Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Empowering a Diverse Work Force
In the late 1800's the nation's first historically black colleges and universities emerged in the North. During these years, African-Americans were prohibited from attending white institutions and several states even had laws preventing blacks from reading and writing. Recognizing the limited opportunities for blacks, churches and other organizations founded many of the early historically black colleges and universities. These institutions stood as great beacons to African-Americans in search of a better future.
Today more than 300,000 students of all nationalities choose one of the nation's 103 HBCU's as their guiding light. Having provided the nation with hundreds of elected officials, physicians, teachers, ambassadors and business executives; the success of HBCU's speaks for itself. They are a source of pride for all Americans and reflect the determination and spirit that are essential to achieving educational success at any level.
Hampton University
Founded in 1868, the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute began as a place to prepare hopeful African-American men and women to lead their newly freed people. Booker T. Washington was one of its first graduates. In 1984, Hampton Institute became Hampton University. Since its humble beginnings, HU has held fast to its founding principle, a dedication to "education for life," both in and out of the classroom.
In the classroom, a unique faculty made up of both prominent scholars and accomplished professionals helps students to expand their minds. However, intellectual development is not the only focus of Hampton University. Character building is also highly emphasized.
Outside the classroom, students receive a host of opportunities to practice leadership and community service. Most of the university's 5,700 students live on campus. These students come to Hampton from 49 states and 35 territories and nations. This diversity greatly contributes to the real sense of community that HU strives to uphold.
Hampton University boasts a revolutionary student leadership program, the Honors College, which is recognized as a model by other colleges and universities. The program involves students in intensive activities, develops their interpersonal skills and assesses their individual leadership styles.
In recent years, Hampton University has provided Norfolk Southern with a number of exemplary graduates.
The Faces of Hampton University Graduates at NS
Since 1991, Norfolk Southern has recruited several HU alumni. They have drawn on their first-rate education at Hampton University to contribute to the success of the corporation. These seven employees have proved themselves a great asset to Norfolk Southern's talented and diverse work force and management team.
Paul Greene is a 1991 Hampton University graduate and currently works as a strategic planning manager. Greene says the faculty's expectations and the competition from fellow students equipped him with great confidence as he entered the corporate world.
"'Education for Life' is a Hampton University credo and one that I didn't fully understand until after graduating from HU. The book knowledge is certainly valuable, because it provides the needed training in my discipline, but sharing the experiences of fellow students and the faculty has helped enrich my preparedness for many situations that I have faced over the past 12 years."
A 1997 graduate, Beverly Dupree, network engineer, values the well-rounded education that Hampton University imparted. As a freshman accounting major, she was unsure of what field in accounting she wanted to pursue. Before long, Dupree found that HU offered students a competitive edge.
"Hampton always emphasized academics and never thinking your goals were unattainable. At the end of my four years, I learned that I could take my accounting degree and go anywhere with it, whether it was accounting, teaching or information technology. I was definitely taught how to market myself."
Hollie Johnson, supervisor of revenue accounting customer service, also graduated in 1997 with a degree in accounting. She thanks HU for training her how to approach the corporate world as well as opening her eyes to her culture.
"Being that Hampton University is a historically black college, I learned a lot more about my people. I discovered many more contributors to our society that were African-Americans, and that really helped me. It made me more proud of my heritage."
Graduating one year later, Monica Edwards, joined Norfolk Southern after graduating from HU with a degree in finance. Edwards, now an economic analyst for NS, appreciates the many opportunities for success Hampton University has created for her.
"Hampton helped me develop necessary tools, such as analytical skills, creative thinking, communication skills, teamwork and problem solving, which have benefited me not only in my career, but in my every day life as well."
In 2000, Lewis Maye, terminal trainmaster Birmingham, Ala., became a part of the proud tradition of HU graduates at Norfolk Southern. Maye says that a great advantage of his education at Hampton University was the high understanding of self and community that HU permeates in its students.
"HU instills in students the point that they can do things on their own without crutches or ill-begotten help. HU also makes sure that students understand how important it is to help others without being a crutch. Above all of this, one thing that makes Hampton University one of the best schools in the country is that you are a name, not a number."
Bethany Byrd is a very recent addition to the collection of HU graduates at Norfolk Southern. Byrd joined NS in 2002 with a degree in business. Currently working as a customer account representative in the revenue accounting department, she credits the high quality of instruction at HU for better preparing her for her future.
"The one thing that really stood out to me was the instructors. They tend to pull instructors who have had a great deal of experience in their field. The teachers helped me deal with real-life situations. They did a lot of reality focusing instead of theory."
Stanley Aughtry also graduated in 2002 and received a degree in electrical engineering. Aughtry, a mechanical supervisor, agrees that Hampton University is one of the finest institutions of higher education in America.
"I feel that Hampton prepared me academically with a knowledge base to excel, and socially with an emotional aptitude to succeed. The skills I learned in my major through classes, research opportunities and tutoring have provided me with a level platform to compete in the workplace. The faculty and administration are dedicated professionals in the business of facilitating an environment for the growth and education of tomorrow's leaders. There is a sense of camaraderie and a drive for excellence shared by seemingly every person affiliated with the school."