By Ms. Garette Hunter, Livingstone College
Livingstone President,
Dr. Anthony J. Davis, welcomed students into the new space, which was the College’s former student center, outfitted with new furniture and technology, and dedicated spaces for student collaboration.
“I am moved, truly moved to see the students here today…this is what it’s all about,” Davis said. “On the campus of Livingstone College, one of the things that we are definitely being intentional about is making sure that our students are our first priority.”
According to Dr. Orlando Lewis, Livingstone’s Vice President for
Student Affairs, this is the first year that Home Depot offered its student innovation lounge program grant. We were one of a few colleges to receive it,” he said. The $59,000 grant included $34,000 for renovations – including new flooring, doors, and freshly painted walls – and a $25,000 furniture package.
This is not the first time the college has received funding from Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” program grant. In 2018, the college received $30,000 to renovate its campus pavilion and another $30,000 in 2021 to develop and implement a high-profile Podcast Café, the first of its kind in the State of North Carolina.
Lewis added that this year’s grant guarantees student internships and scholarships, providing them with opportunities for growth and learning. “This will become a lounge for students to innovate, ideate, and collaborate,” Lewis said.
The space also features a commissioned mural painted by artist Phillip Osborne to represent all sides of the student experience at Livingstone.
“I just wanted to embody the many different elements within the innovation center as well as the college itself,” said Osborne, who incorporated some of the most important experiences of
HBCU student life: academics, football, civic engagement, Greek life, and extracurricular activities.
About Livingstone College
Livingstone College is a private historically black institution that is secured by a strong commitment to quality instruction. Through a Christian-based environment suitable for learning, it provides excellent liberal arts and religious education programs for students from all ethnic backgrounds designed to develop their potential for leadership and service to a global community.
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