Congresswoman Sewell presents $750,000 check to Selma University

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Preserving civil rights history was at the center — of a check presentation ceremony at Selma University.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell presented a check for $750,000 to Selma-U President — Dr. Stanford Angion — at a press conference Tuesday morning.

The funding is part of a $9.7 million investment to preserve historic structures on Historically Black College and University campuses nationwide.

“Our HBCUs are the home to the legacy of our foremothers and our forefathers who sacrificed everything to ensure that this nation lives up to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all,” said Sewell.

Selma University is one of 15 HBCUs in the state of Alabama. The National Park Service Award will allow the university to preserve Pollard Hall, one of the school’s oldest buildings.

“It has been a prominent part of Selma University for over a hundred years,” said Angion.

“And I am so thankful that we will be able to preserve the legacy of this building.”

The resources will also allow the university to transform Pollard Hall — into a cultural and communal anchor for the campus and community.

“The first floor of this building will be a museum that will house the history of Selma University,” Angion said.

“The second floor will be dedicated as a cultural and communal living space.”

“I have often said that we in Alabama’s 7th congressional district are custodians of American history,” said Sewell.

“And that is especially true when we think about the rich history of historically black colleges.”

Selma University was founded in 1878 — and is listed on the National Register of Historic places.