North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Encyclopedia
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T or A&T) is a land-grant university
located in Greensboro, North Carolina
, United States
. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college
(HBCU) in the state of North Carolina.
NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and classified as a research university with high research activity by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
. Founded in 1891 and known then as The Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race.
NC A&T is one of the nation's leading producers of African-American engineers with bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. NASA is one of the major partners of the School of Engineering. It is also the nation's top producer of minorities with degrees (as a whole) in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. NC A&T is also a leading producer of minority certified public accountants, landscape architects, and veterinarians. NC A&T offers 116 bachelor's degrees, 54 master's degrees, and doctorate degrees in energy and environmental studies, Leadership Studies
, and mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering. NC A&T is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
.
, ratified March 9, 1891. The act read in part: "That the leading objective of the college shall be to teach practical agriculture and the mechanic arts and such learning as related thereto, not excluding academic and classical instruction." This college was established along with North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as North Carolina State University; due to segregation laws, whites and blacks could not attend college together. The college operated in Raleigh at the private Shaw University
until 1893, when donations from Dr. Dewitt, C. Benbow and Charles H. Moore totaling $11,000 and 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land allowed the establishment of a campus in Greensboro
. The original course of study of A&T included languages and literature, mathematics, business, agriculture and military science. Female students enrolled from 1893 until 1901, but not again until 1928. In 1915, the name of the College became The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina by act of the NC General Assembly.
On February 1, 1960, four A&T freshmen helped spark the civil rights movement in the South
. Ezell Blair (Jibreel Khazan), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond "sat-in" at an all white eating establishment (Woolworth's) and demanded equal service at the lunch counter. Because of their great desire for change and equality they inspired many other students of the university to join them in their non-violent protest to desegregate Woolworth's lunch counter. By the end of July 1960, their mission was accomplished and they became the A&T Four and their campaign became known as the Greensboro sit-ins
. Seven years later, the college gained university status and became North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
On February 25, 2009, Chancellor Stanley Battle announced his resignation, effective June 30, 2009, citing family and personal issues. The following month, on May 22, 2009, Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr. was elected as the 12th chancellor of the university by UNC System Board of Governors.
, Basketball
, Football
, indoor/outdoor Track & Field and cross country
for male athletes. NC A&T also fields teams in Basketball, Bowling
, Softball
, volleyball
, indoor/outdoor Track & Field, Tennis
, cross country, and Swimming
for female athletes. The school athletic teams are called the Aggies or Lady Aggies. Cheerleading
is offered as the only co-ed sport at the university. The Aggie cheer squad are multiple time MEAC champions in both all girls and co-ed division cheerleading. The university participates in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) in all varsity sports. The Aggies Football program participates in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The current athletic director for the university is Mr. Wheeler Brown. Brown became the director of athletics for North Carolina A&T on August 11, 2008. Before returning to his alma mater in 2002, Brown held the positions of assistant athletics director and assistant men’s basketball coach at Wheeling and Jesuit University. Brown played for the Aggies football team from 1974–78, and graduated from N.C. A&T in 1979 with a degree in health and physical education. Brown, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was a part of N.C. A&T’s first MEAC football championship in 1975. Brown was an all-conference performer at offensive tackle for the Aggies and was inducted into the N.C. A&T Hall of Fame in 2003.
Fraternities and Sororities, as well as local social organizations, honor societies and professional organizations. In order to function on campus, these organizations are registered with The Office of Student Affairs, and are under the jurisdiction of one of NC A&T SU's three Greek governing councils. The Office of Student Affairs works closely with individual organizations in the development of their activities, community service programming, and Membership Intake Processes.
. The entire 210-member volunteer band typically performs at football games, parades, and battle of the bands from September through the month of November. Additionally, the smaller pep bands play at all home basketball games.
, the 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands
in Atlanta, Georgia
and also performing in the Pontiac Silverdome
in Pontiac, Michigan.
The band currently is divided by into 11 sections; 9 of which consist of instrumentalist. Each section is run by its own section leader(s). Those sections: Ebony Queens and Kings (Clarinets), Essence of Silver (piccolo
s), Saxually Active (Saxophone
s), Scream Machine (Trumpet
s), Sonic Boom (French Horns), Freight Train (Trombone
s), Crucial EU (Euphonium
s), Thundar Brothers (Sousaphone
s), Cold Steel (Percussion), Golden Delight (Baton twirlers/Dancers/Flags) and Smooth Ignition (Drum Majors)
WNNA 90.1 FM is The School's Official Radio
Station WNAA 90.1 FM A&T Radio Station and The A&T Register is The School's Student Newspaper
.
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
located in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
(HBCU) in the state of North Carolina.
NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and classified as a research university with high research activity by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying, or grouping, colleges and universities in the United States. The primary purpose of the framework is for educational research and analysis, where it is often important to identify groups of roughly...
. Founded in 1891 and known then as The Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race.
NC A&T is one of the nation's leading producers of African-American engineers with bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. NASA is one of the major partners of the School of Engineering. It is also the nation's top producer of minorities with degrees (as a whole) in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. NC A&T is also a leading producer of minority certified public accountants, landscape architects, and veterinarians. NC A&T offers 116 bachelor's degrees, 54 master's degrees, and doctorate degrees in energy and environmental studies, Leadership Studies
Leadership studies
Leadership studies is a multidisciplinary academic field of study that focuses on leadership in organizational contexts and in human life. Leadership studies has origins in the social sciences , in humanities , as well as in professional and applied fields of study...
, and mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering. NC A&T is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund , named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly Black...
.
History
The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was established as a "mechanical college" for the "Colored Race" by an act of the General Assembly of North CarolinaNorth Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
, ratified March 9, 1891. The act read in part: "That the leading objective of the college shall be to teach practical agriculture and the mechanic arts and such learning as related thereto, not excluding academic and classical instruction." This college was established along with North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as North Carolina State University; due to segregation laws, whites and blacks could not attend college together. The college operated in Raleigh at the private Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
until 1893, when donations from Dr. Dewitt, C. Benbow and Charles H. Moore totaling $11,000 and 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land allowed the establishment of a campus in Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. The original course of study of A&T included languages and literature, mathematics, business, agriculture and military science. Female students enrolled from 1893 until 1901, but not again until 1928. In 1915, the name of the College became The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina by act of the NC General Assembly.
| President | Term |
|---|---|
| John O. Crosby | 1892–1896 |
| James B. Dudley | 1896–1925 |
| Warmoth T. Gibbs | 1955–1960 |
| Samuel D. Proctor | 1960–1964 |
| Lewis C. Dowdy | 1964–1980 |
| Cleon F. Thompson* | 1980–1981 |
| Edward B. Fort | 1981–1999 |
| James C. Renick | 1999–2006 |
| Lloyd V. Hackley* | 2006–2007 |
| Stanley F. Battle | 2007–2009 |
| Harold L. Martin Sr. | 2009-current |
| *denotes Interim Chancellor |
On February 1, 1960, four A&T freshmen helped spark the civil rights movement in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. Ezell Blair (Jibreel Khazan), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond "sat-in" at an all white eating establishment (Woolworth's) and demanded equal service at the lunch counter. Because of their great desire for change and equality they inspired many other students of the university to join them in their non-violent protest to desegregate Woolworth's lunch counter. By the end of July 1960, their mission was accomplished and they became the A&T Four and their campaign became known as the Greensboro sit-ins
Greensboro sit-ins
The Greensboro sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests which led to the Woolworth's department store chain reversing its policy of racial segregation in the Southern United States....
. Seven years later, the college gained university status and became North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
On February 25, 2009, Chancellor Stanley Battle announced his resignation, effective June 30, 2009, citing family and personal issues. The following month, on May 22, 2009, Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr. was elected as the 12th chancellor of the university by UNC System Board of Governors.
Academics
North Carolina A&T State University comprises six Schools and two Colleges:- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Engineering
- School Of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
- School of Business & Economics
- School of Education
- School of Technology
- School of Nursing
- School of Graduate Studies
Campus
The main campus is spread out over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) and is just nine blocks from downtown Greensboro. The campus is divided into three zones which contain administrative, classroom, and residence halls.North Campus
The area known as North Campus provides Traditional, Suite, and Apartment style living options for students residing on campus. North Campus residence halls include: Cooper Hall, Alex Haley Hall, and The Aggie Village. North Campus is also home to such buildings as The Memorial Student Union, Aggie Stadium, and Corbett Sports Center. This area also houses various academic buildings for students majoring in Business, Communications, English, Political Science, History, Math, Dance & Theater, Biology, as well as other disciplines in the School of Business, Economics, and The College of Arts and Sciences.East Campus
This area provides Suite, and Apartment style living to students. East Campus residence halls house facilities offering single, double, and private room environments. The residence halls on East Campus are: Pride Hall, The Aggie Suites, and Aggie Terrace. The residence halls are in close proximity to Corbett Sports Center, and the fitness and wellness center. East Campus houses various academic buildings for students affiliated with The School of Business and Economics, Air Force & Army ROTC, Education and Animal Science. East Campus also houses Dowdy Administrative Building and the Office of Student Admissions.South Campus
South campus is home to the more historic building on campus. South campus residence halls provide Traditional community living. The residence Halls of south campus include: Barbee, Curtis, Holland, Morrison, Morrow, and Vanstory Halls. South campus is also home to Bluford Library, The College of Engineering, Williams Cafeteria, the Dudley Building (University Art Gallery),the Holland Bowl, the Fraternity and Sorority Plots, also known as "Greek Lane," as well as Sebastion Health Center.City Transit
The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) offers public bus service throughout the city of Greensboro. NC A&T is served by Route 10 - East Market Street (Monday - Saturday) and Route 22 - E. Market Street/Bessemer Avenue/Phillips Avenue (Sundays). The GTA also offers a service called Higher Education Area Transit, or HEAT. This service links downtown attractions to area colleges and universities. Students from eligible institutions are allowed to ride HEAT fare-free with a valid school identification card or HEAT issued farecard. NC A&T is served by Routes 70 (East Heat), 75 (A&T Heat) on weekdays and also Route 70/71 (East West) on evenings and weekends.On Campus Transit
The campus also has its own transportation service called The Aggie Pride Shuttle. The shuttle travels to various stops on campus and contains two routes: The Blue Route and The Gold Route. Each route services a different half of the campus. The Memorial student union serves as the transfer point between the two routes.Athletics
North Carolina A&T's Athletic program is classified as Division I by the NCAA. The athletic program offers 6 varsity sports for men and 9 for women. North Carolina A&T fields teams in: BaseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, indoor/outdoor Track & Field and cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
for male athletes. NC A&T also fields teams in Basketball, Bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, indoor/outdoor Track & Field, Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, cross country, and Swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
for female athletes. The school athletic teams are called the Aggies or Lady Aggies. Cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
is offered as the only co-ed sport at the university. The Aggie cheer squad are multiple time MEAC champions in both all girls and co-ed division cheerleading. The university participates in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC) in all varsity sports. The Aggies Football program participates in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The current athletic director for the university is Mr. Wheeler Brown. Brown became the director of athletics for North Carolina A&T on August 11, 2008. Before returning to his alma mater in 2002, Brown held the positions of assistant athletics director and assistant men’s basketball coach at Wheeling and Jesuit University. Brown played for the Aggies football team from 1974–78, and graduated from N.C. A&T in 1979 with a degree in health and physical education. Brown, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was a part of N.C. A&T’s first MEAC football championship in 1975. Brown was an all-conference performer at offensive tackle for the Aggies and was inducted into the N.C. A&T Hall of Fame in 2003.
Student Government Association
The NC A&T SU Student Government Association (SGA) is the undergraduate student government of North Carolina A&T State University. The SGA consists of The Executive Branch, The Student Senate, Judiciary Branch, and Class Officers.Greek life
North Carolina A&T State University's Greek Community, Started in 1915, consists of all nine of the Historically Black National Pan-Hellenic CouncilNational Pan-Hellenic Council
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
Fraternities and Sororities, as well as local social organizations, honor societies and professional organizations. In order to function on campus, these organizations are registered with The Office of Student Affairs, and are under the jurisdiction of one of NC A&T SU's three Greek governing councils. The Office of Student Affairs works closely with individual organizations in the development of their activities, community service programming, and Membership Intake Processes.
National Pan-Hellenic Council
| Organization | Chapter Name | Year Chartered | Year Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ... fraternity |
Beta Epsilon (ΒΕ) | 1929 | 1906 |
| Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle... sorority |
Alpha Phi (ΑΦ) | 1932 | 1908 |
| Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin... fraternity |
Alpha Nu (AN) | 1933 | 1911 |
| Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos... fraternity |
Mu Psi (MΨ) | 1927 | 1911 |
| Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University... sorority |
Alpha Mu (AM) | 1932 | 1913 |
| Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I... fraternity |
Eta (H) | 1915 | 1914 |
| Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean... sorority |
Zeta Alpha (ZA) | 1934 | 1920 |
| Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana... sorority |
Gamma (Γ) | 1951 | 1922 |
| Iota Phi Theta fraternity | Zeta (Z) | 1970 | 1963 |
Greek Lettered Council
Other National fraternities and sororities with registered chapters are members of the Greek Lettered Council. The current members on campus include:| Organization | Chapter Name | Year Chartered | Year Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A... honorary band fraternity |
Iota Zeta (IZ) | 1990 | 1919 |
| Tau Beta Sigma Tau Beta Sigma Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni... honorary band sorority |
Theta Zeta (ΘZ) | 1990 | 1946 |
| Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members... service fraternity |
Kappa Psi (KΨ) | 1952 | 1925 |
| Chi Eta Phi Chi Eta Phi Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc is a professional association for registered professional nurses and student nurses. Both men and women can become members. The Sorority has more than 8000 memembers. There are over 81 graduate chapters and 39 undergraduate chapters located in 26 stats, District of... sorority |
Sigma Chi Beta (ΣXB) | 1975 | 1932 |
| Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music... fraternity |
Iota Beta (IB) | 1972 | 1898 |
| Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a... fraternity |
Pi Iota(I) | 2004 | 1909 |
Social fellowships
National Social Fellowships that do not affiliate with Greek Lettered organizations fall under the jurisdiction of 'Social Fellowships. The Current Members on campus Include:| Organization | Chapter Name | Year Chartered | Year Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groove Phi Groove S.F.I. Groove Phi Groove Groove Phi Groove is a social fellowship founded at Morgan State College as an alternative to mainstream Black fraternities... |
Aggie Chapter | 1969 | 1962 | |
| Organization | Chapter Name | Year Chartered | Year Founded | Website |
| Swing Phi Swing S.F.I. | Aggie Chapter | 1971 | 1969 | Aggie Chapter Official Site |
Marching band
The athletic teams at the university are supported by The North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine, the university's marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
. The entire 210-member volunteer band typically performs at football games, parades, and battle of the bands from September through the month of November. Additionally, the smaller pep bands play at all home basketball games.
History
Started in 1918, By Mr. W. E. Lew, the band program, has grown from a 50 piece ensemble grew to the 210 member band of Today. It was not until the 1930s, that marching band was offered as an extracurricular activity. During this time, A&T had the distinction of being the only Historically Black college in North Carolina with a band. In the mid 1960’s the band introduced the concept of majorettes and flag twirlers. In the late 1970s to early 80's, the band underwent a change in leadership. Mr. Jimmy Williams and Dr. Johnny B. Hodge, Jr. became the directors of the band. During this era, the marching band also was renamed to the current “Blue & Gold Marching Machine” moniker. Dr. Hodge's tenure as the director of band's spanned over four decades. It was not until Hodge's retirement in 2003, that then assistant of bands, Dr. Kenneth Ruff, became the director. In Addition to Dr. Ruff, the Blue and Gold Marching Machine's leadership also includes assistant director of bands, Mr. Brian Millsap. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine has performed in many major performances including the Macy’s Day Parade in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands
Honda Battle of the Bands
The Honda Battle of the Bands is an annual marching band exhibition in the United States which features performances by bands from historically black colleges and universities...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and also performing in the Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
in Pontiac, Michigan.
The band currently is divided by into 11 sections; 9 of which consist of instrumentalist. Each section is run by its own section leader(s). Those sections: Ebony Queens and Kings (Clarinets), Essence of Silver (piccolo
Piccolo
The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
s), Saxually Active (Saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s), Scream Machine (Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s), Sonic Boom (French Horns), Freight Train (Trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s), Crucial EU (Euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
s), Thundar Brothers (Sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
s), Cold Steel (Percussion), Golden Delight (Baton twirlers/Dancers/Flags) and Smooth Ignition (Drum Majors)
Marching Style
The Blue & Gold Marching Machine utilizes a variation of the high step marching style. This involves the lifting of the knee with legs directly in front, thighs parallel to the ground, and toes pointed downward. When the leg is elevated, there should be a 90-degree angle with the body and the thigh, and a 90-degree angle with the thigh and the shin. The leg is then lowered, and this is repeated with the other leg. This is informally referred to as the "chair step". This is also the style commonly found in many HBCU bands.Media
The students of NC A&T SU contribute to the university's official media outlets.WNNA 90.1 FM is The School's Official Radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
Station WNAA 90.1 FM A&T Radio Station and The A&T Register is The School's Student Newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
.