Norfolk State University and Virginia State University will go head-to-head on the football field and in the giving arena during the upcoming Labor Day Classic weekend.
The two schools are gearing up for the second Battle of the States, a fundraising challenge that raises money for student support at each school. The battle is waged using the power of social media networks and volunteers who use their personal social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get their friends and followers to donate to the University.
This friendly and spirited challenge kicks off at noon Monday, August 27, and ends at half time of the Labor Day Classic football game on Saturday, September 1. The winner will have bragging rights until the next challenge. Norfolk State won the first Battle of the States in 2017, raising more than $325,000 from 612 donors.
Norfolk State and Virginia State have a history that is intertwined and a rivalry that is legendary. NSU, which was founded in 1935 as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University, became the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College in 1944 and was dubbed “Little State.”
The college kept pushing and growing. By 1952, it adopted the Spartan mascot. In the 1966-67 academic year, enrollment at the Norfolk Division exceeded that at Virginia State. On February 1, 1969, the Norfolk Division separated from Virginia State College and became the fully independent Norfolk State College. Just 10 years later, in 1979, Norfolk State attained university status.
#NSUvsVSUBattle — It’s on!