Although an overcast and drizzling day in Talladega, the ‘Alpha Lyrae Vega of them All,’ beamed today as Alabama legislators and guests visited the one hundred forty-four year old campus. The Bloom Group, an Alabama government relations entity in Montgomery, and Senator Jerry Fielding helped sponsor and organize a meeting of Alabama legislators to visit Talladega College.
President, Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, along with government officials and guests, deans, staff and students ate breakfast at a meet and greet session in historic Swayne Hall. Afterwards, the group was escorted to DeForest Chapel on the campus for a formal session. There, Senator Fielding, 11th district Senator for Calhoun, Coosa, Elmore and Talladega Counties, welcomed the guests of government representatives and constituents that came to the meeting. He thanked everyone for their attendance and acknowledged key leaders in the audience. In attendance were: Representative Ron Johnson, the longest serving House member in Alabama; Senator Roger Smitherman of Jefferson County; Representative Barbara Boyd, Representative of Calhoun and Talladega Counties; Mack Ferguson, Executive Director of the Talladega Chamber of Commerce, and others were en route to the meeting. After the introductions and remarks by Senator Fielding, the audience was officially welcomed by Dr. Hawkins. President Hawkins presented a slide show to the audience documenting the history of Talladega College as Alabama’s oldest historically black private college in the state and the first institution to integrate in 1867. He unfolded the legacy of the College from its humble beginnings to the advancement of its current status under his administration for the past four years.
Additional representatives and senators are expected to arrive for the day’s continued events. The attending guests were transported from the campus to the Talladega Raceway to visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Talladega College student leaders, deans, and Administrative Staff will attend the event. James Dupree of The Bloom Group remarked, “I believe Talladega College is a treasure for the state of Alabama. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of what the College offers. The purpose of today’s visit is to garner more legislative and government support for this institution and especially amongst its local government officials.” Mr. Dupree hoped that today’s event will renew enthusiasm and support for what President Hawkins calls, “Alabama’s hidden jewel (Talladega College).” Founding principal of the Bloom Group, Hal Bloom; Allen Sanderson, former Alabama House Republican Minority Whip; and John Floyd, of the Bloom Group, were also in attendance at today’s meeting.
ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE
Talladega College, founded in 1867, is Alabama's oldest historically black private college and among the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation. Located in the historic district of the city of Talladega, Alabama, the college offers a range of degrees in four divisions: Business and Administration, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Education.
Talladega College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award baccalaureate degrees; and the school holds several institutional memberships. For more information visit
www.talladega.edu
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, November 15th 2011 at 5:37PM
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