West Virginia State College

West Virginia State College, now known as West Virginia State University, is a public, historically black college located in Institute, West Virginia. The institution was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute and has a rich history of providing education to students from diverse backgrounds, including Booker T. Washington and Thurgood Marshall. Over the years, the college has undergone several transformations, including its transition to a state college in 1929, and has been affiliated with notable figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes. The college has also been influenced by events such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

● History

The history of West Virginia State College dates back to 1891, when it was established as the West Virginia Colored Institute by the West Virginia Legislature. The institution was created to provide education to African Americans in the state, and its early curriculum included courses in agriculture, industrial arts, and domestic science, similar to those offered at Tuskegee University and Hampton University. In 1929, the college became a state college and began to offer a wider range of academic programs, including those in liberal arts and sciences, similar to those at Howard University and Fisk University. During World War II, the college played an important role in the war effort, with many of its students and faculty members contributing to the United States Army and the United States Navy, including notable figures such as Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and Doris Miller. The college has also been influenced by notable events such as the Brown v. Board of Education decision and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

● Academics

West Virginia State College offers a wide range of academic programs, including those in business administration, education, health sciences, and engineering, similar to those at North Carolina A&T State University and Florida A&M University. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has been recognized for its academic excellence by organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The college has also established partnerships with other institutions, including Marshall University and West Virginia University, to provide students with access to a broader range of academic and research opportunities, including those in biotechnology and nanotechnology. Notable academics who have taught at the college include Carter G. Woodson and E. Franklin Frazier, who have made significant contributions to the fields of African American studies and sociology.

● Campus

The campus of West Virginia State College is located in Institute, West Virginia, and features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the Ferguson Hall and the Dawson Hall, which are similar to those at Alabama State University and Texas Southern University. The campus is situated on a 95-acre site and includes facilities such as the Wilson University Union and the Yellow Jacket Stadium, which have hosted events such as the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The college has also invested in sustainable energy initiatives, including the installation of solar panels and wind turbines, similar to those at University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. The campus is also home to the West Virginia State University Museum, which features exhibits on the history and culture of African Americans in West Virginia, including notable figures such as Madam C.J. Walker and Granville Woods.

● Student Life

West Virginia State College offers a range of student life activities, including clubs and organizations, fraternities and sororities, and intramural sports, similar to those at Prairie View A&M University and South Carolina State University. The college has a strong sense of community, with many students participating in community service projects and volunteer work, including those with organizations such as the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund. The college also hosts a range of cultural events, including concerts, plays, and lectures, featuring notable figures such as Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison. Students at the college have also been involved in notable events such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power movement, including figures such as Stokely Carmichael and Angela Davis.

● Athletics

The athletic teams of West Virginia State College, known as the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Mountain East Conference, similar to those at University of Charleston and University of West Virginia at Parkersburg. The college offers a range of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field, and has won several championships, including the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, with notable athletes such as Jerry Rice and Walter Payton. The college has also produced notable coaches, including Eddie Robinson and John McLendon, who have made significant contributions to the world of sports.

● Notable Alumni

West Virginia State College has a long list of notable alumni, including Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician who worked on the Apollo 11 mission, and Robert C. Byrd, a former United States Senator from West Virginia, who was a key figure in the Great Society programs. Other notable alumni include Don Knotts, an actor and comedian who starred in The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company, and Bill Withers, a musician and singer-songwriter who is known for hits such as Ain't No Sunshine and Lean on Me, similar to other notable figures such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. The college has also produced notable figures in the fields of medicine, law, and politics, including Charles R. Drew and Thurgood Marshall, who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.