Gadsden State Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Impact

Gadsden State Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Impact
 
Gadsden, AL - Gadsden State Community College is commemorating its 100th anniversary with the "Celebrate Gadsden State" 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—Gadsden State 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 Gadsden State Technical Institute and designated as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in 1997. ​
• Gadsden State 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 Gadsden State in 2003.

 
These institutions merged over the years to form the present-day Gadsden State Community College, which now operates multiple campuses, including the East Broad, Valley Street, Wallace Drive, Ayers, and Cherokee campuses. 
 
Centennial Celebration Events:
 

• June: Ayers Campus​
• July: Valley Street Campus​
• August: Cherokee Campus​
• September: East Broad Campus​
• October: Cardinal Gala at The Venue​

 
This will be a yearlong celebration highlighting the impact Gadsden State has made in the lives of students and the community.
For specific dates, times, and additional details on these events, please visit gadsdenstate.edu/celebrate.cms.