Kentucky State University facts for kids
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| Latin: Statum Universitas Kentuckiensis | |
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Former name
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State Normal School for Colored Persons (1886–1902) Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons (1902–1926) Kentucky State Industrial College for Colored Persons (1926–1938) Kentucky State College for Negroes (1938–1952) Kentucky State College (1952–1972) |
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| Motto | "Onward, Upward." |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant university |
| Established | 1886 |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| President | Koffi C. Akakpo |
| Provost | Michael D. Dailey (Interim) |
| Students | 1,726 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
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United States
38°12′00″N 84°51′30″W / 38.20000°N 84.85833°W |
| Campus | 915 acres (3.70 km2) |
| Colors | Kelly Green and light Gold |
| Nickname | Thorobreds & Thorobrettes |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – SIAC |
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Kentucky State University (KSU) is a public university in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is a historically black and land-grant school. This means it was created to provide education for African American students. It also received land from the government to help fund its programs, especially in agriculture and mechanics.
KSU was founded in 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons. It is the second-oldest state-supported university in Kentucky. In fall 2019, over 2,000 students were enrolled.
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History of KSU
Kentucky State University began in May 1886. It was called the State Normal School for Colored Persons. It was only the second state-supported college in Kentucky. The city of Frankfort gave $1,500 to buy land for the new school. This land was on a hill overlooking the city.
The school officially opened on October 11, 1887. It had three teachers and 55 students. John H. Jackson was its first president. Recitation Hall, now called Jackson Hall, was the first building built that year.
In 1890, KSU became a land-grant college. This happened after a law called the Morrill Land-Grant Acts was passed. New subjects like home economics, agriculture, and mechanics were added. The first five students graduated that same year. A high school was also started in 1893.
The school's name changed several times over the years. In 1902, it became the Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons. In 1926, it was renamed Kentucky State Industrial College for Colored Persons.
In 1929, President Rufus B. Atwood closed the high school. By then, students were already getting their high school education before college. In 1938, the school was named the Kentucky State College for Negroes. The words "for Negroes" were removed in 1952.
A civil engineering program started in 1942. This happened after the NAACP (a civil rights group) threatened a lawsuit. They wanted a Black student to attend the engineering program at the University of Kentucky.
In 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech at the graduation ceremony. It was called "Facing the Challenge of a New Age."
The first white student enrolled at KSU in 1960. Kentucky State College officially became a university in 1972. It was then renamed Kentucky State University.
KSU Presidents
- John Henry Jackson, 1886 – 1898
- James Edward Givens, 1898 – 1900
- James Shelton Hathaway, 1900 – 1907
- John Henry Jackson, 1907 – 1910
- James Shelton Hathaway, 1910 – 1912
- Green Pinckney Russell, 1912 – 1923
- Francis Marion Wood, 1923 – 1924
- Green Pinckney Russell, 1924 – 1929
- Rufus B. Atwood, 1929 – 1962
- Carl McClellan Hill, 1962 – 1975
- William A. Butts, 1975 – 1982
- Raymond M. Burse, 1982 – 1989
- John T. Wolfe, Jr., 1990 – 1991
- Mary L. Smith, 1991 – 1998
- George W. Reid, 1998 – 2002
- Mary Evans Sias, 2004 – 2014
- Raymond M. Burse, 2014 – 2016
- M. Christopher Brown II, 2017 – 2021
- Ronald A. Johnson, (interim) 2022 – 2023
- Koffi C. Akakpo, 2023 - Present
Academics at KSU
Students at Kentucky State University can choose from many programs. They are divided into five main colleges. There are four associate degrees, 55 undergraduate degrees, and six postgraduate programs.
The main colleges are:
- College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business and Computer Science
- College of Professional Studies
The university also has the Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies. This school offers special programs and degrees like Africana Studies.
Student Demographics
As of 2022, Kentucky State University had 1,343 undergraduate students. About 81% of these students were African American.
Paul G. Blazer Library
The Paul G. Blazer Library was built in 1960. It has over 700,000 items like books, videos, and recordings. These materials help students with their studies and research. The library is named after Paul G. Blazer. He was a strong supporter of education and founded Ashland Oil and Refining Company.
Pawpaw Research Program
KSU has the world's largest research area for the pawpaw fruit. The pawpaw is the largest fruit native to the United States. This research program started in 1990. Its goal is to make pawpaw a new fruit crop for Kentucky. Pawpaw trees have very few diseases compared to other fruit trees.
KSU is home to a special collection of Asimina species, which includes pawpaw trees. The pawpaw orchards at KSU have over 1,700 trees. Researchers study how to grow pawpaws better. They also learn about how the fruit ripens and how to store it. KSU has even created three new types of pawpaws. These new types are called 'KSU-Atwood', 'KSU-Benson', and 'KSU-Chappell'. They focus on better taste, more fruit, and strong plants.
KSU Athletics
Kentucky State University's sports teams are called the Thorobreds. They compete in NCAA Division II in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Men's sports include:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Football
- Golf
- Indoor and outdoor track and field
Women's sports include:
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Indoor and outdoor track and field
- Softball
- Volleyball
KSU's main sports rivals are Tennessee State University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University. The men's basketball team won national championships in 1970, 1971, and 1972.
The Exum Center is the university's sports and recreation building. It is named after William Exum. He was the first African-American football player at the University of Wisconsin. Exum became the head of KSU's Physical Education department in 1949. He later led the Athletics department. He also managed the U.S. Track and Field teams in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Exum retired from KSU in 1980.
Mighty Marching Thorobreds
The marching band at Kentucky State University is called the Mighty Marching Thorobreds (MMT). It is one of the biggest student groups on campus, with over 200 members. The MMT has performed at famous events like the Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta. They also performed at the National Battle of the Bands in Houston. The band performs with the K-Rettes danceline and the Silk Flag Corps.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from Kentucky State University. Here are a few:
- Ezzrett Anderson – One of the first African Americans to play professional football.
- Michael Bernard – The first KSU basketball player drafted by the NBA in 1970.
- Anna Mac Clarke – The first African American officer of an all-white company in the Women's Army Corps during WWII.
- Tom Colbert – The first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice.
- Travis "Machine" Grant – A college basketball star who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Jayjay Helterbrand – A famous Filipino basketball player.
- Rod Hill – A former professional football player in the NFL and CFL.
- Cletidus Hunt – A former professional football player in the NFL.
- Joseph Kendall – An All-American Quarterback who led KSU to a championship in 1934. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- John Kenerson – An NFL, AFL, and CFL player.
- John Merritt – A very successful college football coach for historically black colleges. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Council Rudolph Jr. – A former NFL player for the St. Louis Football Cardinals.
- Yingluck Shinawatra – The 28th and first female Prime Minister of Thailand.
- Benjamin F. Shobe – A civil rights lawyer and judge who worked to end segregation in Kentucky.
- Sam Sibert – A college basketball star drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1972.
- Moneta Sleet Jr. – A photographer for Ebony. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his picture of Coretta Scott King at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral.
- Effie Waller Smith – An educator and poet.
- Elmore Smith – An NBA and college basketball player known for blocking shots. He holds records for rebounds.
- Herb Trawick – The first Black man to play in the Canadian Football League. He is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
- Luska Twyman – Kentucky's first African American mayor in 1968.
- Davey 'Wiz' Whitney – A very successful college basketball coach for historically black colleges. He is in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Harrison Wilson, Jr. – The second President of Norfolk State University.
- Whitney M. Young Jr. – A famous civil rights leader and educator. He led the National Urban League.
Notable Faculty
- Wilfred Reilly – A professor and author.
- Frederick C. Tillis – An educator, professor, and musician.
Images for kids
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Main entrance in 2020
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Campus in 1898
