Simmons College of Kentucky facts for kids
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Former name
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State University at Louisville |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Non Palma Sine Pulvere" (No Reward without Effort) |
| Type | Private, HBCU |
| Established | 1879 |
| President | Dr. Kevin W. Cosby |
| Location |
,
,
United States
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| Colors | Simmons red, gold and black |
| Nickname | Falcons |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCCAA Division II – Mid-East |
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Simmons College of Kentucky is a private college in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a historically black college (HBCU), which means it was founded to educate Black students during a time when they faced discrimination in education. The college started in 1879. It is the 107th HBCU in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Simmons College
How it Started
In 1865, after the American Civil War, 12 Black Baptist churches in Louisville came together. They formed a group called the State Convention of Colored Baptist Churches in Kentucky. Their leader was a pastor named Henry Adams.
At that time, Black people in Kentucky could not get a college education. Many were only one generation removed from slavery. The church group soon realized they needed to create a school for Black students. They first thought about putting the school in Frankfort. But in 1869, they decided to build it in Louisville instead. They named it the Kentucky Normal Theological Institute.
It took ten years for the school to open. In November 1879, the church group bought about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of land in Louisville. This land became the school's first campus.
Growing Bigger
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The school opened its doors in 1879. Its first president was Rev. Elijah P. Marrs. He led the school for one year. Then, Dr. William J. Simmons became president. Dr. Simmons was an ex-slave. He had helped improve teacher training programs at Howard University.
Under Dr. Simmons's leadership, the school grew quickly. It became so successful that people renamed it "Simmons University" to honor him. By 1893, the school had 159 students. By 1900, it even offered special degrees in nursing and law. It worked with the University of Louisville for these programs.
Dr. Simmons was president for 10 years (1880–1890). During this time, the school became a full university. It added many new subjects, like liberal arts, college preparation, medical studies, law, business, music, and religious studies. The school also had sports teams for football, basketball, and baseball.
Simmons University kept growing. In 1894, Charles L. Purce became president after Dr. Simmons. He led the school until he passed away in 1905. In 1907, the school, now called State University at Louisville, joined with the Louisville National Medical College. In 1918, Charles Parrish became president. He helped the school get more money and better classes.
Facing Hard Times
The Great Depression was a very tough time for the country. It also affected the school. In 1930, the university had to sell its property. This was because it could not pay its mortgage. The school had to offer much fewer programs. The University of Louisville bought most of the property. They used it for Louisville Municipal College, which was their branch for Black students during segregation. As part of the deal, Simmons agreed to only teach religious subjects. In 1934, the University of Louisville bought the rest of the property. Simmons moved to a new location. In 1982, the school was renamed Simmons Bible College. This name showed that its main focus was religious education.
A New Beginning
In 2005, Dr. Kevin W. Cosby became the 13th president. He changed the school's name back to Simmons College of Kentucky. This new name showed that the school wanted to prepare Christians for ministry. But it also wanted to offer general education again, like it did when it first started. In 2006, the school bought back its original campus and moved there. In 2022, Simmons College had 237 students, and its enrollment was growing.
What Students Can Study
Simmons College of Kentucky has several different learning programs. It focuses on a faith-based approach to helping the community.
You can get a certificate or a diploma in Christian Ministry Studies. These are non-degree programs. For degrees, you can earn a Bachelor of Theology, a Bachelor of Arts, or an associate degree (a two-year college degree). Since 2018, the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky has offered a Master of Divinity degree. You can earn this degree by taking all your classes at the Simmons College campus.
Simmons used to have a medical school. But it closed in 1912. This happened because new rules were made for medical schools to ensure they were good quality. The medical school was originally called the Louisville National Medical College. It joined with Simmons in 1907.
Sports Teams
The sports teams at Simmons are called the Falcons. The college is part of the Division II level of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA). Simmons has three main sports for college students: men's and women's basketball, golf, and track and field.
Famous People from Simmons
- Horace Signor Brannon – A doctor from Louisville who served in World War I. He went to the medical college that joined Simmons.
- Artishia Gilbert – The first African-American woman doctor in Kentucky.
- Arenia Mallory – An educator and civil rights activist.
- Samuel Plato – A famous architect.
- W. J. Simmons – An ex-slave who was the college's second president and the person the college is named after.
See also
