Bennett College celebrates 90th anniversary

Bennett College celebrates its 90th anniversary this year and has a series of events scheduled to mark the milestone.

“Here at Bennett College we develop young women into future teachers, scientists, journalists, entrepreneurs, social workers, and the list goes on-because we go on,” said Bennett College President Rosalind Fuse-Hall. “As we celebrate 90 years of Bennett College, we also celebrate 90 years of sisters who have come together on this campus, sisters who developed into more than just graduates and achievers. Bennett Belles know that there is no limit to what they can do, because no does not mean never.”

Bennett College was founded in Greensboro in 1873 by emancipated slaves in the basement of Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church. Seventy young men and women started a school of elementary and secondary level studies. In 1874, the college was under the Freedmen’s Aid Society for the next five years and in 1926, Bennett College was officially named a women’s college. Although Bennett College is a historically Black college, the college has both faculty and students who are from very diverse backgrounds.

Deborah Love, who is the President of Bennett College National Alumnae Association, and Keri Peterson, assistant professor of history in the college’s Department of Humanities are chairing the planning committee.

Bennett College will kick-off its anniversary celebration with a film screening on Monday, February 8, at 7 p.m., in the Global Learning Center (GLC) auditorium. The college will be highlighting the film “Imba Means Sing” and providing those who attend, the opportunity to meet and talk with the award-winning film maker, Erin Bernhardt.

More events in February are as follows:

• Feb. 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Cafeteria, Campus Kickoff Pre-Valentine Celebration: “Lov’in on Bennett for 90 Years.”
• Feb. 25-27, 7:30 p.m., Little Theatre, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman.

• Feb. 22-26, Gordon Parks Film Festival, hosted by the Journalism and Media Studies Department, will feature Antonio Fargas, David Parks and rare historical films.