PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 20, 2023) – On March 22, Prairie View A&M University will honor its founders and celebrate the students who help shape its future at its Founders’ Day and Honors Recognition Convocation.
More than 6,000 students will be recognized for their academic achievement in 2022: 3,270 students for the spring semester and 3,505 for the fall semester. Students on the Dean’s Honors list earned a 3.0-3.49 GPA, while those who earned a 3.5-4.0 GPA are named to the University Honor Roll list.
This year’s program is hosted by the College of Business. COB Dean Munir Quddus said, “We will gather to celebrate the success of undergraduate student scholars whose exemplary performance furthers the research and academic mission of PVAMU.
“These students are our future. Among them are entrepreneurs and business professionals, scientists and doctors, artists and writers, and teachers and professors who will lead the nation in the coming years. Soon, these young men and women will make their mark on the local, national and global stage and add to the proud legacy of Prairie View A&M University,” he said.
That legacy began nearly 150 years ago when the University was established by Article 7 of the Texas Constitution of 1876. In that year, State Senator Matthew Gaines and State Representative William H. Holland – both former slaves who became leading political figures – crafted legislation for the creation of a state-supported “Agricultural and Mechanical” college.
In the article, the constitution stated that “Separate schools shall be provided for the white and colored children, and impartial provisions shall be made for both.” The legislation made Prairie View A&M the first state-supported institution of higher learning for African Americans in Texas.
On March 11, 1878, eight young African American men, the first of their race to enroll in a state-supported college in Texas, began their studies at what was then called Alta Vista Agricultural & Mechanical College for Colored Youth.
Fast forward to today, the University pays tribute to its humble beginnings during the annual Founders’ Day event.
This year’s convocation speaker is Arturis Spencer Ill ’03, an audit partner and CPA at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting organizations. Spencer is also the recipient of the 2012 PVAMU Distinguished Young Alumni Award, as well as a 2017 “40 under 40” honoree. The PVAMU alumnus serves as chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business.
Wednesday’s event will be streamed live on PVAMU’s official YouTube channel. View a complete list of the honorees here.
Visit www.pvamu.edu/honorsconvocation to learn more about the event.
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