Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Â鶹ÊÓƵ Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Impact

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Gadsden, AL - Â鶹ÊÓƵ is commemorating its 100th anniversary with the "Celebrate Â鶹ÊÓƵ" campaign, highlighting a century of academic excellence and community service.  Founded in 1925 as the Alabama School of Trades—the South's first state-operated trade school—Â鶹ÊÓƵ has evolved through the consolidation of several institutions into a comprehensive community college.​

Historical Highlights:

• Alabama School of Trades (1925): Established as the first state-operated trade school in the South, it laid the foundation for technical education in the region. ​
• Gadsden Vocational Trade School (1960): Founded by Eugene N. Prater to provide vocational training for African Americans.  It was later renamed Â鶹ÊÓƵ Technical Institute and designated as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in 1997. ​
• Â鶹ÊÓƵ Junior College (1965): Established by the Alabama State Legislature to offer professional and technical programs, further expanding educational opportunities in the area.  
• Harry M. Ayers State Technical College (1963): Founded to provide technical education and later merged with Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2003.

These institutions merged over the years to form the present-day Â鶹ÊÓƵ, which now operates multiple campuses, including the East Broad, Valley Street, Wallace Drive, Ayers, and Cherokee campuses.  

This will be a yearlong celebration highlighting the impact Â鶹ÊÓƵ has made in the lives of students and the community.

Centennial Celebration Events:

• June: Ayers Campus​
• July: Valley Street Campus​
• August: Cherokee Campus​
• September: East Broad Campus​
• October: Cardinal Gala at The Venue​

For specific dates, times, and additional details on these events, please visit gadsdenstate.edu/celebrate.cms.

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