04/03/25
AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Impact
Gadsden, AL - AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ is commemorating its 100th anniversary with the "Celebrate AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾" campaign, highlighting a century of academic excellence and community service. Founded in 1925 as the Alabama School of Trades—the South's first state-operated trade school—AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ has evolved through the consolidation of several institutions into a comprehensive community college.​
Historical Highlights:
- Alabama School of Trades (1925): Established as the first state-operated trade school in the South, it laid the foundation for technical education in the region. ​
- Gadsden Vocational Trade School (1960): Founded by Eugene N. Prater to provide vocational training for African Americans. It was later renamed AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ Technical Institute and designated as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in 1997. ​
- AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ Junior College (1965): Established by the Alabama State Legislature to offer professional and technical programs, further expanding educational opportunities in the area.
- Harry M. Ayers State Technical College (1963): Founded to provide technical education and later merged with AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ in 2003.
These institutions merged over the years to form the present-day AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾, which now operates multiple campuses, including the East Broad, Valley Street, Wallace Drive, Ayers, and Cherokee campuses.
This will be a yearlong celebration highlighting the impact AIÉ«ÇéÍøÕ¾ has made in the lives of students and the community.
Centennial Celebration Events:
- June: Ayers Campus​
- July: Valley Street Campus​
- August: Cherokee Campus​
- September: East Broad Campus​
- October: Cardinal Gala at The Venue​
For specific dates, times, and additional details on these events, please visit gadsdenstate.edu/celebrate.cms.
