Extending the Legacy

F o r A l u m n i

A n d F r i e n d s

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The Future

NowThen

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WSSU History Quick Quiz

How well do you know your WSSU history? This crossword puzzle will put you to the test.Look for the answers 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.

ACROSS1. A famous basketball player/alumnus3. Chancellor from 1985-19955. Former art professor; gallery is named for him7. Name of the school when it was founded in 189211. Name of the first yearbook12. Two of these mark the entrance to WSSU13. Early trustee and strong supporter; administration building is named for him14. School’s second president; library is named for him15. “Enter to Learn, Depart to _______”16. Middle name of the school’s founder

DOWN2. The new Student Activities Center is named for him4. WSSU is a leading producer of these6. A famous coach at WSSU8. When SG Atkins retired, he was succeeded by his son, _______ Atkins9. Name of the school mascot10. Original name of the school was changed in 1925 to Winston-

Salem _______ College13. The school’s first athletic team was in this sport

1 2

3 4

7 8

10

12

13

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11

9

5 6

(Answers located on page 27)

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S u m m e r 2 0 1 2

In this issueThe Legacy ContinuesAs WSSU celebrates its 120th anniversary, Archway presents highlights from the rich heritage that has taken the school forward through dramatically changing times. This issue focuses on the years 1900 through today.

From Near-Failure to National RecognitionToday, the WSSU School of Health Sciences is a respected, leading provider of nurses in North Carolina. In the 1980s, however, times were difficult for the School of Nursing at WSSU. Here is the story of its impressive turnaround.

The History of Ram AthleticsWSSU’s trophy room speaks volumes when it comes to the Rams’ winning tradition in athletics. Here’s a quick look at how the first sports team came to be – and how the name of the WSSU Ram mascot was chosen.

History of the Marching BandMusic has held a position of importance at WSSU. In fact, music was one of three major departments of focus in 1912-13. Today, the WSSU “Red Sea of Sound” receives national recognition.

DepartmentsChancellor ReflectsOn the YardTime OutClass NotesFrom the NAA

ARCHWAY is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications

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. Chief Marketing Officer: Sigrid Hall-Pittsley Editorial Team: Concentrics Communications; Rudy Anderson; Nancy Young; Jackie FoutzHistory Consultants: Simona Atkins Allen; Dr. Elinor Smith; Thomas Flynn, WSSU ArchivesPhotographer: Garrett Garms ’07, Office of Marketing and CommunicationsArchway Design: Sarah Hinshaw, Office of Marketing and Communications

Correction: In the Spring issue of Archway on page 10, Francis Atkins is credited with leading WSSU to become the first historically black college in the nation to grant the B.S. degree in elementary education. This happened in 1925 while Simon Green Atkins was president.

20,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $0.773 per copy.

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WSSU History Quick Quiz

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chancellor reflects

t is an exciting time to be at Winston-Salem State University. We are in the process of planning our 120th anniversary celebration and we are

also beginning to see the early results from the many changes that have been implemented on our campus. As the 120th anniversary approaches and we look to our past, we can visualize the transformations that the university has gone through. Each one marked an important period in the history of the university and in the towns of Winston and Salem and then in the City of Winston-Salem. From our humble beginning as a one-room schoolhouse, we quickly became a teachers college, meeting the need to educate what was known as the Colored population then. Next came the nursing program which trained the nurses who staffed the then Colored hospitals. Moreover, these professionals became the Black middle class of Winston-Salem, and contributed significantly to the growth and well-being of the city through the ownership of businesses and homes. By the early 1970s programs had expanded and enrollments had grown and what was by then Winston Salem State College joined the UNC system. Today we are a comprehensive degree-granting institution that serves a diverse student body of 6,500. With program offerings at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels, the University continues to meet the needs of our students as well as those of the community and of the broader society. The latest transformation began nearly three years ago when we implemented the Plan for Student Success. The Strategic Plan redefines student success and, in addition to improved graduation rates, includes improved student outcomes. Do our graduates compete well for jobs in their careers of choice? Do they get admitted to the best graduate and professional degree programs? These and others are the measures of success that will determine ultimately how well we are doing as an institution of higher education. To achieve these student success goals, we needed to change how we teach, what we teach, who we teach, and to some degree, who teaches. Through curriculum reform and a liberal arts approach to learning, we are teaching our graduates to think critically, to be analytical and strategic in their approach to problems and opportunities, and to communicate well both orally and in writing. These are the skills they will need to thrive in a world that requires much more than subject matter knowledge. Beyond curriculum reform, we made changes in just about every other area of the university. For example, we have reformed the tenure process, raising the bar for tenure and promotion. We know that many of the changes will bear fruit over longer periods of time. There is one very important measure, however, that has shown significant improvement in a short period of time and is the result of the reform of the enrollment management process. Admission standards have been increased three times. Today our standards are higher than those required by the UNC system. At the same time our applicant pool for this fall has increased by more than 40 percent. While a minimum GPA of 2.5 and an SAT score of 850 are required for admission to WSSU, the average GPA and SAT scores for the students to whom we have offered admission for Fall 2012 is 3.4 and 929. Directly related to the higher admission standards is a significant improvement in our ability to retain our students. Five years ago the retention rate, which is the percentage of first-year students who return for their second year, stood at 68 percent. Today that rate is in excess of 80 percent. The retention rate of second to third year students is also up significantly, from 58 percent five years ago to 64 percent today. Yet, we continue to maintain our HBCU mission to provide access to higher education. Because our goal is to produce college graduates, we do not admit students who have little or no chance of being successful. Instead, we often recommend community colleges as an alternative since they do a much better job of preparing students who are not college-ready. Some of these students have been admitted to the Dual Admission Program with Forsyth Technical Community College. They will move directly to WSSU upon completion of the work at Forsyth Tech. While in the program, the students are able to participate in WSSU campus life activities, such as the four students who were in the marching band this past year. The program has been so successful that there is a substantial waiting list that includes some students who have been admitted to other UNC campuses, but want to attend WSSU and are willing delay their full admission. To use an old cliché, we have come a long way in 120 years. From one room to a sprawling campus, from a teacher’s college to an institution that offers doctoral level degrees. And the university’s transformation continues with changes that are necessary to ensure that our graduates are prepared for success in a very competitive 21st century economy. Just as Slater Industrial Academy eventually became Winston-Salem State University, we must always take the steps necessary to ensure that our students are prepared for today. With your support we can continue to contribute to the success of our students and to the success of the communities where they will live and work. Thus, we will follow the tradition established by Dr. Simon Green Atkins that lives on in our motto – “Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve.”

Donald J. Reaves, PhD

IBoard 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. Steve MartinDr. Karen McNeil-MillerMr. James R. NantonMr. Keith W. VaughanMr. Charles F. WallingtonMr. David Butler

Winston-Salem State UniversityFoundation, Board of Directors2011-2012Ms. Peggy Carter, ChairMs. Cheryl E. H. Locke, Vice ChairMr. Ray Owen, SecretaryMs. Cynthia Williams, TreasurerMr. William G. BentonMr. David W. BurkeMs. Michelle M. CookMr. Tony EbronMr. Kelvin Farmer ’86Mr. Timothy A. Grant ’80Mr. Fred HarwellMr. Harold Kennedy IIIMr. W. R. “Randy” Loftis, Jr.Ms. Martha LogemannDr. Charles Love ’66Mr. J. Walter McDowellMr. James E. MartinMs. Patricia D. Norris ’93Dr. Donald J. ReavesMs. Shirley Danner ShouseMr. Clifton H. Sparrow ’80Ms. Claudette WestonMr. Errol Wint

Ex Officio Directors

Mrs. Debra B. MillerMr. Gerald HunterMr. Gordon Everett ’78Mr. Gordon Slade ’93Mr. David Butler

Emeritus Directors

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

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

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

As we continue to celebrate the rich heritage of

Winston-Salem State University, this issue of Archway provides

a high-level look at the school’s expanding role and impact from the early 1900s until today.

Clearly evident in every era is founder Simon Green Atkins’

determination to overcome obstacles and equip students for success

in a changing world.

That commitment continues to shape WSSU today and its plans

for the future.

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On June 30, 1900, Atkins reported to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that “the classroom accommodations were up to the best standard.” There were 12 faculty members and 263 students – 117 males and 146 females – from North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Zululand, South Africa.

While racial friction remained an issue in many communities, Atkins is credited with establishing a spirit of cooperation between the races in the “twin cities” of Winston and Salem. Indicating the worth of Slater to the community, William A. Blair, a respected business leader and member of the board of trustees, said it had been “a center around which a community of interest and mutual understanding and respect and regard of one race for the other has been centered.”

The school continued to receive recognition and support far beyond the community and state. The following statement was made by Dr. David James Burrell, pastor of the Marble Collegiate Church, New

York City: “I know Slater Industrial and State Normal School, and believe in it. The splendid success which it has achieved is largely due to the cordial understanding between the white people who stand back of the enterprise, and the colored people who are more immediately interested in it. I wish there were more Institutions of like character. I say with all my heart, ‘God bless it.’”

As the school reached its 25th anniversary in 1918, World War I was in full swing, and most male students were serving in the military. Yet there was cause for optimism, as the school announced a campaign to raise $25,000 – a thousand dollars for each year of the school’s history.

The anniversary campaign goal was met, with $10,000 from the state, $5,000 from the General Education Board, and $10,000 from the citizens of Winston-Salem. W.A. Blair said, “It was the easiest money to raise I have ever known of.”

6 Summer 2012

During 1910-11, electric current and steam heating were installed, reducing the danger of fire but increasing the cost of operation.

12 faculty members and 263 students

The LegacyContinues

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Presidents and ChancellorsSimon Green Atkins, President 1892-1904Cadd Grant O’Kelly, President 1904-1910Francis Marion Kennedy, President 1910-1913Simon Green Atkins, President 1913-1934Francis Loguen Atkins, President 1934-1961Kenneth Raynor Williams, President 1961-1972 Chancellor 1972-1977H. Douglas Covington, Chancellor 1977-1984Haywood L. Wilson, Jr., Interim Chancellor 1984-1985Cleon F. Thompson, Jr., Chancellor 1985-1995Gerald McCants, Interim Chancellor 1995Alvin J. Schexnider, Chancellor 1996-2000Harold L. Martin, Sr., Chancellor 2000-2006Michelle Howard-Vital, Interim Chancellor 2006-2007Pedro L. Martinez, Acting Chancellor July/August 2007Donald J. Reaves, Chancellor 2007-present

t One man, with an indomitable spirit and the ability to marshal support for his vision, spent most of his life laying the foundation for what has become today’s Winston-Salem State University.

As Simon Green Atkins began Slater Industrial Academy in 1892 and started building a reputation for quality education and unwavering integrity, he earned the respect and support not only of members of his own race, but also of white leaders in the towns of Winston and Salem and established educators across the country.

With the exception of a leave of absence to serve his church from 1904-1913, Atkins led the school until his retirement a few months before his death in 1934. Two of his sons continued to provide leadership – Francis Atkins as president until 1961 and Jack Atkins as executive secretary until 1960.

The next half-century featured an ever-broadening sphere of leadership and impact, supported by contributions from many individuals, families, businesses and foundations.

Photos of arches: To Come

The words for the first alma mater for the four-year

college, used in 1930, was written by Mrs. Mary

Fries Blair, wife of one of the school’s long-time

trustees, W.A. Blair. The music was written by

Robert C. Bolling of the music faculty.

In 1938, Noah F. Ryder, a noted composer and

arranger and director of Community Service in

Music for the school, wrote words and music for

the current alma mater as a Christmas present to

the Winston-Salem Teachers College Family.

Alma Mater

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

ArchwAy 7

Slater graduates were now teaching in some of the leading schools of the state, and in 1925, the General Assembly ratified “An Act to change the name of Slater Normal School at Winston-Salem to the Winston-Salem Teachers College.” The institution became the first historically black college in the nation to grant the B.S. degree in elementary education.

Rachel Diggs (Wilkinson) ’33 was the first female graduate of WSSU to go on to earn a Ph.D. She received her master’s degree from Columbia University and her Ph.D. from New York University and was later named WSSU Alumna of the Year. She included WSSU in her will with a gift to fund scholarships and provide an operating endowment for Diggs Gallery, which was named for her brother, James Thackery “T” Diggs, Jr. ’34, who served as WSSU art professor for 45 years.

The first yearbook published for the senior class was the T.C. Pedagogue of 1935. The book contained this reference: “The history of the

development of Winston-Salem Teachers College is one of victory over

difficulties bravely faced and overcome; high ideals maintained; and

objectives accomplished.”

A beloved icon for students and alumni, the stone arches were erected sometime before 1936, and served as the gateway into campus from the west. In 1936, the WSTC graduating class added a plaque to each arch, honoring the school’s founder, Simon Green Atkins, and his wife, Oleona Pegram Atkins.

Stone Arches

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8 Summer 2012

Gaining acceptance Expanding ScOpe

In 1963, Wake Forest College awarded Chancellor Kenneth R. Williams an honorary doctor of laws degree, the college’s first to an African American.

Once again, a milestone anniversary – the 50th – came during a major war. At the commencement exercises held on May 2, 1942, special tributes were made to three members of the Trustee Board, honoring them for 50 years’ service to the school. Henry E. Fries, William A. Blair and the late A.H. Eller had served continuously since the school’s founding. Robert M. Hanes, president of the Wachovia Bank and Trust Company and former president of the American Bankers Association, was appointed to succeed Eller.

In December 1947, the college was granted the “A” rating by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, followed by accreditation in February 1948 by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Thus, another first was achieved. The college became the first Negro institution in North Carolina to achieve accredita-tion by and membership in this association and, for a number of years, one of six in the country.

The goal of full membership in the Southern Association was still to be reached, and a followup study of graduates from 1951 to 1955 was prepared for a visitation committee. It was indicated that in 1956 four graduates held the doctoral degree, and that Edward O. Diggs, the first Negro to graduate from the Medical School at the University of North Carolina, was a graduate of Winston-Salem Teachers College. Furthermore, at the particular time, 58 of its graduates were in leading graduate schools working on their master’s degrees. Full membership and accreditation was gained in December 1960.

In 1961, after nearly 70 years of growth under the guiding hand of the Atkins family, the school came under new leadership. The retirement of Francis Atkins brought Dr. Kenneth R. Williams to head the school.

Williams became head of the school at the time when effects of the Supreme Court’s decision eliminating the 58-year-old idea of “separate but equal” were beginning to have the greatest impact on desegregation in the school systems of the South. The campus of Winston-Salem State University did not escape some disruption of normal campus life, but fortunately it was not marked by extreme incidents.

Chancellor Williams is credited with strong, effective leadership during this time, keeping the door open to discussion on any pertinent matter and creating a Student Advisory Committee to advise the trustees on student matters. At the same time, he communicated in no uncertain terms the responsibility of all students to adhere to university policies and procedures, ensuring the rights of students to continue their education.

Patricia Johnson went on to do graduate work at Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and became a faculty member and later associate dean at Wake Forest University.

1940 - 1950’s

1960’s

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The first white student to receive a degree was Patricia Adams Johnson (Johansson) of Tobacco-ville, N.C. in 1968. When she entered WSSU as a sophomore, she had five children, the oldest a senior in high school and the youngest in first grade. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English with highest honors and went on to do graduate work at Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She served on the faculty and as an associate dean at Wake Forest.

By the time of Williams’ retirement in 1977, the curriculum offered 28 major and minor programs carrying the degree of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of science in applied science. Faculty had grown from 62 to more than 140, of whom 30 percent were black. Student population increased to more than 2,300, with 8 percent non-black.

Although hampered by the challenges of a traditionally black institution seeking to secure adequate state appropriations, the growth of O’Kelly Library was significant under Williams’ leadership. The continuing education program he began grew to a record membership of 362 adult students in more than 40 evening classes, all taught by the university’s regular faculty.

Echoing those who came before him, Chancellor Williams noted on several occasions, “If I had to pick my biggest challenge over the years, it would be getting adequate funds for the School.”

On October 30, 1971, the General Assembly reorganized higher education in North Carolina. On July 1, 1972, Winston-Salem State University became one of 16 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina, subject to the control of a Board of Governors. Eighty years after its founding, the school was finally in line to receive funds from the state on the same basis as all other state-supported institutions of higher education.

ArchwAy 9

Students from Winston-Salem State Teachers College were among those who stood up for equal rights by sitting down at a for-whites-only lunch counter in early 1960. By May of that year, Winston-Salem became the first community in North Carolina to desegregate its lunch counters. On May 25, 2010, Mayor Allen Joines led a community celebration in honor of the milestone event.

© 1960 Winston-Salem Journal photo

140 faculty members and 2,300 students

In 1963, the N.C. General Assembly dropped the term “Teachers” from the name of the school, making the name “Winston-Salem State College,” opening the door for awarding liberal arts degrees.

In 1969, still greater curriculum expansion was indicated when a statute designating the school as Winston-Salem State University received legislative approval.

In 1971, the General Assembly reorganized the state system of higher education and the following year made WSSU, along with 15 other state-supported senior institutions, constituents of the University of North Carolina.

Name Changes Reflect Expanding Scope

The design of the seal resulted from a competition conducted in the early 1960s by art professor James T. Diggs. A student conceived the design that Diggs refined. The seal features Athena holding a scroll and torch, symbolic of the knowledge and wisdom for which the university stands.

The University Seal

1970’s

1963

1969

1971

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10 Summer 2012

Dr. Harold Douglas Covington became chancellor in 1977. Priorities included strengthening undergraduate programs, planning graduate-level programs, recruiting a larger proportion of academically talented students, correcting academic deficiencies among students, campus enhancement and expansion, and expanding community outreach, awareness and support for the university.

WSSU made national news in higher education with a successful $3 million capital campaign, the first in its history. Six months after launching the campaign in 1981, the university had surpassed its goal by $400,000. A gift of $1 million by R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. was the largest single corporate gift ever made to a traditionally black institution.

In 1981 the UNC Board of Governors authorized the following graduate-level programs: Master of Business Administration; Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision; Master of Arts in Elementary Education; and Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education (6-9).

Dr. Cleon Franklin Thompson, Jr. was named chancellor in 1985. Born in New York City, he held a master’s degree in biology, a doctor of philosophy degree in educational administration from Duke University, had served as provost and acting president of Shaw University, and was serving as vice president for Student Services in the UNC system.

Thompson’s tenure from 1985 to 1995 was described as “A Decade of Development.” He immediately formed a planning team and initiated a comprehensive self-study

to identify strengths and weaknesses, then developed a strategic plan for helping the school realize its potential and become a more successful regional university.

To realize the level of excellence envisioned by the strategic plan, a five-year $25 million Centennial Campaign Anniversary was launched in 1992 – the most ambitious drive ever conducted by a publicly supported historically black college.

Once again, belief in the school and its vision for the future resulted in widespread support. Contributions came from local and regional corporations and foundations, alumni and staff, and individuals in the community, led by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s pledge of $4 million and Sara Lee Corporation’s pledge of $2.5 million, at that time the largest gift in the company’s history.

1985 - 1995“A Decade of Development”

Accelerating GROWTH

Diggs Gallery, named for James Thackery “T” Diggs, a 1934 graduate and an art professor at the school for 45 years, was dedicated in the fall of 1990. A well-known philanthropist and friend of Professor Diggs, James Gordon Hanes Jr., provided funding to create the gallery. Today it is a major cultural center at WSSU and offers one of the largest exhibition spaces dedicated to the arts of Africa and the African Diaspora in North Carolina.

1980’s

1990’s

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Under Thompson’s guidance, the nursing program was revitalized (see story on page 14), emphasis on undergraduate research was heightened, library resources were substantially expanded, and collaborations were established with corporations, universities and other institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

Degree programs were expanded to include physical therapy, sports management, middle grades education, therapeutic recreation and management information systems.

From 1985 to 1995, the student body grew from 2,425 to 2,845, an increase of 17.4 percent. Composite SAT scores for entering freshmen increased from 612 to 801. There was an 80.4 percent increase in the graduation rates from May 1986 to May 1994.

At the time of Thompson’s retirement in 1995, the new student services center was named for him.

As the 20th century came to a close and the new millennium began, WSSU was under the leadership of Alvin J. Schexnider from 1996-2000 and Harold L. Martin until 2006. It was a decade of exceptional growth in the number of students served, programs offered and national recognition received.

Highlights included establishment of six master’s programs, an evening MBA program, and groundbreaking for a new $70 million, 160,000-square-foot facility in the Piedmont Triad Research Park to house a biotechnology collaboration with Wake Forest University.

In 1999, WSSU was recognized in the “America’s Best Colleges” issue of U.S. News and World Report as a leading public liberal-arts college in the Southern Region. The publication has continued its recognition of WSSU in the Top Public Southern Comprehensive Colleges–Bachelor’s Category.

From 2000 to 2006, enrollment nearly doubled (from 2,796 to 5,556), freshman SAT scores climbed by nearly 70 points, and the campus underwent a dramatic physical transformation made possible in part by a $45-million investment from the 2000 Higher Education Bond Program.

A New Millennium

Campus renovations included construction of WSSU’s clock tower on the pedestrian mall.

Student enrollment 2,845

Closing ceremonies for the centennial year were held Sunday, December 6, 1992, and included burial of a time capsule on the north side of Blair Hall on ground which was a part of the site of the first brick building on the campus. The inscription provides for the time capsule to be opened in 2042.

ArchwAy 11

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12 Summer 2012

With the appointment of Donald J. Reaves as Chancellor in 2007, WSSU began addressing powerful external forces – including a dramatically changing, information-driven job market, expanding competition and globalization – along with its own need to manage the massive growth in student population it had experienced in recent years.

Guided by a comprehensive new strategic plan, the school has moved forward on numerous fronts to transform itself in virtually every area, from curriculum to the campus infrastructure. In at least one very important way, administrators say, it is going “back to the future.”

Embedded in the Strategic Plan is a recommitment to educational philosophies that originate from WSSU’s heritage as a small teacher’s college where faculty and staff interacted regularly with students beyond, as well as inside, the classroom.

“We’re revisiting basic values and approach-es,” explained Merdis J. McCarter, senior associate provost for academic affairs, who

recently retired and witnessed tremendous growth and change over her tenure. “Under current leadership, we’re looking to ‘feel smaller’ again and to be more of a commu-nity. “Early in my career, faculty and staff were expected to be fully engaged with student life. This was part of our culture – the educational experience meant going beyond the classroom. Even as we update our curriculum for the 21st century, WSSU is taking steps to embrace this principle again, reinvigorating our traditional culture – one of the things that made the institution great in the first place.”

Significant progress has been made toward all five strategic goals: Academic Excellence; Student Success; Community Engagement; Efficient, Effective Use of Resources; and University Culture and Pride. In the 2010-2011 Strategic Plan Annual Report (www.wssu.edu/about/publications), Chancellor Reaves described progress to date as “a time

of transformation on the Winston-Salem State University campus as we began an ambitious plan to establish a new direction for the university. With a heavy focus on student success and academic excellence, we implemented strategies that are designed to ensure that our students are prepared to be competitive in the 21st century.”

Like those before him, dating back to founder Simon Green Atkins, Reaves noted the continuing challenge of achieving excellence with limited resources. “We also faced ongoing challenges created by another reduction in state funding. With the Strategic Plan as our guide, however, we were able to maintain the focus on using our scarce resources efficiently and effectively. We continue to strive to ensure that there is a significant return on every dollar that is invested in the future of our students.”

Today’s Winston-Salem State University offers increasing points of pride for alumni, students, faculty and staff. Through increasing partnerships, collaborations, community outreach initiatives and other opportunities for engagement, WSSU is continuing to expand its impact and strengthen its future.

A 2012 report shows the university has an approximately $350 million economic impact on the Piedmont Triad and is responsible, directly or indirectly, for more than 6,600 jobs in the region.

The WSSU Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center (BRIC) is a center

of excellence dedicated to training the future

generation of scientists. Focus is on research

that addresses biomedical and health issues of the

minority population.

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Engagement Focus WSSU is stepping up efforts to broaden awareness of its role and impact within the community, across the state and beyond, connecting with business, government and community leaders, foundations and employers in a variety of ways.

The university has a significant community impact in terms of human capital, partnering with schools to support educational needs, providing leadership for economic development initiatives and delivering healthcare services to underserved populations.

Master Plan With a goal of optimizing its resources, WSSU has created a master plan for campus development, designed to preserve the heritage of the campus while offering students an environment that promotes learning and provides a even greater sense of community. A major step came in spring 2011 with ground-breaking for the new Donald J. Reaves Student Activities Center, scheduled for completion in 2013.

Global Impact During the past two years, WSSU’s core curriculum has undergone a major transformation – the first in nearly 50 years – as a means of providing graduates with the skills needed to be successful in today’s knowledge-based global economy. Today, the curricu-lum exposes students to the skill sets that they will

need to be competitive – quantitative skills and analytical thinking, critical problem-solving and improved communication abilities.

Through Liberal Learning Seminars and an expanded curriculum, students are provided the opportunity to broaden their knowledge not only in specific subjects, but also in the approaches and methods of acquiring the knowledge and skills they will need to thrive in the world they will face upon graduation.

Raising Academic Standards Under adjusted admissions criteria, the strategic plan calls for stable undergraduate class sizes over the next several years, allowing WSSU to maintain or perhaps even shrink the ratio of students to faculty and staff, while increasing the ratio of high-performing students in each class. Results are already evident, with an average GPA of 3.4 for incoming freshmen in fall 2012.

While WSSU has increased its admission standards, the school has also partnered with Forsyth Technical Community College to develop a Dual Admissions Program that provides access to higher education for students who may not be prepared for the demands of a four-year college.

Student Success With the university attracting better-prepared students, emphasis on academic support services has increased. Plans for a new Student Success Center will centralize services that have traditionally been housed in multiple locations across the campus, creating a dynamic learn-ing environment where students at all levels can optimize performance.

Expanding financial aid is a priority, allowing students to focus fully on their schoolwork. Research shows that for every $1,000 in financial aid awarded, the probability of graduation increases by approximately 20 percent.

ArchwAy 13

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14 Summer 2012

Today, the WSSU School of Health Sciences is one of the major providers of nurses in North Carolina. In the 1980s, however, times were difficult for the School of Nursing at WSSU. Declining enrollment and low scores on the state licensure exam caused some groups, including the UNC Board of Gover-nors, to consider closing the program.

Much of the credit for saving the program and for the university’s growth in the healthcare field can be attributed to Cleon F. Thompson, Jr., chancellor of WSSU from 1985 to 1995. At a time when it appeared there was no way the nursing program would be continued, Thompson continued to fight to save it.

“Cleon had a tremendous impact during his 10 years at Winston-Salem State,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves. “It was during this time that the nursing program was revitalized and the university saw an increase in both the student body and the size of the faculty.”

Thompson received similar praise from Paul Fulton, retired president of Sara Lee Corporation and a former member of the WSSU Board of Trustees.

“There is no doubt that Cleon’s tenacity and his belief in the importance of the nursing program at Winston-Salem State laid the foundation for the outstanding health sci-ences programs the university offers today,” Fulton said. “He fought to keep the program alive because he saw the potential and he had the fortitude to make it happen. Cleon is a visionary and someone who can also imple-ment that vision.”

Innovative leadershipA key component of Thompson’s strategy to rejuvenate the nursing program was to identify someone who understood the dis-cipline and who had the drive to get the job done. In 1989, he chose Sylvia Flack, a 1968 WSSU graduate with extensive experience in healthcare practice and administration.“Under Cleon’s leadership, the Board of Trustees agreed to give the program time to improve,” said Flack, now executive director of the university’s Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities. “He convinced me that this was something I had to do for the students, the university and for the community that needed our nursing program.

“The best thing he did, however, was to step back and give the program to the faculty,” Flack explained. “Not many leaders would do that, but he did. The faculty worked to reinforce the curriculum and to create mas-tery levels for our students. We began to see a difference in the number of students who could pass the state board once we gave them the knowledge and the confidence they needed. Cleon stayed with us through the process and was there to stand up for the things we needed him to do, such as make sure our students had access to the clinical spaces they needed to support their success. His ability to work with the community helped us when we needed it.”

Dr. Sylvia Flack helped rejuvenate the university’s nursing program in the late 1980s.

Today, she heads WSSU’s nationally acclaimed Center of Excellence for the Elimination of

Healthcare Disparities.

From Near-Failure to National Recognition

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ArchwAy 15

Enter to Learn, Depart to ServeFrom the beginning, the school has been known for its response to community needs.

“As the 1800s came to a close, there still was no hospital in Forsyth County for the colored community,” notes Dr. Elinor Smith, a granddaughter of the founder. “In 1899, my grandfather approached community leaders with a proposal to establish a hospital, along with a nurse training department at the Slater School. The proposal received a strong positive response from blacks and whites alike.”

A leading supporter was Richard Joshua Reynolds, founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The school raised $3,665, which Rreynolds matched with cash and property, adding 11 ½ acres to the school’s campus. The hospital was constructed by John H. Smith, an alumnus of Slater.

The opening of Slater Hospital was announced at commencement exercises in May 1902. The first year, 75 regular patients and 15 emergency patients were treated, and 21 operations were performed. Black physicians served on a monthly rotating basis with white doctors filling in as needed. The first head nurse was Miss Lula C. Hairston of the Slater class of 1896.

Major operations cost $5 and minor procedures $2.50. Land around the hospital was purchased by the school for truck farming and raising poultry for use by the hospital and also to raise funds.

The hospital operated until 1912. Following that, the building was used as a boys’ dormitory and a “Household Economics Building.” By 1921, a boys’ dormitory had been constructed on the site, described in the 1921-22 school catalog as “a handsome brick, concrete, and steel structure of colonial design.”

The nursing program began to rebound in 1991 and by 1995 it was challenging the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the top spot in passing rate on the state exam. Enrollment also began to skyrocket, and the program was expanded to include a paramedic-to-BS in nursing degree program, the first in the nation. That led to RN-to-BSN and LPN-to-BSN programs.

With the nursing program on solid footing, Thompson shifted the focus to positioning the program and the university as a leader in healthcare education. A biologist by training, Thompson’s vision for the School of Nursing grew out of a combination of experiences as a student, educator and administrator. True to his academic beginnings as a biology professor, he was also successful in leading the university into laboratory spaces and important collaborations at the Piedmont Triad Research Park and into a Minority Global Research Training Program.

Thompson’s achievements earned him acclaim at WSSU and beyond, ranging from the student services building at WSSU that bears his name to an endowed chair in nursing at WSSU that will continue his legacy of support of higher education.

From this early initiative the groundwork was laid for the school’s continued commitment to training nurses and eliminating disparities in the quality of healthcare for underserved populations.

Today, WSSU is one of the state’s leading producers of nurses.

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The hisTory of

RamAthletics

16 Summer 2012

In 1932, three freshmen, William Roscoe Anderson, Jr., Rupert Bell and Jesse B. Eggleton, Jr., approached Dr. Atkins about establishing a formal athletics program at the college. With academic excellence as the school’s unwavering priority and resources scarcer than ever during and following the Depression years, Dr. Atkins was initially not inclined to give his approval, according to a description of the occasion provided by Anderson.

He and his friends continued to ask when they could gain audience with Dr. Atkins. Their persistence paid off, and Dr. Atkins finally gave his approval. The three young men were joined by Walter Gray, James T. Diggs, Jr., Robert Schooler, Robert Scales, Belvedere Cook, Theodore Hayes, Theodore Staplefoote and James Boyd to make up WSTC’s first athletic team of any kind, a basketball team.

Football was added to the athletics program in 1942. Initially the school was a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC). In 1946 it joined the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

From that start, WSSU has gone on to build a rich history of athletic excellence, garnering awards at both the conference and national levels. WSSU has excelled not only in the traditional sports of basketball and football but has received national and regional prestige for softball, baseball, track and field, golf and wrestling as well.

It has produced nationally recognized sports figures like legendary basketball coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines, who at the time of his retirement was the winningest coach in CIAA history and third-winningest coach in the history of college basketball. One of his star players, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, was the first player in the CIAA to win a national scoring title. Visit WSSU.edu/RamBits and check out the June 15, 2012 issue for a link to a recent tribute to Earl “The Pearl.”

Together, Gaines and Monroe led WSSU to the 1967 National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division II Basketball Championship, making WSSU the first historically black college to attain such an achievement. Monroe later became recognized as one of the top 50 players of all time in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

WSSU’s winning tradition in sports is a major component of the university’s proud heritage.

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According to The History of Winston-Salem State University 1892-1995, early athletes “had to buy their own suits in which to play, also provide their own transportation.”

ArchwAy 17

What a storied history! Here is the Ram record at a glance:

• 11 CIAA Men’s Basketball Championships

• 7 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District Basketball Championships

• 1 NCAA Division II National Basketball Championship

• 9 CIAA Football Championships

• 1 HBCU National Football Championship

• 2 CIAA Baseball Championships

• 7 CIAA Women’s Softball Championships

• 9 CIAA Wrestling Championships

• 1 CIAA Men’s Cross Country Championship

• 1 CIAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field

• 2 CIAA Women’s Cross Country Championships

• 1 CIAA Women’s Tennis Championship

• 2 NAIA National Men’s Track Championships

• 6 CIAA Men’s Golf Championships

On the back of a circa early 1930s photo in William Roscoe Anderson’s possession, there is an inscription that reads in part: “Theodore Hayes named the team ‘The Rams.’ That’s where the mascot came from.” But how did the mascot come to be named “Amon?” Here is one popular account ...

In 1978 Paul Kuhl, Sports Information Officer for WSSU, ran a mascot naming contest on campus and throughout the community. Names were collected in shoeboxes on campus and at games.

Clarence “Big House” Gaines, who was coach and Athletic Director at the time, wanted nothing to do with the naming process. He designated Coach Bill Hayes and Coach Cleo “Tiny” Wallace to work with Kuhl.

The day they opened the shoeboxes to select the name for the Ram, they discovered they had a real problem: none of the suggested names looked like they would work. Most of them were bad. Some were awful.

Kuhl, who was also a professor of history, had just finished doing research on African history and had come across the name Amon. The name was inspired by the West African deity Amon, which was always represented as a ram. The ancient Egyptians greeted conquering Pharoahs as “Sons of Amon.”

Kuhl shared the name and its history with Coach Gaines and Coach Wallace. According to Kuhl, Coach Gaines just looked at him, reminded him that he had predicted this naming business was going to be a problem and walked away.

Coach Wallace stuck his hand back into the box and guess what? Out came the name Amon. And the rest, as they say, is, well, history.

The Story Behind WSSU’s Mascot

The school was home to one of the nation’s most famous coaches, legendary Clarence “Big House” Gaines, who at one time ranked fifth on the all-time career wins list behind Adolph Rupp (Kansas), Dean Smith (North Carolina), Bobby Knight (Texas Tech) and Jim Phelan (Mt. St. Mary’s). WSSU’s athletic center is named for Coach Gaines.

Records indicate that Oris Hill was the school’s first professional basketball player when he went to play with the Harlem Globetrotters. Cleo Hill ’61 became the school’s first NBA professional basketball player

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18 Summer 2012

Music has held a position of importance at Winston-Salem State University from its earliest days. In fact, a published history about the university indicates that the 1912-13 catalog for programs offered at Slater had music listed as one of its three main departments.

At that time, the music program was primarily relegated to piano and organ instruction and choral instruction. It is recorded that teachers who also had these skills in music were in high demand.

A music program involving other instruments is recorded as early as 1933. The ensemble was known as the Slater Industrial Academy Orchestra.

The first recorded efforts in the direction of starting a band – “the band” as we know it today – came between the years of 1937-1941. During this period, a group of young college students organized a musical group and named themselves the Teachers

College Collegians. The group played primarily dance music.

Between 1943 and 1944, to stimulate growth and development of the band, the Winston-Salem Teachers College Alumni Association created the “Band Project,” a fundraiser for the band program. The Association raised $1,507.25 to purchase 18 instruments for the program. During that time the band played at chapel services each week.

The college’s first marching band was organized in 1945, under the direction of music instructor Hamlet Goore. Under his leadership over the next five years the marching band made tremendous progress.

During the early 1960s, the marching band was under the direction of Harry Pickard and became a regular fixture at school football games and Homecoming parades, and in the City of Winston-Salem’s Christmas parade.

In the late 1960s, the instrumental music program grew dramatically under the direction of Dr. Robert Shepherd and, later, Dr. Fred Tanner. Initially, Dr. Shepherd concentrated his efforts on both the marching and concert bands. When Dr. Tanner joined the faculty, these musical giants split their responsibilities.

Dr. Tanner built a 100-plus nationally recognized marching band. Dr. Shepherd conducted the university’s nationally recognized symphonic band. Both men helped to establish an internationally acclaimed 18-piece stage band that toured the United States and Europe, and produced the album “WSSU – Total Sound” in 1971.

At the end of the ’69-’70 football season, the band was presented a plaque for being the “Biggest Sound in the CIAA.” Many notable

1933Slater Industrial

Academy Orchestra

History of the

Marching Band

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achievements occurred during the early and late ’70’s, which included:

• Half-timeperformanceforthe Baltimore Colts, 1971 • Afro-AmericanDayParade, New York City, 1974 • Performanceforthearrivalof PresidentJimmyCarter,1976

TheprogramwasunderseveralleadersafterDr.Tannerrelinquishedtheposition.Themostnotablechangeoccurredin1994whenEmoryJonesbecamethebandmaster.Joneswasa1971graduateof WSSU,andhedevoted10untiringyearstotheWSSUbandprogram.TheEmoryJonesEndowedScholarshipinMusicwasestablishedinhishonor.

Today,theWinston-SalemStateUniversityBandisknownnationallyas“TheRedSeaof Sound,”underthe

directionof Dr.MichaelMagruder.TruetotheRamtraditionof excellence,hisno-nonsenseapproachtobandandsound

philosophyof bandhastransformedtheentireinstrumentalbandprogramatWSSU.

Asaresult,the“RedSeaof Sound”hasperformedbyinvitationinthe“SuperBowlof BlackCollegeBands,”theHondaBattleof theBands,inAtlanta,threetimesinfouryears(2009-2012).

The legacy continues...

ArchwAy 19

Until 2007, the marching band was known as the WSSU Marching Rams. Wanting “a catchier name,” band members created a list of options and invited alumni, staff, faculty and students to vote. The winning name: “The Red Sea of Sound.”

Barbara Manning ’60, describes the marching band as a favorite part of her college years. Funds were in short supply, she notes, and some of the band members – including Barbara – did not have hats to go with their uniforms. “We had to wear football helmets,” she says with a smile.

One very special memory involves a time when college bands from across the state went to Raleigh for an event. “It started to rain, and soon it was raining quite hard. One by one the bands dropped out, including ones from the largest schools in the state. But not dear old TC. We had come to play our instruments, and play we did. It made me very proud to be part of that group of dedicated students.”

Visit www.youtube.com/wssumedia to see the video

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“My fondest memory of my life

while matriculating at Dear Old ‘TC’

was the supportive and dedicated

teachers who exhibited positive

expectations. They wanted you to

be the epitome of what you could

be and they gave unselfishly of their

time and talents. Who cannot say

that they were the best at ‘Old TC?’”

Gwendolyn Wallace Terrell ’60Ft. Washington, MD

Life StoriesThanks to those who responded to the request to share your “Life Stories.” Here are excerpts from several of these. See wssu.edu/anniversary for the full comments provided by these and other alumni.

20 Summer 2012

“During my first semester at WSTC, I was

not a basketball student-athlete. I was an

athlete! After receiving a long talk from the

Men’s Basketball Coach, Mr. C.E. Gaines,

about basketball eligibility rules and WSTC’s

safeguards against graduating incompetent

teachers, I started trying to become a

student-athlete. I selected the right college

coach; I selected the right college.”

Cleo Hill ’61Orange, NJ

“As a white student at WSSU, I felt completely accepted.

I had wonderful professors who encouraged me, as an

older returning student, to pursue my dreams. I received

extraordinary training which led me to a position at a

world-renowned prep school where I had the ability to

help future leaders gain acceptance to top Ivy League

universities. I am so thankful to WSSU for the training,

and the doors they opened for me.”

Pat Cheney, M.Ed. ‘88Pearland, TX

Dr. Calvert Smith ’59Cincinnati, OH

“My fondest memory of my time

at Winston-Salem Teachers College

is grounded in the interpersonal

relationships I developed which

ultimately became the building

blocks for my life. Additionally,

I remember the broad range and

depths of academic experiences

leading to my graduate studies.”

27337_WSSU.indd 20 8/17/12 3:24 PM

ArchwAy 21

“When I attended WSSU from ’92 to’96, ‘non-traditional’ students were not a mainstay at the University. As such, the Archway did a story on my daughter, who was around 8 years old at the time, and I. The story itself is not what makes this a fondest memory but that my daughter is now a “non-traditional” student at WSSU, scheduled to graduate next December – just like her mother.”

“In my life there are some things that just cannot be ranked. My experiences at WSSU fall into that category .... I will always remember fondly the experiences, people and places that helped shape my life. I know for certain that I am richer because of each of them.”

CeCe Ava Byers ’73Orange, NJ

“My dad, Nathaniel Hayes Sr., graduated from TC in 1950 and I didn’t think of going anywhere else. Not only did my sister, Claudia Hayes Skinner ’74, her husband, Linwood Skinner Sr. ’73, and their son Linwood Jr. ’01 graduate, the greatest day was when my daughter Staci ’07 graduated 30 years to the date of when I did. We are a family that has been Ramitized for a long time. Go WSSU!”

Marsha Harris ’77Durham, NC

“[One] of my fondest memories about Winston-Salem Teachers College was seeing a small Teachers College grow and blossom into the great university it is today. I learned to sit and listen to teachers like ‘Papa Clark,’ Mr. James, Dr. Dillard, Jack Atkins, his brother and many others. We had good teachers and great learning experiences.”

“As I embark on a life of semi-retirement ... I am proud to say it all began for me at Winston-Salem Teachers College. I learned about people. I learned about expanding my horizons. I learned about education. All of these lessons have consumed and indeed defined my personal and professional life for half a century.”

Gloria DeVane Coleman ’59Sacramento, CA

Dr. Betty Nyangoni ’62Washington, D.C.

Dr. Amber M. Baker’ 96Winston-Salem, NC

Scan here to read more Life Stories comments

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22 Summer 2012

on the yardcampus news & events

Six WSSU Students Named Schweitzer Fellows

Candace Jolly, a senior rehabilitation studies student from Shelby, N.C., has received the inaugural Undergraduate Rehabilitation Student of the Year Award from the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE). Nominees must meet certain academic criteria as well as demonstrate outstanding service, leadership and advocacy. In the past, the award has only gone to a graduate student.

Shavada Roary, second-year professional phase student in the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program, from Charlotte, N.C., was awarded the Richard Early Award by the North Carolina Section of the American Society of Clinical Chemistry. The award is given to a CLS student identified by their program faculty for his or her excellent academic work and potential shown in the area of clinical chemistry.

Two WSSU Students Receive Recognitions

A native of Winston-Salem, Dr. H. DouglasCovington devoted 50 years of his career to serving as an educational leader. In addition to serving as chancellor at WSSU, he was presi-dent of Alabama A&M University and Cheyney University as well as vice president of development at Tuskegee Institute. In 1995, Covington became the first African American to lead a non-historically black public college or university in Virginia when he became president of Radford University. After his retirement from Radford in 2005, Covington served as interim president of Emory & Henry College.

Read more at wssu.edu/about/news/2012/Covington-death

Six WSSU students have been named to the 2012-13 class of North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows. They are among 220 graduate students at 12 program sites throughout the nation who will partner with local agencies to develop and implement

mentored service projects that im-prove the health and well-being of underserved people. “We are thrilled that six of the 29 graduate students selected for this year’s class of Fellows in North Carolina are from our university,” said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of WSSU’s School of Health Sciences. “We had one of the first physical therapy

students in the state to be selected in 2009, and last year we had two more physical therapy students participating in the program. In addition to our four PT students in the 2012-2013 class, we also have the first two occupational therapy students in North Carolina to be selected.”

The WSSU students selected as Schweitzer Fellows and their service projects are:• Logan Barbour and Daniel Metzger, doctoral students in

physical therapy, will conduct pediatric development screen-ings, enroll children in health insurance, and work with their families to establish a medical home as an expansion of the work initiated through the WSSU Rams Know H.O.W. mobile clinic by Clinton Serafino and Timothy Serrano, 2011-2012 Schweitzer Fellows from WSSU.

• Nnonyem D’Martin and Lesianelle King, physical therapy doctoral students, will conduct a dance and exercise program for underserved children ages 8 through 12 at the Winston Lake Family YMCA.

• Charles Mullen and Chelsea Simpkins, occupational therapy graduate students who are Kate B. Reynolds Schweitzer

Fellows, will work with the Area Agency on Aging to conduct fall prevention screenings through the mobile clinic and offer fall prevention education classes at senior centers in the

community.

It’s easy to see that health and health care are filled with disparities. During these tough economic times, when there are even greater needs to be met throughout the Baltimore area, The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship® (ASF) is doing something about it.

Since 1999, ASF’s Baltimore Schweitzer Fellows Program (one of 13 Schweitzer sites across the U.S.) has supported graduate students who wish to follow in Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s footsteps. Translating their passion and idealism into action, these Schweitzer Fellows partner with community-based organizations to develop and implement yearlong service projects that improve the health and well-being of underserved populations. In the process, they undergo a mentored, reflective, and multidisciplinary leadership development program that enhances their ability to successfully carry out health interventions.

Schweitzer service projects are not “band-aid” approaches to today’s most pressing health issues; they’re designed to have long-term impact on the health of the underserved and to create lasting relationships between professional schools, social service agencies, and communi-ties in need. In carrying their projects from concept to completion on top of their usual academic responsibilities, Schweitzer Fellows—chosen on a competitive basis from graduate student applicants in a variety of disciplines—come away with a hard-earned blueprint for consistently integrating service into their lives.

Since the Baltimore Program’s inception, its more than 250 Fellows have provided more than 50,000 hours of community service addressing the social determinants of health. Fellows who complete their initial year become part of the Fellows for Life network, a pipeline of Leaders in Service now over 2,000 members strong.

The Baltimore Schweitzer Fellows Program

Service That Makes a Dramatic Difference

Baltimore Schweitzer Fellows have addressed a wide variety of health needs through sustainable projects with direct service at their core. Schweitzer service projects have included:

• Creating Project Jump Start, a comprehensive student-run health clinic for individuals in West Baltimore who are experiencing homelessness. • Developing an after-school program incorporating a range of activities including one-on-one tutoring, gardening, sports and fitness instruction• Expanding Charm City Clinic’s programming through community outreach, health literacy workshops, and skill-building PhotoVoice activities• Working to provide birth companion support to pregnant youth in the juvenile justice system in Baltimore City• Partnering with Civic Environmental Leadership Program to heighten environmental awareness among at-risk youth in Baltimore

Innovative Projects Meet Diverse Health Care Needs

The Baltimore Schweitzer Fellows Program not only provides services today to those in need, it invests in the students who will be caring for these same communities throughout their careers as professionals.

passion• idealism action impact• • •

To develop Leaders in Service: individuals who are dedicated to and skilled in

addressing the health needs of underserved communities and whose example influences and inspires others.

our mission

Former Chancellor Dies at Age 77

Dr. H. Douglas Covington, who served as chancellor of WSSU from 1977 until 1984, passed away June 27, 2012 at the age of 77.

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ArchwAy 23

WSSU Professor and Students

Participate in Financial

Conference in Ghana

Dr. Alice S. Etim, assistant professor of management information in the School of Business and Economics, was one of more than 30 industry intellectual leaders who gathered in Accra, Ghana May 28-29 for a banking forum sponsored by AITEC Africa. Etim conducted a session on the factors that impact the use and growth of mobile banking and mobile commerce in West Africa. Three undergraduate students from WSSU’s School of Business and Economics also attended the conference. They were Bryant Bell, Dominic Olshanski and Rickey Burns. The conference in Accra is one of many information and communications technology sessions sponsored by AITEC Africa across the continent to address key issues faced by the financial services sector as part of its focus on professional training and development. WSSU’s participation was made possible in part by the Koch Foundation, Dr. Jessica Bailey and Dr. Craig Richardson.

Dr. Lee David Legette, professor of Music in the Department of Fine Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences at WSSU, has been awarded the 2012 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. This is the UNC system’s highest honor for superior teaching.

Michael Eric Dyson, noted author and radio host and a professor of sociology at Georgetown University, served as the speaker for WSSU’s commencement on May 12 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Dyson delivered an inspirational message to a capacity crowd of 13,000, including 1,200 graduates. Honorary degrees were conferred on Dyson, along with Judge Joseph D. Johnson ’73 and Dr. Merdis J. McCarter, senior associate professor for Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Programs, who retired after more than 40 years at WSSU.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/d4a2qrv to view additional WSSU Commencement 2012 photosor visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=OySs3eTk5gg to see a video.

Record Number of Students Graduate

Dr. Legette Receives Excellence in Teaching Award

The 2012 WSSU Foundation Annual Golf Classic generated over $34,000 in proceeds for general scholarship support!

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time outram sports

24 Summer 2012

Conference champions in women’s cross country and softball, the Lady Rams re-ceived the Loretta Taylor All-Sports Trophy for the most successful women’s athletic teams. The Rams were honored with the C.H. Williams All-Sports Trophy, reflecting

conference championships in football, men’s basketball and baseball. Coach of the Year awards went to Lataya Hilliard-Gray, softball; Inez Turner, women’s cross country; Connell Maynor, football; and Kevin Ritsche, baseball. Reflecting the school’s equally strong focus on academic success, WSSU sports teams also took home awards for the top GPAs in the conference in bowling (3.16), golf (3.03), baseball (3.07) and men’s indoor track and field (2.87). Among the 32 student-athletes who graduated in May were five Magna Cum Laude graduates. They included Lady Rams track & field and cross country star Ashley Lawson, who was a member of three CIAA championship teams: both of the back-to-back CIAA women’s cross country cham-pionship teams as well as the 2011 CIAA women’s indoor track & field championship team. WSSU baseball’s Michael Robbins

and WSSU softball’s Candace Spinks, who were both members of CIAA championship teams, earned Magna Cum Laude honors as well. One of the most inspiring journeys came to its successful completion when former WSSU football player Travis Taylor completed his studies. The Newberry, S.C. native suffered a career-ending injury against the Shaw Bears in the fall of 2011. He soldiered on to complete his degree and will begin his professional career with the FBI this summer. “This is truly a special day,” said Hayes. “Some of our student-athletes are the first in their families to graduate college. Our aim now is to do even more and raise additional money for scholarships so we can continue our mission of graduating our student-ath-letes and winning championships.”

Go to wssurams.com to read more.

After one of the most successful years of competition in school history, WSSU Athletics ended the 2011-12 year in style, earning a bevy of awards at the 2012 CIAA Coaches Award Program in Newport News, Va. and, for the second consecutive year, graduating more than 30 Lady Rams and Rams.

2012 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

The Winston-Salem State University C.E. “Big House” Gaines Hall of Fame will welcome its 2012 class of inductees when eight individuals along with the 1999 and 2000 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champion Rams basketball teams will take their place among the WSSU greats. The individual inductees and the teams will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, August 31, at the Anderson Conference Center’s McNeil Banquet Room on the WSSU campus and will be honored at halftime at the Hall of Fame football game, featuring the Winston-Salem State University Rams versus UNC-Pembroke on Saturday, September 1.

The Clarence E. “Big House” Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2012 will include some of the top student-athletes in school history. The class will include three football players (Dr. Randy Bolton ’79, Willie Crite, Jr. ’10 and Dwayne Finch ’78), one wrestler (Bennie Carver ’91), one baseball player (Paul Hayes, Sr. ’58), one member of the Rams golf team (Alvin Queen, Sr. ’78), two for meritorious service (Peyton Hairston, Sr. ’54 and Dr. Clarence “Jeep” Jones ’55) and the 1999 and 2000 CIAA championship basketball teams.

Director of Athletics William “Bill” Hayes received the Jeannette Lee Athletic Achieve-ment Award for his extraordinary leadership and was named Athletic Director of the Year.

Tonia Walker, Associate AD/SWA, was honored as CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year for excellence in athletic administration.

An Outstanding Year for WSSU Athletics

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class notes’70s’70 Dr. Georgia Battle retired July 31,

2012 from Georgia Southern University as a Professor of Educational Psychology, Statesboro, Ga. She was granted Professor Emerita status.

’73 Mr. Kenn L. Hicks recently published his book, Eleven Building Blocks of Domestic Violence Prevention. Hicks’ endeavors are to reduce domestic and dating violence. He is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified Domestic Violence Counselor. For further information on domestic violence prevention or to purchase your copy of Hicks’ book, go to www.domesticviolenceprevention.org.

’75 Mr. Fred Whitted recently published his book, The Rams’ House: The Heritage of Winston Salem State University Athletics. The book is a narrative history of WSSU’s athletic program beginning in the 1920s through its recent SBN Black College Foot-ball National Championship. Whitted is also the publisher of the Black College Sports Encyclopedia. For more information or to purchase your copy of The Rams’ House, go to www.blackheritagereview.com.

’80s’80 Mr. Timothy Grant graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Government with a certificate in Municipal Administration on April 20, 2012.

’90s’91 Ms. Trice Hickman was nominated by the American Library Association for the prestigious 2013 “Reading List” for her novel, Unexpected Interruptions. Hickman also recently signed a three-book deal with Kensington Publishing Corp. (Dafina Books

imprint). Her novel, Playing the Hand You’re Dealt, will be released November 2012, and her fourth book, Breaking All My Rules, will be released spring 2013.

’93 Ms. Angela EdwardsHenderson received her Masters in Information Technology, December 2011 from Winston-Salem State University.

’94 Ms. AlTonya Washington received her Masters in Library Science in May from North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C. Washington is also a

published Harlequin author.

’95 Ms. Kenya Tyson was recently hired by Graduate School USA as Dean of Management Programs for its Academic Programs division. In this role she will manage day-to-day operations and budgets of Academic Programs, including developing and implementing department plans for both academic and continuing education. Tyson has over 15 years of experience in the

legal studies field as a professor, coordinator and manager of various programs, projects and initiatives.

’96 Ms. Angela D. Blue has been selected to serve as Assistant to the Chancellor at WSSU. In her new role, Blue will report to the Chancellor and will manage the inner workings of that office, including scheduling and related matters, travel, correspondence, etc. Blue will be the contact person for dealing directly with the Chancellor.

’00s’02 Dr. Serena Gayles completed her Doctorate of Chiropractic degree in December 2011 from Life University in Marietta, Ga. She specializes in Pediatric

Chiropractic and will obtain her pediatric certification in August 2012. Gayles started her practice, Rest and Restore Chiropractic, in North Atlanta in February 2012.

’03 Ms. TaShaun Long received her Masters Degree in Adult Education with a concentration in Higher Edu-cation in Student Personnel in December 2011.

’06 Mr. Justin Winslow was recently hired at Fidelity Investments as a Systems Engineer.

’11 Miss Darlene Kilbury became a Cer-tified Rehabilitation Nurse in December 2011.

Please Note: Our apologies go to Captain Twanda D. Scales for the misspelling of her name in the previous Archway.

ArchwAy 25

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:

WSSU Alumni RelationsAttn: class NotesS. G. Atkins housewinston-Salem, Nc 27110

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

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

New Address? o Yes o No

Full Name: _____________________________________________________________

Home Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ State: _______ Zip: _________________

Telephone Number: _________________ Email Address: _______________________

WSSU Degree: o BA o BS Major: _________________ Year Graduated: ______

Have you been receiving alumni correspondence? o Yes o No

Your news: ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________Please attach a current photograph to be included with the article. Digital files should be in .jpg format and no larger than 10 kb. Please make sure the image is at least 300 dpi for print publication. Due to production schedules, your news may not appear in the newsletter you receive immediately after submitting items.

First Middle Initial Last Maiden

27337_WSSU.indd 25 8/17/12 3:25 PM

alumni news

The theme of the Summer 2012 Archway magazine during this 120th year anniversary of Winston-Salem State University is about my favorite period in history – Now! As you know, we examined our past history (“Then”) in a previous edition of Archway and we will be looking to the future in an edition to come. But right now, it is about what’s happening now at our great institution. As you thumb through the latest issue of Archway, I strongly encourage you to consider this theme of “now” a call to action to all alumni of WSSU clear across the country from coast to coast. “Now” is about much more than just a theme. How so? Because of what is happening now at WSSU, I believe it is the express duty and obligation we all have as daughters and sons of this great institution – as its alumni – to insert ourselves into the current push for progress right now. As alumni, we are already committed to helping sustain and enhance the progress of today into the promise of tomorrow for the benefit of future generations of Rams by supporting the university with our resources – now. Right now is when we need your generous gifts and contributions to support student scholarships, university programs, athletics and your national alumni associa-tion through renewing your membership. Right now is when we need your talents and connections to help WSSU continue to grow and prosper by helping us identify and bring in promising students who would embrace a Winston-Salem State University education. We cannot wait. It is this moment in time – now – that awaits our support to give back to the university we love so dearly and that has given so much to us in our own professional and personal lives. For all of us, now is about following through on the built-in commitment that we accepted when

we passed through these halls on the way to earning our academic credentials from WSSU. Take a look at what is going on now in Ram Nation. Bold new academic programs, innovative research, increasing applications and enrollment. Also a growing national reputation and an annual high ranking in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges and Universities report. Imagine what happens when you travel across the country or display some

WSSU paraphernalia in your local community. People see that and they immediately think of the school’s run of success – now – and they will almost certainly inquire as to whether you are active alumni. What will your answer be? Can you beam with pride and say that you are integrally involved in the growth and prosperity we are experienc-ing now as an active alumni member? Or are you one of those alumni operating on the periphery who can only lay indirect claim to the success because you are a former student? This is what the focus on “now” should get all of us to ask about ourselves: “Am I part of Winston-Salem State University’s success now?” I am extremely proud and honored to lead the National Alumni Association during this period – now. One of my goals as National Alumni Association president is to take advantage of this dynamic period

in our history to build the most active and supportive alumni association WSSU has ever had. To achieve that, we must act now. Please join me in commemorating the 120th year of WSSU by enrolling and becoming an active member of our National Alumni Association now. Do not allow yourself to be disconnected from the greatness we have achieved and are expe-riencing right now. There is a lot more to come. If there is a time to get behind and support WSSU and your National Alumni Association, it is now. Your national dues are just $55 per year (July 1 – June 30) and can be paid at:

WSSU National Alumni AssociationPO Box 890670Charlotte, NC 28289-0670 Or pay online at WSSUNAA.org and click on Membership. Finally, let us also not forget to con-tribute to actively support our WSSUNAA Scholarship Endowment Fund as we press toward our goal of $500,000. We still need your help. A contribution of $120.00 to commemorate the University’s 120 years would be outstanding, or any amount you are able to give. Remember, someone invested in you and we must reach back and invest in those following us. Together, we can make this happen.

Gordon G. EverettNational PresidentClass of 1978www.wssuna.org

alumni news

Message from the President,WSSU National Alumni AssociationDear Fellow Alumni,

26 Summer 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

17A R C H W AY

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

Sincerely,

Please join me in commemorating the 120th year of WSSU

by enrolling and becoming an active member of our National Alumni

Association now.

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ArchwAy 27

Homecoming 2012 class anniversaries

1952 60 TBA 1962 50 Donald Faison, fais3063@bellsouth.net1972 40 Daisie Blue, 1130 Newport Common Dr., Apt 101, Knightdale, NC 27545 dbblue@nc.rr.com1982 30 Sharon Correll 2425 Sedalia Dr., Clemmons, NC 27012, scorrell@triad.rr.com1987 25 Denise Norwood Weekes, 39 Smith Street, Newark, NJ 07106 dstgirl9of9@yahoo.com1992 20 Tamala Bullard, 9519 Christian Walk Dr., #D, Charlotte, NC 28216 mstamala@yahoo.com

Class Year Anniversary Contacts

WSSU Calendar of Events WSSU 2012Football

CLEVELAND CLASSICSeptember 14-16, 2012The Kimberley Park Alumni Chapter of the Winston-Salem State University National Alumni Association is sponsoring a bus trip to the Cleveland Classic to see WSSU play Morehouse College of Atlanta, Ga., in the Cleveland Browns Stadium in

Cleveland, Ohio. Cost of the bus fare and football ticket is $125. Once your $25 deposit is made, you will receive information about discounted hotel reservations. For details, contact Barbara Manning, (336) 750-2122 or (336) 723-6471; Juliet Brown, (336) 744-5628; or Annie McMorris, (336) 650-0873.

120TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERTSunday, September 23, 2012, 3:00 PMWintley Phipps at KR Williams Auditorium on the Campus of WSSU/Doors open at 2:00 pm. General Admission: $30.00TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR. Tickets available through Ticketmaster and WSSU Ticket Office, Anderson Conference Center (Suite G-14A), Monday-Friday 11:00 am-5:00 pmConcert proceeds will benefit the scholarship program at WSSU.

HOMECOMING – SAVE THE DATEOctober 13-20, 2012Schedule of events will be posted 9/1/12 on www.ramhomecoming.com.

CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTFebruary 25-March 2, 2013Schedule of events will be posted 12/1/12 on WSSU.edu homepage.

Sept. 1UNC Pembroke

Sept. 8at Concord (W.Va.)

Sept. 15Morehouse

(in Cleveland, Ohio)

Sept. 22Virginia Union

Sept. 29at Bowie State

Oct. 6at Johnson C. Smith

Oct. 13St. Augustine’s

Oct. 20Livingstone

HOMECOMING

Oct. 27at Shaw

Nov. 3at Fayetteville State

WSSU History Answers

ACROSS 1. Monroe 3. Thompson 5. Diggs 7. Slater 11. Pedagogue 12. Arches 13. Blair 14. OKelly 15. Serve 16. Green

DOWN 2. Reaves 4. Nurses 6. Gaines 8. Francis 9. Amon 10. Teachers 13. Basketball

27337_WSSU.indd 27 8/17/12 3:25 PM

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

www.wssurampages.com

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI GIVING RESPONSE!

IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO BE A RAM!

More than 1,500 people pledged a gift during our recent Call Program.

More than half were first-time donors, and 371 were young alumni who graduated

in the last 10 years.

If you haven’t made a gift, it is not too late. Just use the enclosed business return envelope.

Or donate online at WSSU.edu. Click on the “Donate Now” button.

Your generosity will have a positive impact on our students and make a difference for years to come.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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