In his annual address to university faculty and staff, Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. expressed pride and excitement for the upcoming academic year at North Carolina A&T State University.

“There are so many reasons to be excited and enthused,” Martin said to an engaged audience at Harrison Auditorium on Aug. 14. “Today’s program kicks off a yearlong commemoration of the 125th anniversary of this progressive university celebrating the accomplishments of the visionaries who laid the cornerstones of this progressive institution, honoring our outstanding alumni and continuing on the path to preeminence.”

As the university community prepares to participate in several celebratory events for the university’s 125th anniversary, administrators aim to build on last year’s momentum to power through the next five years to preeminence.

During his presentation, the chancellor highlighted the following:

Enrollment grew to more than 10,700 students, making N.C. A&T the largest historically black university in the country last year;

A&T ranked No. 2 among the nation’s public HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report and No. 1 in the state of North Carolina for three consecutive years;

A&T ranked No. 3 in sponsored research in the UNC system for nine consecutive years;

The university was a co-winner of the 1890 University of the Year and Innovation awards by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities; and

A&T received the 2015 Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

In addition to these strides, the Department of Athletics also made significant improvements. Last year the bowling team was crowned 2015 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team champion, the football team was a co-winner of the MEAC championship, Tariq Cohen was named MEAC co-offensive player of the year, and baseball catcher Adan Ordonez was named MEAC’s Rookie of the Year.

In spite of these gains, according to the A&T Preeminence 2020 progress report, the university is falling short of goals for overall enrollment, dollar amounts for research grants and the value of the university’s endowment.

Martin said to shore up those deficits, build on last year’s momentum and propel the university closer to the fulfillment of the strategic plan, A&T Preeminence 2020 and beyond, there is only one way to do that—together.

On Aug. 14, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University kicked off its yearlong celebration to commemorate its 125 years as a premier institution of higher learning. The anniversary’s theme is Our Pride, Our Future.

“This is an exciting time to be a member of the Aggie family,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “This year we will celebrate the pride of our university—our rich history and traditions, the innovations and accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty and staff—and look forward to our future of preeminence.”

With humble beginnings as one class in an annex of Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. A&T has grown to become one of America’s most highly-respected land-grant, doctoral/research universities educating high-achieving students and attracting ambitious faculty and their innovative research across disciplines like science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as agriculture, education, business, the social sciences, the arts and humanities.

A&T is entering its 10th consecutive year ranked No. 3 in research funding in the University of North Carolina System and remains the nation’s leading producer of African American engineers on the undergraduate level as well as a top producer of African Americans with degrees in STEM disciplines.

From the beginning, this institution has been committed to preparing students to be global leaders in the careers of the future. The university’s more than 50,000 alumni of record continue to make valuable contributions to their respective industries and communities all over the globe.

To celebrate this tremendous milestone, A&T has identified three signature events: the annual Faculty/Staff Institute (Aug. 14), a Birthday Bash (March 24, 2016) and a 125th Anniversary Scholarship Gala (April 23). These events are open to the public.

In addition, the university has challenged all alumni, students, faculty and staff to participate in a combined 125 service projects. As a recipient of the 2015 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Community Engagement Classification and a land-grant university, A&T has a special responsibility to strategically partner with groups and individuals on a local, national and global level to create a lasting, positive impact on social and environmental challenges that proactively respond to the needs of others.

Leading by example, the chancellor and his cabinet have partnered with Guilford County Schools to read a total of 125 books to students across 10 elementary schools.

Another extension of the celebration will be the adoption of the Heritage Collection that will bring back a series of retired trademarks and logos for various items and apparel available exclusively in the A&T campus bookstore.

For additional information about the 125th anniversary events and the university, visit www.ncat.edu/125.

Approximately 1,802 freshmen and 634 transfer students joined the student body at North Carolina A&T State University when classes began Aug. 19.

“The entire Aggie family is pleased to welcome more than 2,400 new Aggies to our student body,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “We are honored that they have made the decision to continue their academic excellence at N.C. A&T.”

This year’s freshman class is among one of the most academically talented in university history, registering an average SAT score of 920, an ACT score of 19 and a high school grade point average of 3.4.

The class of 2019 includes 141 students who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school percentile and 249 who graduated in the top 20 percent. Twenty of those students make up this year’s cohort of Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholars, A&T’s preeminent, four-year renewable scholarship awarded to freshmen that have demonstrated excellence in academics and scholarly leadership in high school.

New freshmen represent 32 states, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands and Armed Forces Pacific or AP addresses. States with the most representation include Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina, respectively.

A&T also counts 102 students from Guilford Technical Community College and seven students from Henan Polytechnic University (HPU) in China among its transfer students. The HPU students will complete the last two years of a mechanical or electrical engineering degree via the university’s exchange program. They join 10 students who transferred last year in the program’s inaugural year.

North Carolina A&T State University has been ranked among North Carolina’s top 10 by MONEY magazine Best Colleges.

In a special report released in July, MONEY determined the best four-year colleges and universities that offer the most value. In this report, value equals a great education at an affordable price that helps students launch promising careers.

The methodology uses 21 factors including six-year graduation rate, peer quality, instructor quality, net price of the degree, debt, affordability for low to moderate income students and others, across three categories—quality of education, affordability and outcomes—each equaling one-third of the overall weight.

“It is encouraging to have N.C. A&T be ranked among the top of North Carolina’s 56 four-year institutions,” said Provost Joe B. Whitehead. “We strive daily to create learning opportunities that will position our students for success after graduation.”

MONEY initially assessed approximately 1,500 of the United States’ colleges and universities. In an initial cut, the magazine screened out the schools with graduation rates below the median and those facing financial difficulty. That left 736 institutions to rank, 24 of those are in North Carolina.

A&T is a doctoral/research, land-grant institution that offers 59 undergraduate degrees with 96 concentrations, 31 master’s degrees with 49 concentrations, and nine doctoral degrees.

For additional information about the university and options for post-secondary education, visit the university’s website.

A collection of 14 Alexander Calder tapestries created by artisans from Guatemala and Nicaragua will be exhibited at University Galleries on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University, Sept. 11–27. The collection is one of four complete sets in the nation.

The tapestries that will be on display—interpretations of Calder’s artistic designs—were created by native artisans in Guatemala to fund relief efforts after a series of earthquakes in Nicaragua. The handmade fiber art was produced by braiding, dyeing and folding the materials.

Calder (1898–1976) was an American artist who studied engineering. In 1926, Calder moved to Paris where he studied art at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and made his first small figure of wire, wood and cloth. He is best known for his innovation of the mobile—his are balanced yet complex abstract creations.

The exhibit is part of ArtsGreensboro’s 17Days Arts & Cultural Festival that will feature more than 100 events such as music, award-winning theatre, dance, storytelling, visual arts, galleries and more. The festival is a collaborative listing of fall arts and cultural events produced by dozens of independent organizations, artists and presenters in Greensboro as a public service. For more information, click here to visit the website or call 336-373-7523.

University Galleries are located in the Dudley Memorial Building and are open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday and Saturdays by appointment. For information, call 336-334-3209.