rented his old two-story frame house as the school’s first site and helped construct its first building, Faith Hall. These efforts were amplified by scores of local Black residents who organized chicken dinners, supported sweet potato pie fundraisers, and, most importantly, sent their children to her school. Added to these efforts was the dedication of the students. In the early days, students could hardly find time for much else beyond their classes and labor, which were part of the school’s
mandatory work program. Yet, they still found time to raise their voices in the school’s choir. Singing Negro spirituals to raise money for their school was not uncommon, but it was often unreliable. Still, they sang. And so, too, did our fearless, faithful founder, Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, whose 150th birthday will be observed next July. Before we do, we pause to hail the many thousands of Bethune- Cookman graduates who have
pioneered careers in teaching, preaching, nursing and public service. We celebrate the gridiron successes of Wildcats football, which observed its centennial in 2023. We also honor the sights, sounds and showmanship of “The Pride,” our world-famous Marching Wildcats, who marked their 75th anniversary this past fall. As we look forward to the Founder’s sesquicentennial celebration, we pause to venerate the many women and men— Black and white, rich, poor and
in between—who made and are making this historic landmark possible. Like the Founder, we believe that with faith—and the support of people like you—Bethune- Cookman will always be a place “where nothing is impossible.”
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