Stillman College facts for kids
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Former names
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Tuscaloosa Institute (1876–1895) Stillman Institute (1895–1948) |
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| Type | Private historically black college |
| Established | 1876 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Religious affiliation
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Presbyterian Church (USA) |
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Academic affiliations
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CIC |
| Endowment | $25,812,266 |
| President | Yolanda W. Page |
| Students | 917 |
| Location |
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U.S.
33°11′53″N 87°35′7″W / 33.19806°N 87.58528°W |
| Campus | 105 acres (42 ha) |
| Colors | Navy Blue & Vegas Gold |
| Nickname | Tigers & Lady Tigers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – SSAC |
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Stillman College
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Built | 1907 |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004680 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 2021 |
Stillman College is a private college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is known as a historically black college (HBCU). This means it was founded to educate African American students. The college is connected to the Presbyterian Church.
Stillman College offers many different study programs. Students can earn Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees. These programs are part of three main schools: Arts and Sciences, Business Entrepreneurship and CIS, and Education. The college usually has around 728 students. It is officially approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Contents
College History: A Journey Through Time
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Stillman College began as the Tuscaloosa Institute in 1876. It was started by the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The idea came from Charles Allen Stillman, a local pastor. He wanted to train African American men for ministry.
In 1895, the institute became a legal organization in Alabama. Its name changed to Stillman Institute. Over the years, the school grew. It added a junior and senior high school. It also started a junior college program, which was approved in 1937.
Becoming Stillman College
From 1948 to 1965, Samuel Burney Hay led the school. During this time, the school wanted to become a four-year college. In 1948, its name officially changed to Stillman College. The first students to earn a bachelor's degree graduated in 1951. The college was officially approved in 1953. Many new buildings were built under Hay's leadership. These included a gym, a library, and student housing.
An interesting fact: Condoleezza Rice lived on campus in 1966. Her father, John Rice, was the dean of students. Condoleezza Rice later became the 66th United States Secretary of State.
New Leadership and Growth
Harold N. Stinson became the first African American president in 1967. He led the college until 1980. Under his leadership, new programs were started to make education better. More buildings were added, like student dorms and a science center. The college also had its first non-Black graduate in 1978.
Cordell Wynn was the fourth president from 1982 to 1997. The campus looked much better during his time. Student numbers grew to over 1,000. The college also added new programs, like the Stillman Management Institute.
Ernest McNealey became the fifth president in 1997. He served until 2013. Stillman became known for its use of technology. It was a leader in wireless computing. The college's football team and marching band also became popular again. The college saw its largest number of students ever during his time. Many new buildings were built, including a fine arts center and a stadium.
Recent Changes and Presidents
In 2014, Peter E. Millet became the sixth president. Stillman received a large donation of $2 million that year. To help more students afford college, tuition was lowered. In 2015, Stillman became a smoke-free campus. The college also changed its sports programs, focusing on fewer teams.
Cynthia Warrick became the seventh president in 2017. She was the first woman to lead Stillman College. In 2023, Dr. Yolanda Page became the eighth president. She is the second woman to hold this important role. In 2021, the college's campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Stillman College Sports Teams
Stillman College's sports teams are called the Tigers and Lady Tigers. They are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mostly compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
The college currently has eight sports teams:
- Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track & Field.
- Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Softball, and Track & Field.
Stillman used to have a football team, but it was stopped in 2015. The college plans to bring back volleyball in 2022 and add women's bowling in 2023.
Team Achievements
Stillman's teams have had some great successes:
- Men's Basketball: In 2018, they won the NAIA A.I.I Conference Championship. They finished the season with a great record of 27 wins and only 5 losses. They also won the SIAC Championship in 2006 and 2016.
- Women's Basketball: In 2018, the Lady Tigers were the NAIA A.I.I. Conference Runner-Ups. They had a strong season with 19 wins and 12 losses.
- Baseball: The Tigers won the SIAC Championships in 2007 and 2008. They also won the Division II National Championship in 2007.
- Softball: The Lady Tigers had a good season in 2018, finishing with 18 wins and 18 losses. This was impressive, especially with a new coach joining in December.
Famous People from Stillman College
Many successful people have graduated from Stillman College:
- Teddy Keaton (1999) – A college football coach.
- Jeff Henderson (2012) – An Olympic Gold Medalist in Long Jump (2016).
- Junior Galette (2010) – A professional football player.
- Sammie Lee Hill (2009) – A professional football player.
- Brian Witherspoon (2008) – A professional football player.
- Gilbert Johnson (1922) – One of the first African Americans to join the United States Marine Corps. He became a Sergeant Major.
- Ruth Bolden (1952) – A civil rights worker and founder of a library in west Tuscaloosa.
- Trudier Harris (1969) – The first tenured African-American professor at the College of William and Mary. She is a distinguished English professor and author.
- Michael Figures (1969) – An Alabama State Senator for many years. He was one of the first three African Americans to earn a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.
- Willie Williams (1974) – One of the first African Americans to become a three-star general in the United States Marine Corps.
Notable Teachers at Stillman
- Andrew Flinn Dickson – A Presbyterian clergyman who was the first professor at the Institute for the Training of Colored Ministers in 1876.
- Yolanda W. Page – The current (eighth) president of Stillman College.
See also
