Alumni will soon have a tangible remembrance of their fond Norfolk State memories as a book of collected stories. Last summer, alumni were invited to submit their stories via writing or recording, and to date, more than 3,200 alumni have participated in the University’s first oral history project. Many of the stories will be included in a book that will be available for purchase next summer.
“The oral history project allows us to tell the story of Norfolk State through our alumni,” says Assistant Vice President for Development Shana Z. James. “It is allowing us to celebrate the memories and experiences our students had while they were here on campus – how Norfolk State impacted their lives and careers.”
James says there were many marriages among alumni who met at NSU and “so many fantastic careers that began here.”
NSU is partnering with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to bring the book to life. “Our engagement campaign is compiling a unique oral history archive, uniting Norfolk State University across generations, professions, geography and life experiences,” says Jeffrey Hecker, PCI project manager. He says the company has completed similar projects for other HBCUs, including Howard University, Morehouse College, Delaware State University and Savannah State University.
“By sharing your memory, you’ll ensure that the rich history of Norfolk State will be preserved for generations to come,” Hecker says.
Alumni have been asked to submit their stories by calling the provided number. They speak to a representative who asks questions about their time as students and records responses for transcription. Participants have the opportunity to edit their stories online after submission. Not all stories will be included due to space restrictions, and longer stories will be edited and excerpted.
The stories include alumni responses to questions about most memorable professors, friendships, love stories and careers, James says. Some alumni share photos for inclusion in the book, which will feature sections on each topic.
“The book is going to be a great piece for the coffee table,” James says. “It’s something they will be proud to share.”
In addition to providing an opportunity to serve alumni, the project will aid in fund development. “I’m on the major gifts fundraising side, and oftentimes we like to hear stories so that we can share why Norfolk State is so important and why we need dollars to help run this institution,” James says.
“I need these stories when I talk to people and tell them how their major gifts provide scholarships for students, many of whom don’t have the money to go to college. Because of the benevolence of our donors, we are able to provide scholarships to our students.”
James says scholarships enable students to graduate with less debt. “My department is charged with helping to bring in the dollars to help mitigate students’ financial burdens. At every college, students graduate with tons of loans and debt, and they don’t always leave making the top salaries.
Anything we can do to help raise dollars to minimize that is great.” Alumni may continue submitting stories by phone until Jan. 12 by calling 855-912-8518.