Grambling State University facts for kids
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Former name
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Colored Industrial and Agricultural School (1901–1905) North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School (1905–1928) Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute (1928–1946) Grambling College (1946–1974) |
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| Motto | Where Everybody Is Somebody |
| Type | Public historically Black university |
| Established | 1901 |
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Parent institution
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UL System |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $7 million |
| President | Martin Lemelle |
| Provost | Connie Walton |
| Students | 5,232 |
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United States
32°31′31″N 92°42′55″W / 32.5252°N 92.7153°W |
| Newspaper | The Gramblinite |
| Colors | Black & Gold |
| Nickname | Tigers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC |
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Grambling State University (also known as GSU or Grambling) is a public university in Grambling, Louisiana. It is a special type of school called a historically black university (HBCU). This means it was founded to serve African American students.
The university is part of the University of Louisiana System. Its sports teams are called the Grambling State Tigers. They play in NCAA Division I of college sports. Grambling State is also home to the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, which honors a famous football coach.
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History of the University
Grambling State University began because African American farmers in northern Louisiana wanted a school for their community. In 1896, a group called the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association started a small school.
They asked for help from Booker T. Washington at the famous Tuskegee Institute. Washington sent a man named Charles P. Adams to help them. Adams became the founder and first president of the school.
Early Years and Growth
The school officially opened on November 1, 1901, as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School. Four years later, it moved to where it is today. Its name was changed to the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School.
By 1928, the school became a state junior college and could offer two-year diplomas. It was renamed the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute. In 1936, the school began to focus on training teachers for rural areas. It started giving out teaching certificates and, in 1944, its first four-year college degrees.
In 1946, the school's name changed to Grambling College. This was to honor P.G. Grambling, a white sawmill owner who gave land for the school. After this, the college added more subjects like science, arts, and business.
Becoming a University
In 1974, Grambling College started offering graduate programs, which are advanced degrees for students who have already finished college. Because of this, it was officially renamed Grambling State University.
The university grew a lot between 1977 and 2000. New buildings were added, including a business and computer science building, a nursing school, and a new sports stadium. In 1999, U.S. President Clinton gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.
In 2019, Grambling began building the first all-digital library on an HBCU campus. The project was finished in 2024.
University Presidents
Grambling State has had several presidents since it was founded. Here are some of them:
- Charles P. Adams (1901-1936) - The founder and first president.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones
- Neari Francois Warner - The first female president.
- Richard J. Gallot, Jr. - The first graduate of GSU to become president.
- Martin Lemelle - The current president, who also graduated from GSU.
What You Can Study at Grambling
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Grambling State University offers many degrees for students through four different colleges:
- College of Art & Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Educational and Graduate Studies
- College of Professional Studies
In 2020, Grambling became the first university in Louisiana to offer bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and cloud computing. These are fields that deal with computer safety and online data storage.
Life as a Student
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| Black | 93% |
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| Two or more races | 3% |
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| Hispanic | 2% |
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| International student | 2% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 74% |
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| Affluent | 26% |
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About 40% of Grambling's students come from outside of Louisiana. Many students are from Texas, California, and Illinois. About 65% of the students are female, and 35% are male. Most students at GSU, about 93%, identify as Black.
GSU Sports Teams
The Grambling Tigers are the university's sports teams. They compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The university has teams for football, basketball, baseball, track and field, softball, golf, soccer, tennis, bowling, and volleyball.
Grambling's biggest sports rivals are Southern, Prairie View A&M, and Jackson State.
The World Famed Tiger Marching Band
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The GSU Tiger Marching Band is a famous and historic band known as "The World Famed Tiger Marching Band." It was started in 1926. The band is so well-known that it has performed at two U.S. presidential inaugurations. They are a big part of the university's spirit and pride.
Campus News and Radio
- The Gramblinite is the student newspaper. It is published every week and has won awards for its great journalism.
- KGRM Tiger Radio 91.5 FM is a radio station run by students. It plays music, news, and sports 24 hours a day.
Famous Graduates
Many famous people have attended Grambling State. They have become professional athletes, government officials, doctors, artists, and business leaders. Some notable alumni include:
- Erykah Badu: A famous singer who has won Grammy Awards.
- Charles M. Blow: A writer for The New York Times.
- Buck Buchanan: A professional football player in the NFL Hall of Fame.
- Ronnie Coleman: A famous bodybuilder who won the Mr. Olympia title eight times.
- Willis Reed: A professional basketball player in the NBA Hall of Fame.
- Doug Williams: A quarterback who was the MVP of Super Bowl XXII.
Gallery
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The President's Home at Grambling State is an elegant and stately building.
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The Favrot Student Building at Grambling State.
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The Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling State.
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The Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center, where many events are held.
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Eddie G. Robinson Stadium, home of the Grambling Tigers football team.
