Tuskegee University

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

  • #Winning. I've won twenty-nine Football SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) championships, which is the most in history.
     
  • You've heard of Taco Tuesdays—now, get ready for Fried Chicken Wednesdays, when you'll get to chow down on the best fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and sweet tea in the state.
     
  • Being fly—literally. I'm one of two centers in the world funded by NASA to develop technology for growing food in space during human space missions.
     
  • Golden Tigers go on to cure animals of every stripe. I've graduated approximately 70% of the nation's black veterinarians and approximately 92% of veterinarians from other countries who have studied in the United States for the professional degree.
     
  • Cultural icons can't get enough of me. Some of the world's most renowned individuals have visited and spoke on my campus, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Ronald Reagan, Louis Farrakhan, Dr. Cornel West, and Michelle Obama.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

  1. Cash. Unless you like paying ridiculous ATM fees to withdraw cash from a bank you've probably never heard of, keep cash on you at all times.
     
  2. Transportation. Tuskegee is a small city—so small that places like Walmart, Target, and Sam's are only available in the next city over.
     
  3. A fan. The weather in August and May makes or breaks freshmen. It gets pretty hot around here (to say the least), so come prepared.
     
  4. School spirit. You'll be ushered out of "The Shed" at a football game or laughed at during a basketball game if you're not publicly rooting for the Golden Tigers.
     
  5. Passion and pride. I'm one of the top institutions in the world. I'm also an HBCU. Coincidence? I think not. My pride is palpable.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

  • Ever wonder why the Tuskegee Airmen were called the Tuskegee Airmen? I'm why. You're welcome, America.
     
  • I'm the largest producer of African Americans with baccalaureate degrees in math, science, and engineering in Alabama.
     
  • George Washington Carver developed much of his research and findings on my campus, so it's only fitting that I currently house the George Washington Carver Museum. If you're looking to amp up your Friday night, you can visit his grave in the University Cemetery.
     
  • I produce more African American general officers in the military than any other institution, including the service academies. Take that, West Point. My facilities sit on more than 5,000 acres of forestry and a campus that is valued in excess of $500 million.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

I'm probably at a party at the World Famous Soul Inn. Many revere 'The Soul' as a second home; many others revere it as a hot, one-room shack that hosts awesome parties. Nevertheless, attending a party at 'The Soul' is a rite of passage for my students, and it's one spot that I'll never get tired of. Ever.

Favorite Hangouts:

  • The Yard. Located smack in the center of the campus, this is where you can find someone hanging out at any time of the day. Whether sitting under the gazebo, initiating an impromptu game of football, or hanging out under one of the designated plots for our Divine Nine Fraternities and Sororities, someone is always chillin' on The Yard.
     
  • The Student Union got a big makeover in 2013, and man, was it worth it. It's got study rooms, a computer lab, a game room, a restaurant, a ballroom, an auditorium, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. During the day, you may find an organization hosting a voter registration drive; by night, the ballroom might be packed with students for a party hosted by our Student Government Association. Either way, there'll be lots of people.

Quirks:

  • In addition to Spring Break, I have an official Easter Break to help ease the hectic nature of the spring semester. From Good Friday to Fat Tuesday, students and faculty are given strict instructions to relax and chill out.
     
  • I'm the only college or university in the country to be designated a National Historic Site by the U.S. Congress.
     
  • A small city = hometown vibes. I'm really close with Tuskegee, and a lot of my students appreciate the communal, family-oriented vibe that permeates the place. Talk about home away from home.

Famous Alumni:

  • Alice Coachman, first African American Olympic gold medal winner
     
  • Tom Joyner, radio host and creator of the Tom Joyner Foundation
     
  • Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker
     
  • Amelia Boynton Robinson, Civil Rights activist who was well known for her activism in Selma, Alabama
     
  • Robert Benham, first Black Georgia Supreme Court judge
     
  • Lionel Richie, musician
     
  • Ralph Ellison, novelist
     
  • General Daniel "Chappie" James, the first black four-star general in the U.S. Military
     
  • Marilyn Mosby, State's Attorney for Baltimore, Maryland

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