North Carolina A&T’s many points of progress this year gave me ample opportunity for reflection and for gratitude. Having marked my 10th year last summer as chancellor, I am as thankful today as I was in 2009 for the opportunity to lead this remarkable institution.

I’m far from the only one who cares deeply about our university. We’ve been fortunate to attract outstanding faculty, skilled administrators and staff and high-achieving students, creating a critical mass of Aggies strongly committed to A&T’s success.

Working as a team, we have been able to steer the big ship that is A&T in exciting new directions over the past decade. This year marked our sixth consecutive year as America’s largest historically black university and our second as its top-rated public HBCU in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Just as importantly, it marked our first in the magazine’s national university numerical rankings, where we joined 300 leading peers.

Our students’ academic profile has grown dramatically during that same time. Incoming classes in both 2018 and 2019 held average GPAs of 3.5 or greater. The top students who comprise our Cheatham-White and Dowdy scholars programs hold GPAs well in excess of 4.0 and would be welcome on the campus of any university in America.

For those who knew the A&T of 10 years ago, our transformation has been remarkable. From a storied institution that was faltering in enrollment and key measures of achievement, from graduation rates to athletic performance, the 180-degree pivot has encompassed nearly every aspect of the university and been a boon for A&T supporters.

As this year of continued blessings draws to a close, I am deeply grateful for what it has meant to our university and hope that your year was every bit as edifying. May your holidays be peaceful and full of light. And may the new year bring engaging opportunity, rewarding success and plenty of joy.

- Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.

At the ceremony to lay the top beam for the new $90-million Engineering Research and Innovation Center, one of the highlights of 2019.

The North Carolina A&T Aggies took Atlanta by storm on Dec. 21 in their fourth trip to the Celebration Bowl, hammering Alcorn State 64-44 and shattering numerous offensive records.

The sparkling performance not only played out in front of a national television audience on the ABC-TV network, but in front of 33,000 fans, the bowl game’s highest attendance since its inaugural year in 2015. Fifth-year quarterback Kylil Carter, who threw for 364 yards and six touchdowns, earned Offensive MVP honors, while freshman linebacker Jacob Roberts, who returned an interception 28 yards and recorded six tackles, was named Defensive MVP.

The game capped a week of festivities and service that saw Washington and radio legend Tom Joyner inducted into the Celebration Bowl Champions Circle and the entire Aggie team visited children in a local hospital to brighten their holiday season.

The game itself has become an increasingly popular place to see and be seen, drawing celebrity attendees this year including basketball great Shaquille O’Neal, actors Chris Tucker, Morris Chestnut and Tyrese Gibson and music industry stars 2 Chainz and Jermaine Dupri, among others.

A&T’s third consecutive Celebration Bowl title is expected to pay off in numerous ways for the university, boosting admission applications, providing a lift for donor support and continuing to build the university’s national brand, as well as giving Washington and his assistant coaches plenty to discuss with recruits.