Benedict College Awarded $750,000 National Park Service Grant for Preservation
Benedict College, a UNCF-member institution, has been awarded $750,000 from the National Park Service (NPS) to advance the preservation of Morgan Hall, the institution’s oldest building. The three-year Morgan Hall Preservation Progression Project will build upon the College’s initial NPS preservation grant, awarded in 2018.
The project will address the ongoing effects of water intrusion, aging and deterioration, while preserving Morgan Hall’s architectural integrity and historic character. This work supports the recognition, understanding and preservation of the HBCU story and historic properties that document the progress of the American people.
“Morgan Hall is more than the oldest building on our campus; it is a living testament to the vision, courage and determination of those who believed education would open doors of opportunity for generations of African Americans,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president and CEO, Benedict College. “This generous investment from the National Park Service allows us to preserve an important part of our institutional and national history while ensuring that future generations can experience and appreciate the legacy embodied within these walls. We are not simply restoring a building, we are protecting a story of perseverance, progress and the transformative power of education.”
“This $750,000 award represents far more than the restoration of a historic building. It is an investment in preserving the Benedict College story, the HBCU experience and the generations of African Americans whose pursuit of education, leadership and opportunity is reflected within these walls,” said Dr. Walletta Johnson, director of development, assistant director of Title III, sponsored programs, foundation, and author of the grant proposal. “Morgan Hall has stood as a witness to more than a century of Benedict’s history, and this grant will help ensure that its legacy is preserved for generations yet to come.”