Black Alumni Society Celebrates 45th Anniversary By Giving Back

NC State’s Black Alumni Society (BAS) issued the call to its members to support scholarships for Black students during this year’s Red and White Week, and members answered that call.

The BAS received 66 gifts totaling $6,680 toward BAS scholarships. The group suggested a $45 gift in honor of the 45 year anniversary of the BAS, though all gifts large and small were appreciated.

“People take pride in giving,” says Stephanie Cogdell (’92), the BAS homecoming co-chair. “If they know about it, they’ll give.”

And something else BAS members take pride in? A little friendly competition, Cogdell says. That’s why this BAS scholarship fundraiser included a battle of the decades among BAS members. Based on their graduation year, alumni were encouraged to give to help their associated “team” win for most gifts. The BAS broke those decades down in recognition of the impact of black alumni over the years including:

• The Foundation (1950-1970): Honoring the pioneers who paved the way for future generations.
• Legacy Builders (1970-1990): Celebrating the alumni who strengthened the foundation and community.
• Change Makers (1990-2010): Recognizing those who pushed boundaries and fostered significant growth.
• Future Innovators (2010-2024): Highlighting the newest graduates who are shaping the future with bold ideas.

In the end, it was the Change Makers who raised the most.

Cogdell, who is a past president of the BAS and has been involved with the organization for quite some time, says she’s proud of where BAS stands today in terms of member support for the university and initiatives such as the BAS scholarships that support black students at the university.

BAS has worked hard to encourage increased attendance of its members at Red and White Week events, she says. In doing so, Cogdell says they can bring people back to be together socially, and then take the opportunity to educate members about the importance of donor support for the university.

“It was a chance to engage them and teach them about the meaning of homecoming and the BAS,” she says. “Then we could talk to them about our endowments and give them a broader sense of the impact at NC State.”

“Things we did in the past sowed the seed for their generosity now.”

Cogdell says she and other BAS members are committed to supporting students for the future and donor support is central to student success. Increased commitments from donors would mean the ability to offer larger scholarships to students in the future as well.

“We know that we can come forth and help with raising money for the university,” she says. “We can also mentor and advise young students, underprivileged students and students of color – we know we want to do the most we can while we can for the students that came here, to help support and retain these students.”