieties, and I remember and can relate to them all.”

After 12 years, she graduated, then went on and on

From struggling student tosuccessful faculty member

D

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time outram sports

18 Spring 2012

Here are just a few highlights from a season that was more than a Return to Glory—in many ways it redefined Glory!

After the game at ECSU, Winston-Salem State ran roughshod over the Virginia Union Panthers 67-16 in Richmond and declawed the Hawks of Chowan 55-24 in Murfreesboro. The Rams returned to Winston-Salem for their first home contest in late September and bucked the Broncos of Fayetteville State 56-20, before taming the Bulls of Johnson C. Smith 28-10 on Homecoming 2011 in Bowman Gray Stadium.

As the weather began to change, the Rams kept rolling with a thrilling road win over Saint Augustine’s College 35-28, followed by a blowout win at Livingstone College

63-7 and a home dismantling of Edward Waters College 59-7 before the showdown at Bowman Gray with the previous season’s champ, Shaw University. WSSU came up with big plays when needed, walking away with a hard-fought 21-14 win over the Shaw Bears on Senior Day in Bowman Gray.

The Rams traveled to UNC-Pembroke in the regular season finale to face a tough Braves squad that was looking for a postseason opportunity them-selves. WSSU dismantled the Braves 35-7 to finish off the unbeaten regular season campaign.

One final test, this one for the CIAA Title and ring, saw the Rams face off once more with the Vikings of Elizabeth City State.

The road to 13-1 began

last fall with a hard-

fought 22-17 win over

Elizabeth City State, the

same opponent WSSU

would face in the CIAA

Championship Game.

The Rams went on to

run up 13 consecutive

wins, outscoring their

opponents 1168 to 478.

Rams’ Miraculous Magical Football Season

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ArchwAy 19

Visit www.wssurams.com, the official website of Winston-Salem State University Athletics.

The City of Durham was the backdrop for the showdown between the CIAA’s top two teams. After a nip and tuck first half, the Rams took care of business and brought back a CIAA title to Winston-Salem for the first time since 2000, beating up on ECSU 38-18.

Next in line for the #3 nationally ranked Rams was the NCAA DII Playoffs. To start the playoffs WSSU received a first round bye, being the #1 seed from Super Region One.

First on the docket were the Vulcans of California (PA). WSSU rode the back of running back Nicholas Cooper’s 118 yards and three touchdowns, and Kameron Smith passed for 267 yards and two scores, as the Rams defeated #17 California

University (PA), 35-28 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

The win put the Rams in position to host the #2 seed, New Haven Chargers, in the quarterfinal round. This time WSSU got two long touchdown passes from quar-terback Kameron Smith to wide receiver Jameze Massey, while running back Nicho-las Cooper rushed for 132 yards and one score and the Rams’ defense stymied the Charger offense en route to a 27-7 win in the NCAA DII Quarterfinals at Bowman Gray Stadium.

With the win, WSSU moved to 13-0 and secured a place in HBCU football history as the first program to ever win 13 games—regardless of classification (D-IAA or DII).

With the Rams now a final four team, head coach Connell Maynor was ready to move WSSU into unchartered territory for a CIAA school—a trip to the finals. Just one more win was needed. But standing in the way was a solid and road-tested Wayne State Warrior team. The national championship was not to be—at least not this season.

But finishing 13-1 and a National Semi-finalist is nothing to hang your head low about. 2011 CIAA Champions, 2011 HBCU National Champions and becoming the first HBCU ever to win 13 games is not to be discounted or left unnoticed.

This team made history. This team deserves to be celebrated.

Rams’ Miraculous Magical Football Season This team makes us PROUD!!

Ram Pride, All Day, Every Day!!!

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class notes’50s

’57 Mrs. Mary Steel Woods, 1963 Miss Alumni, was inducted in the 2011 Alumni Hall of Distinction.

’60s’63 Mr. Ronald E. Gregory has been appointed the Superintendent of Vance County Schools.

’65 Mrs. Verndene Paylor Pettiford, 1974 Miss Alumni, was honored as a 2011 Gaines Unsung Hero.

’70s’71 Mrs. Constance Tatum Prunty recently retired from Reynolds America after working for 35 years.

’71 Mr. Randolph Mills retired July 1, 2011 from his position as General Manager of Durham County Alcoholic Beverage Control.

’73 Mrs. Sandra Henry Jackson retired September 30, 2011 from the Wake County Public Schools as a Counselor at Carnage Middle School, Raleigh.

’75 Mr. Vouise Fonville was awarded the President’s Award by the Norwich, CT

Branch of the NAACP at the 48th Freedom Fund Dinner held October 7, 2011 at Mohegan Sun (CT) NAACP.

’76 Dr. Patti Sanders-Smith was inducted into the NAA Hall of Distinction. She is currently the Vice President of the National Alumni Association and president of the Pitt County Chapter.

’76 Mr. Moses Robinson and ’79 Ms. Leonora (Burgess) Stevenson were married at the Outer Banks of NC in early November.

’79 Ms. Sharon L. Haney recently changed positions and is now at Wake ONE as a Principal Trainer in Clinical Documentation.

’80s’84 Mr. Paige Cherry was recognized with the Still Serving 2011 Military Retiree & Veteran Award. This award was presented to him on December 1 at Nauticus in Norfolk, VA. Veterans who have served their country and are still serving are nominated for this award. Cherry is still serving in the Hampton Roads community by making significant contributions through various positions and his work.

’86 Ms. Cynthia D. Spicer directed the Broadway Musical, Smokey Joe’s Café, at Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing, MI. The production took place on February 16-26, 2012. The musical featured ’50s and ’60s music and is one of the longest running musicals on Broadway.

’89 Captain Twamda D. Scales is currently working for the Food and Drug Administration editing and reviewing patient

medication labeling. Scales also joined the United States Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps as a Nurse Officer in 2001. She enjoys the challenges and opportunities afforded to her through the affiliation with the Corps. In July 2011, a review board approved Scales’ promotion, and on October 1, 2011, she was officially promoted to the rank of Captain.

’90s’91 Ms. Veronica Carter recently launched a new service through her consulting company, now offering legal nurse consulting. Carter completed the nationally accredited certification program recently in Atlanta, GA. She is now prepared to offer certified legal nurse consulting services to medical malpractice attorneys and other attorneys who handle legal cases involving health-related matters. Carter is President/Lead Consultant for Carter Healthcare Consultants, LLC, now based out of Charlotte, NC.

’91 Dr. James Flowers completed his Doctor of Education degree in Spring 2011 from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His dissertation was titled “Impact on Student Financial Aid Eligibility If the Federal Financial Aid Calculation

Were Changed.” Currently, Dr. Flowers is an Assistant Director in the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Dr. Donald A. Cordell September 4, 2011Ms. Mary L. Carter September 13, 2011Mrs. Gloria Hartle Boehm September 19, 2011Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley Bovender, ’85 September 21, 2011Dr. Arneida Houston September 17, 2011Mrs. Mildred Hairston Batchelor September 26, 2011Mrs. Mildred White Crawford September 24, 2011Mr. Donald G. Johnson October 3, 2011

In MemoriamMrs. Catherine B. Hemingway, ’49 October 10, 2011Mrs. Ola Rowe Grinton October 15, 2011Mr. James O. Brown, ’63 October 15, 2011Mrs. Melvernia S. Martin, ’53 October 15, 2011Mrs. Evelyn Phillips, ’46 October 17, 2011Mrs. Selinda Hardy Cobb, ’77 October 31, 2011Sgt. 1st Class Darryl G. Johnson November 17, 2011Mr. Mark L. Murray, Jr. ’51 November 20, 2011

20 Spring 2012

Correction from Fall 2011 issue: Roy Lee Davis should have been Troy Lee Davis. Our apologies.

26470-2_WSSU.indd 20 3/24/12 10:09:00 AM

’00s’01 Mr. Robert E. Harvey, III received his Master of School Administration from North Carolina Central University on December 10.

’04 and ’07 Mrs. Latoya Williams Harrison recently married and has a baby boy on the way.

’05 Ms. Jennifer A. Barksdale graduated in Elementary Education licensure in May and will be working as a second grade teacher in Charlotte, NC this school term.

Barksdale has begun obtaining her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Elementary Reading from Grand Canyon University, AZ.

’10 Mr. Theodis A. Chunn, Jr., former Mr. Winston-Salem State University, founded TCJ Motivations, Inc., a nonprofit organization, in 2009 dedicated to “Building Brotherhood throughout North Carolina and beyond.”

TCJ Motivations, Inc. is taking new leaps and bounds with its Leadership Academy, which started in Salisbury summer 2011 and will be enrolling young brothers in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Durham, NC. For more information about TCJ Motivations, Inc. visit www.tcjmotivations.com.

1952 60 TBA 1962 50 Dr. Lewis Roland 125 Hidden Springs Dr. Durham, NC 27703 rollewis@gmail.com1972 40 Mr. Sam Ingram 8911 S Hollybrook Blvd Apt 304, Hollywood, FL 33025 Ms. Daisie Blue dbblue@nc.rr.com1982 30 Sharon Correll scorrell@triad.rr.com1987 25 Denise Norwood 973-332-8295 dstgirl9of9@yahoo.com Mike Clark, 919-868-8274, mikenmillie@bellsouth.net1992 20 Tamala Bullard, 704-737-9792 Facebook - WSSU Class of 1992, wssuclassof1992@gmail.com2002 10 TBD

Homecoming 2012 class anniversariesClass Year Anniversary Contacts

ArchwAy 21

Send us your news for Class Notes!

What’s new with you? Your friends and fellow alumni want to know! Please send news about your personal and professional life to include such items as new career appointments, promotions, births, marriages, retirements, memorials to alumni, etc. to:

New Address? Yes No

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WSSU Alumni RelationsAttn: Class NotesS. G. Atkins HouseWinston-Salem, NC 27110

Fax: 336-750-3134Email: snipesc@wssu.edu or hairstong@wssu.eduOR

To access this form online, go to www.wssu.edu/classnotes

First Middle Initial Last Maiden

26470-2_WSSU.indd 21 3/24/12 10:09:02 AM

alumni news

Join These Recent Graduates in Showing Ram Pride!

THE POWER OF

It has been said that if you want to move forward in life, you cannot look back. We are taught not to dwell in the past and only to look ahead to the future. But when it comes to the special success and advance-ment of Winston-Salem State University in 120 years of existence, looking back is good because it’s about looking ahead. For it is our school’s glorious past that has paved the way for all of us today and has set the course for our promising future. As your national alumni president, I am proud to be trusted with this office during the 120th year anniversary. This is a special time to have this responsibility. Long before many of us ever arrived on campus, Winston-Salem State University’s future was being crafted. It was being chis-eled and cobbled together by the hopes,

plans and the dreams of the students who filled up the rows of our classrooms and who stood in the gaps for us in the vari-ous organizations and activities that have enriched the university’s academic and social mission through the years. These students who were members of graduating classes before us themselves envisioned, confidently predicted, fought for and guided us through challenges and doubts to a reality today in which our university has arrived proudly. The 120th anniversary is an acknowledgment across class years, generations and experi-

ences that these hopes and dreams actually have come true. It is not abstract. We have successfully built the Winston-Salem State University that our predecessors said could be built—while some on the outside said it could not be built—by following other’s footsteps and joining across eras to make it happen. As we begin the 120th year celebration, I am reminded of my own bit of history at WSSU, my piece of the Rams rock. For me, “Then,” as the cover of Archway is appro-priately adorned, was about participating proudly in the WSSU Marching Band and in the Student Government Association. That is my connection to the glorious past and the promising future of our great university. Every step I took with the marching Rams and every vote as a student leader was about

continuing a legacy and helping lay the groundwork for this moment in time when we could celebrate Winston-Salem State’s dynamic achievements through more than a century. While a student at WSSU, it was hard for me to see myself matriculating in the shadows of history. I could not imagine such a context because at the time, and as it remains for some who are today’s students, I could not see far beyond

the typical student life of early morning classes, late-night cramming for exams, walks across campus in the extreme cold and the hectic pace of balancing academics and extracurricular activities. At the time, it was just “school.” But today, years after having my name called out as I strolled across stage in front of family and friends, I realized as many others of you do and others soon will that being a part of the Winston-Salem State University is something very special. It is a special privilege that cuts across 120 years of excellence.

Frankly, all of us have played a role in laying this groundwork as students—some as members of our athletic teams, some in our music department, some in student organizations and some as academic stars. Now, as alumni, each of us needs to be mindful of our responsibility to support the university financially. Thanks to this great university, we have prospered by graduating with a great education that has paved the way for our individual success. But Winston-Salem State University taught us about reaching back and giving back and looking beyond ourselves, which is what the 120th Anniversary is all about. So while we may have passed through Winston-Salem State University, we certainly cannot pass by our beloved university as we must remain vigi-lant in our annual giving. As always, I want to challenge our alumni to continue to sup-port our WSSU National Alumni Associa-tion Scholarship Endowment Fund through the WSSU Foundation as we press toward our goal of $500,000. As national alumni president, I have the benefit of looking across the vast landscape that is Winston-Salem State alumni spread over the country. Every day, I see how all of the work and sacrifice of the founders and students who came before all of us has manifested itself in burnishing our universi-ty’s image nationwide. What we did and how we were prepared “Then” is the reason for the “Now” and the hope for the “Future.” We’re going places, fellow Rams! And I am proud to be going along on the journey!

Gordon G. EverettNational PresidentClass of 1978

alumni news

Message from the President,WSSU National Alumni Association

WSSU National Alumni Association President Gordon Everett addresses fellow alumni at a winter board meeting in Atlanta.

Dear Fellow Alumni,

22 Spring 2012

Archway clearly captures that attitude about our university, and it does a great job of telling our story that more of America is learning about. As the world shifts beneath all of us tech-nologically and economically, it is gratifying to know that our students today at Winston-Salem State are learning to develop transferableskills, understand creative decision-making, look more broadly at how to select andprepare for a successful career and, mostimportantly, realize that their true career growth will come from “learning for a lifetime.” Being open to lifelong learning is critical to making it in today’s world. I believe I speak for all of our alumni when I say that we are excited to know that our leader-ship “gets it.” Hearing Dr. Reaves glowingly describe the potential of Winston-Salem State University’s agreement with the Hubei University of Chinese Medicine and hearing Dr. Allen talk about preparing Winston-Salem State students to do “anything” and not just ”something” makes us all want to return for one more semester! I am looking forward to more exciting news from Winston-Salem State University in the coming months and years, and believe me when I say all of us who were privileged to receive our education there are more than happy to continue spreading the good news. Gordon G. Everett

National President Class of 1978

17ARCHWAY

alumni news

Message from the President,WSSU National Alumni Association

Gordon

Dear Fellow Alumni,

When I was growing up in Wilmington, NC, college was viewed as the gateway to a successful and stable life. It was generally accepted that a college degree would buffet you against the headwinds of up-and-down economic cycles because you were someonewith specialized skills and specialized knowl-edge. You were educated. We watched as our parents went to work day in and day out to the same jobs, lived in the same house and did not change much about their routines from year to year. Life was predictable and quite manageable. Change was rare, and even sole breadwinner households were able to grab one of the top rungs on the socio-eco-nomic ladder. In the 21st century, two-income families are having trouble gaining a foothold on the economic ladder. Times are tough. My graduating class did not face the daunting circumstances students are running into today when they leave our campus for entry into the “real world.” Today, planning for college is about planning for survival in an uncertain global economy. It is about equipping yourself to fully embrace sudden change and somtimes upheaval and making it work for you. Not many colleges and universities can offer students a full array of tools that help them to

compete in today’s rough and tumble market place. But I am proud to say that Winston-Salem State University does prepare its students well, and the article “WSSU Steps Up To New Challenges As It Equips It Students for Success in a Fast-Changing World” makes a dynamic case for our university and the im-portant role it is playing in training students who will be best-prepared for the challengingand changing economic climate we face today.Quite simply, a student educated today at Winston-Salem State University is a safe bet tomorrow for any corporation, small business, government agency, nonprofit, or entrepre-neurial operation. I am proud of the progress our university has made and of our standing among top academic institutions in our nation. Surely you have heard this from other WSSU gradu-ates, that the further away we get from our college days, the more we appreciate what we have learned, and the further we go into our lives and careers, the more thankful we are that we were educated at WSSU. In my travels, I come in contact with many WSSU graduates who represent the full spectrum of academic pursuits and from different eras, and the sense of pride and promise they feel about WSSU is exciting. I think this issue of

Caption caption caption caption caption

26470-2_WSSU.indd 22 3/24/12 10:30:30 AM

They’ve each given $1,000 to their alma mater to help fill funding gaps left by state budget cuts.

Now they’re challenging you to match that gift.

They’re seeking enough gifts at the best level you can afford ~ $1,000, $500, $250, $100, or $10 ~

to match their $10,000, doubling its impact.

Top, left to right: CaVette-Latice Buford, ‘07; Siobahn Day, ‘05; Jeremiah Erby, ‘07; Marques Johnson, ‘04. Bottom, left to right: Andrew Jones, ‘08; Sherri McCormick, ‘01; Jonathan Murray, ‘04; Candrice Nolan, ‘08.

Not pictured: Justin Winslow, ‘06; Trish Winslow, ‘05.

Join These Recent Graduates in Showing Ram Pride!

For Details Contact Gregory Hairston at (336) 750-3161 or hairstong@wssu.edu

THE POWER OF10

Scan this code for more information on 10 giving 10

26470-2_WSSU.indd 23 3/24/12 10:09:09 AM

BOGEYS. EAGLES. MULLIGANS.

SCHOLARSHIPS. The WSSU Annual Golf Classic has them all.

WS S U

Annual Golf Class

ic

Polish your clubs for an exceptional round of golf at the challenging Winston

Lake Golf Course.

Sponsorships are available on a number of levels.

Individual supporters are also encouraged

to participate.Individual player fee is $180 per person.

PROCEEDS SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS.

Contact Gregory C. Hairston at 336-750-3161 or Kimberly Reese at 336-750-3145

Office of Marketing and CommunicationsWinston-Salem State UniversityAlumni HouseWinston-Salem, NC 27110

www.wssu.edu

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWinston-Salem, NC

Permit No. 257

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

www.wssurampages.com

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