by nahlah Abdur-Rahman
April 28, 2025
The donation covers the money owed of the final 11 college students with excellent funds forward of commencement.
A historic Black church in Virginia has paid off the money owed of 11 graduating seniors at Saint Augustine’s College.
The Alfred Road Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, donated a lofty sum of $132,469 to cowl the ultimate funds of 11 seniors on the North Carolina HBCU. In accordance with Various Schooling, the information comes forward of SAU’s graduation ceremony on Might 3.
The monumental reward will permit these college students to obtain their diplomas with this monetary stress relieved. The college’s interim president, Dr. Marcus H. Burgess, expressed their gratitude towards the congregation for blessing these soon-to-be graduates.
“This act of grace by Alfred Road Baptist Church is nothing in need of transformative for our college students and our establishment,” stated SAU Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. “We’re immensely grateful for this demonstration of religion and partnership.”
The church is understood for its place as one of many oldest and largest predominately Black congregations. In its 222-year historical past, it has been a long-time supporter of HBCUs. Church officers additionally said that round 60% of its 13,000 members are HBCU alum.
“That is what ministry seems to be like,” proclaimed Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Senior Pastor of Alfred Road Baptist Church. “We consider in investing in college students, in HBCUs, and in a future the place monetary hardship ought to by no means be a barrier to commencement.”
Nevertheless, the Virginia-based church’s efforts to assist SAU seniors comes from two its of members. Gilbert and Carolyn Knowles advocated for his or her alma mater to assist college students obtain the essential monetary assist.
“When my spouse and I found that our church, Alfred Road, authorised the donation and the quantity they might give to SAU, we cried tears of pleasure out of affection for our church and our alma mater,” shared Gilbert who graduated from SAU in 1976.
The information additionally comes as SAU fights a battle to maintain its accreditation. Like different HBCUs, the college has additionally confronted hurdles in its monetary maintenance and sustainability, leaving its future as a studying heart for Black students in jeopardy. Particularly because the Trump Administration proposes funds cuts to schooling funding, many of those establishments stay at an excessive threat of going beneath.
Nevertheless, establishments like Alfred Road proceed to rally behind these faculties, guaranteeing future Black leaders get hold of an HBCU schooling. Representatives for the church may also attend SAU’s graduation ceremony, celebrating the very graduates whose desires have been fulfilled as a result of prolonged communal assist.
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