Simmons College of Kentucky facts for kids
|
Former name
|
State University at Louisville |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Non Palma Sine Pulvere" (No Reward without Effort) |
| Type | Private, HBCU |
| Established | 1879 |
| President | Kevin W. Cosby |
| Location |
,
,
United States
|
| Colors | Simmons red, gold and black |
| Nickname | Falcons |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCCAA Division II – Mid-East |
 |
|
Simmons College of Kentucky is a private college in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a special type of school known as a historically black college (HBCU). This means it was founded to educate African American students. The college opened in 1879 and has had several names over the years, including State University at Louisville and Simmons Bible College.
The school is the 107th HBCU created in the United States. It is approved by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, which means its religious study programs meet high standards.
Contents
History of the College
How Simmons College Began
After the Civil War, a group of 12 Black Baptist churches in Kentucky decided they needed a college. At the time, there were no colleges in the state where African Americans could get a higher education. Many of these students were the children or grandchildren of people who had been enslaved.
The group, led by Pastor Henry Adams, first thought about building the school in Frankfort. But in 1869, they chose Louisville instead.
It took ten more years to get everything ready. In 1879, the group bought four acres of land in Louisville. This land became the first campus for the new school, which was called the Kentucky Normal Theological Institute.
A Time of Growth and Change
.jpg)
The school opened in 1879 with Rev. Elijah P. Marrs as its first president. A year later, Dr. William J. Simmons took over. Dr. Simmons had once been enslaved and later helped improve teacher training at Howard University.
Under Dr. Simmons's leadership, the school grew quickly. It became so successful that it was renamed "Simmons University" to honor him. By 1900, the school was offering degrees in nursing and law with the help of the University of Louisville.
The school became a full university, teaching subjects like art, science, business, and music. It also had sports teams for football, basketball, and baseball.
After Dr. Simmons, other presidents continued to help the school succeed. In 1907, the school joined with the Louisville National Medical College. This allowed it to offer medical training.
Facing Hard Times
The Great Depression was a difficult time for the whole country, and it hit the university hard. In 1930, the school could not pay its bills and had to sell its campus.
The University of Louisville bought most of the property. As part of the deal, Simmons University agreed to only teach religious subjects. The school moved to a new location and, in 1982, changed its name to Simmons Bible College to show its focus on religious studies.
The College's Comeback
In 2005, Dr. Kevin W. Cosby became the 13th president. He wanted to bring back the school's original mission of providing a full education, not just religious training. He changed the name to Simmons College of Kentucky.
A year later, in 2006, the college bought its original campus back. Since then, the school has been growing again. In 2022, it had 237 students.
What Students Can Study
Simmons College of Kentucky offers several programs for students. These programs focus on learning about faith and the community from an academic point of view.
Students can earn a certificate or diploma in Christian Ministry Studies. They can also earn degrees like a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Theology. For students who want to continue their education, the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky offers a Master of Divinity degree on the Simmons campus.
Long ago, Simmons had a medical school that was formed when it merged with the Louisville National Medical College. However, the medical school closed in 1912.
Sports at Simmons
The sports teams at Simmons College are called the Falcons. The college is part of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA), competing in Division II.
Simmons has teams for men's and women's basketball, golf, and track and field.
Famous People from Simmons
Many important people have studied or worked at Simmons College.
- Horace Signor Brannon – A doctor who served in World War I.
- Artishia Gilbert – The first African American woman to become a doctor in Kentucky.
- Arenia Mallory – An educator and a leader in the civil rights movement.
- Samuel Plato – A famous architect who designed many buildings.
- W. J. Simmons – The college's second president, who helped it become a university.
See also
