The year 1922-23 which has just come to a close, was one of the most important in the history of the A. and T. College. It saw many large improvements and additions, and was crowded with a succession of outstanding and significant events.
The summer school attendance broke all previous records. It might be of interest to the public to know that we have the oldest summer school for Negro teachers in the State, having begun in 1897 and continuing without break since. This year we shall have two sessions of six weeks each, beginning June 13; and from the applications already received and the entrance fees already paid, it seems that the attendance this year will be greater than in any previous year. The new Agricultural building gives us much more room and much greater facilities for teaching, and by another year we expect to have greater and far more comfortable dormitory accommodations. We appreciate the loyalty with which our friends have stuck by us in the past, notwithstanding many obvious inconveniences and embarrassments. But from now on our accommodations and facilities will be far greater, and we hope to render far greater service.
At the Negro State Fair in Raleigh last year we won 12 first prizes, four of these being along purely literary lines. In the previous year we also won a number of first prizes, several being in the academic field. All of this goes to show that in addition to his industrial and technical education, a boy here gets sound literary training. Indeed, we are one of the four Negro Institutions in the State whose graduates are given a High School Teacher’s certificate from the State Department of Education; the other three being Shaw, Johnson C. Smith and Livingstone.
But the outstanding event of the year was the generous appropriations by the legislature of over a half million dollars for maintenance and permanent improvements. This is the largest appropriation ever given by the State or by any other State for Negro education, and is an everlasting credit to the breadth and character of North Carolina statesmanship. President Dudley, who is mainly responsible for this recognition, has the confidence of the people of the State, both white and colored, and with their continued support, will be able in the next few years to present the public an A-grade College for Negroes, whose diplomas will be recognized throughout the country.
Two new buildings were finished during the year; the Agricultural building and the Auto-Mechanics School. These are large and spacious buildings, and both departments will be able from now on to function much more efficiently.
These are only some of the high spots of the year and does not by any means cover all the outstanding and significant events. In general, the year’s work was slightly better than the average. A larger percent of students passed in all subjects, and the attendance held up without serious break throughout the year.
The following are the honor students for the year in all classes:
First Year Trade Class, Arthaniel Tyson;
Second Year Trade Class, Elderidge Davis;
Third Year Trade Class, Cecil Graves.
First Year High School, John T. Daniel;
Second Year High School, Alison Gordon;
Third Year High School, William H. Steele;
Fourth Year High School, Edward D. Sinclair.
Freshman College, Washington Hawkins;
Sophomore College, Major F. Spaulding;
Junior College, Oscar C. Saulter;
Senior College, James E. Brown.
--D.K. Cherry, Greensboro, N.C.
From page 6 of The Star of Zion, June 21, 1923
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