Kentucky State University facts for kids
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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 | 2,163 (fall 2024) |
| 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 (often called KSU or KYSU) is a public university in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is a historically black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to provide higher education for African American students.
KSU started in 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons. In 1890, it became a land-grant university. This type of university receives special funding to teach subjects like agriculture and engineering. KSU is the second-oldest state-supported school for higher learning in Kentucky.
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History of Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University was officially created in May 1886. It was called the State Normal School for Colored Persons. This 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 opened on October 11, 1887. It had three teachers and 55 students. John H. Jackson was the first president. Recitation Hall, now called Jackson Hall, was the first building built that year.
KSU became a land-grant college in 1890. This happened after a law called the Morrill Land-Grant Act was passed. Because of this, new subjects like home economics, agriculture, and mechanics were added. The first five students graduated in the spring of 1890. A high school program was also started in 1893.
The school's name changed several times as it grew. 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 stopped the high school program. By then, students were already finishing high school before coming to 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 began in 1942. This happened after the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) worked to ensure black students could study engineering.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech at the graduation ceremony in 1957. His speech was titled "Facing the Challenge of a New Age."
In 1960, the first white student enrolled at the college. Kentucky State College officially became a university in 1972. It was then renamed Kentucky State University.
Presidents of KSU
Many leaders have guided Kentucky State University over the years. Here are some of the people who have served as president:
- 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 and Learning
Kentucky State University offers many different programs for students. Students can choose from four associate degrees, 55 undergraduate degrees, and six postgraduate programs.
The university is divided into different colleges:
- College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business and Computer Science
- College of Professional Studies
The Whitney Young School (WYS) of Honors and Liberal Studies also offers five special degrees. This school has programs for honors students, those interested in many subjects, and international studies.
Student Population
As of 2024, Kentucky State University had 1,932 undergraduate students. About 81% of these students were African American.
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| Black | 81% |
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| White | 8% |
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| Two or more races | 4% |
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| Unknown | 3% |
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| Hispanic | 2% |
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| International student | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 64% |
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| Affluent | 36% |
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| Enrollment history | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 2,500 | — |
| 2007 | 2,696 | +7.84% |
| 2008 | 2,659 | −1.37% |
| 2009 | 2,834 | +6.58% |
| 2010 | 2,851 | +0.60% |
| 2011 | 2,746 | −3.68% |
| 2012 | 2,524 | −8.08% |
| 2013 | 2,533 | +0.36% |
| 2014 | 1,895 | −25.19% |
| 2015 | 1,586 | −16.31% |
| 2016 | 1,736 | +9.46% |
| 2017 | 1,926 | +10.94% |
| 2018 | 1,781 | −7.53% |
| 2019 | 2,171 | +21.90% |
| 2020 | 2,290 | +5.48% |
| 2021 | 2,279 | −0.48% |
| 2022 | 1,726 | −24.27% |
University Library
The Paul G. Blazer Library was built in 1960. It has over 700,000 items to help students with their studies. These include books, videos, and sound recordings. The library is named after Paul G. Blazer, who supported education. He was the founder of Ashland Oil and Refining Company.
Pawpaw Research Program
Kentucky State University 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 (pawpaw trees). The orchards at KSU have over 1,700 pawpaw trees. Researchers study how to grow pawpaws better. They also learn about how the fruit ripens and how to store it.
KSU has created three new types of pawpaw: 'KSU-Atwood', 'KSU-Benson', and 'KSU-Chappell'. These new types have better flavors and produce more fruit. They also have fewer seeds compared to the amount of fruit pulp.
Athletics at KSU
Kentucky State University's sports teams are called the Thorobreds. They compete in NCAA Division II as part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, track and field, softball, and 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. These wins were at the NAIA level.
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 United States Track and Field teams at 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 People from KSU
Many talented people have studied or worked at Kentucky State University.
Notable Alumni
| Name | Class year | Notability | |
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| Ezzrett Anderson | One of the first African Americans from an HBCU to play professional football in 1947. | ||
| Michael Bernard | A basketball player and the first from KSU to be drafted by the NBA in 1970. | ||
| Anna Mac Clarke | 1941 | A member of the Women's Army Corps during WWII. She was the first African American officer of an all-white company. | |
| Tom Colbert | The first African-American Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. | ||
| Travis "Machine" Grant | A college basketball star on KSU's 1970, 1971, and 1972 national championship teams. He also played for the Los Angeles Lakers. | ||
| Rod Hill | A former professional football player who played six seasons in the NFL. | ||
| Joseph Kendall | 1938 | An All-American Quarterback who led Kentucky State to a black college championship in 1934. He was the first person from KSU inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. | |
| John Merritt | 1950 | A successful head football coach at Jackson State University and Tennessee State University. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame. | |
| Ersa Poston | 1942 | A reformer who worked for fair civil service and employment opportunities. | |
| Yingluck Shinawatra | 1991 | The 28th and first female Prime Minister of Thailand. | |
| Benjamin F. Shobe | 1941 | A civil rights lawyer and judge who worked to end segregation in Kentucky schools and public places. | |
| Moneta Sleet Jr. | 1947 | A photographer for Ebony. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his picture of Coretta Scott King at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.. | |
| Effie Waller Smith | ca. 1900 | An educator and poet. | |
| Elmore Smith | An NBA and college basketball player. He is known as one of the best rebounders in college basketball history. | ||
| Herb Trawick | 1942 | The first black man to play in the Canadian Football League. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. | |
| Luska Twyman | Kentucky's first African American mayor in 1968, serving in Glasgow, Kentucky. | ||
| Whitney M. Young Jr. | 1941 | A famous civil rights leader and educator. He led the National Urban League during a time of great growth. |
Notable Faculty
- Wilfred Reilly, a contemporary professor and author.
- Frederick C. Tillis, an educator, professor, and musician.
