UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES 145 YEARS WITH FOUNDERS WEEK OBSERVANCE The Saint Augustine’s University community celebrated 145 years of academic excellence during its annual Founders Week observance Jan. 22-29. This year’s celebration included a wreath-laying ceremony, Classy Hat and Bold Tie M entoring Luncheon and gospel concert, among other events. A first for this event was the Community Service Day, through which the University partnered with The Boys and Girls Club of Raleigh, The YMCA and Habitat for Humanity. On campus, the Office of Student Activities hosted its Organ and Tissue Educational
Program and Campaign. The project was designed to create an education program that will raise awareness and promote the importance of organ and tissue donation. Other new events included a candle lighting ceremony and the Honors College convocation, during which the University recognized more than 450 students for outstanding academic achievement. Dr. Charlie Nelms, chancellor of North Carolina Central University, was the keynote speaker for convocation.
NEW SAINT AUGUSTINE’S UNIVERSITY STADIUM MAKES HISTORY
On Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, Saint Augustine’s
program. It seemed outside of my concept of
Athletic Complex. The state-of-the-art stadium
University hosted a football game on campus for the
collegiate life to not have football,” Suber said.
includes a nine-lane internationally sanctioned track
first time in the University’s history. The occasion, which came just in time for Homecoming, was the result of the fearless leadership of President Dianne Boardley Suber. Just 10 years ago, Saint Augustine’s University didn’t have a football program. The program was cut in 1965 due to budget constraints. It was Suber who pushed to bring it back in 2002. The Board of Trustees asked Suber about athletics when she first came to the University. “It occurred to me that we didn’t have a football
Suber thought back to her experiences of going
and a FieldTurf playing field.
to football games at Florida A&M University and
“We accomplished a goal no one else could. It’s a
Hampton University.
good feeling,” Suber said. “We were able to c omplete
“I realized the impact football has on student life and connecting alumni to their alma mater,” Suber said.
this project in a recession with no b orrowed money. It’s a testament to where we are as an institution.”
“We tried to host Homecoming around basketball
The stadium is named in honor of the University’s
season, and it did not work for us. It provides
athletic director and world renowned track coach
additional value to the campus. It gives alumni a
George Williams. Williams has won more than 150
reason to come back.”
CIAA titles and 31 NCAA titles in track and cross
With the resurgence of football, Suber led the University in the construction of the George Williams
country. He was also head coach of the men’s 2004 U.S. Olympic track and field team, which he led to a Gold medal at the games in Athens, Greece.