N.C A&T will celebrate its founder’s day tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon in Harrison Auditorium. This celebration will mark the institution’s 122nd year of existence. Dr. Benjamin Uwakweh, Dean of the School of Technology and chair of the committee for Founders’ Day, along with University Awards and Honorary Degree Committee, planned for Founder’s Day preparation.
Dr. Uwakweh said it is important that students attend convocation and take part in this historical moment. Dr. Uwakweh said, “It will give them an opportunity to learn more about the history of the university and also to help the university celebrate our heritage, legacy and the many outstanding alumni.”
Dr. Uwakweh said everyone can look forward to this year’s Founder’s Day Convocation, as it will honor the rich history of A&T. At convocation, the university will recognize alums from each school and college with an Alumni Achievement Award. This award is given to alumni that have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the university. There will also be a candle lighting ceremony commemorating all of the past presidents and chancellors.
The keynote speaker for this event will be Aggie Alum Rep. Edolphus Towns Jr. Dr. Uwekwah said Towns was chosen as this year’s keynote speaker because of his outstanding service and contributions to the University, the state of New York and the country.
A native of Chadbourn, N.C., Towns earned a bachelor’s degree from A&T in 1956. He received his master’s degree from Adelphi University. Towns, a democrat from New York, served in the United States House of Representative from 1983 to 2013. He was chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2011. During his 30 years in Congress, he represented districts based in Brooklyn: first New York’s 11th congressional district, from 1983 to 1993, followed by the 10th district from 1993 to 2013.
He worked as an administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center, a professor at New York’s Medgar Evers College and Fordham University as well as a public school teacher. He is a veteran of the United States Army and an ordained Baptist minister.
Rep. Towns serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He has co-sponsored and enacted several pieces of federal legislation including the Student Right To Know Act, which mandated the reporting of the rate of graduation among student athletes. He also created the Telecommunications Development Fund, which provides capital for minority business initiatives and the development of a federal program for poison and control centers.
Rep. Towns is the recipient of the 2012 Chair’s Leadership Award (formerly the Presidential Award). He is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes. They have two children, Darryl and Deidra.
This year we expect to see A&T faculty, staff, community leaders, and A&T Alumni. This event is free and open to the public.
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- Porcha Taylor, Contributor
