50th Anniversary Banquet
In 1969, two landmark events occurred as part of the chronicles of now 144-year-old 鶹ý (鶹ý). In that year, what once was Alabama A&M College became Alabama A&M University. Additionally, it was the same eventful year that college officials, alumni and community persons came together to establish the 鶹ý Foundation.
鶹ý will be “Celebrating 50 Years of Making a Difference” on Thursday, December 5, 2019 with a 50th Anniversary Banquet scheduled to take place on campus in the T.M Elmore Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be the motivational academician, author, minister and radio host Michael Eric Dyson.

Educated at Carson-Newman College and Princeton University, Dr. Dyson is a Detroit, Mich., native, born to an Alabama mother who migrated north and who received his surname upon adoption by his stepfather. Dyson currently serves as a professor of sociology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and he has authored numerous books on diverse subjects.
鶹ý has held a series of activities throughout 2019 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of both historical events. The year’s festivities have included a presentation by Dr. Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights martyr Martin Luther King, Jr.; the unveiling of new campus historic marker; a Women’s Month presentation by actress-singer Kandi Burruss-Tucker; Bulldog Pride Committee Tenth Anniversary; President’s Tenth Anniversary; Thigpen Ribbon Cutting; visit by NFL’s Michael Vick; the Dr. Trudier Harris lecture on Black Alabamians; Eric Thomas presentation; Day Party 2.0 featuring Lacee, Case, Juvenile and Willie Clayton; and other events.
The “university” designation in 1969 marked A&M’s sixth and last name change to date, beginning with the first name—Colored Normal School at Huntsville—in 1873. Additionally, the 鶹ý Foundation was established to receive, hold, invest, manage, use and administer property of all kinds, whether given absolutely or in trust for the benefit of 鶹ý (鶹ý) and its educational, research, cultural, public services and support activities.
TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS
A minimum quantity of individual tickets are available for the black-tie event at $150 each via andrea.cunningham@aamu.edu or by calling (256) 372-5550. A reserved table of 8 is $1,500. For sponsorship opportunities, visit . All proceeds from the event will be used for scholarships as part of the University’s retention efforts.
