Prairie View A&M University History Quiz

Terri Ellis of EnVogue is the first Prairie View A&M University Alumnus to win a Grammy. This means that out of the given options, Terri Ellis is the only one who has won a Grammy and is also an alumnus of Prairie View A&M University. The other options, Michael Cooley, James Walton, and Christopher Martin, do not have the distinction of being the first alumnus of Prairie View A&M University to win a Grammy.

The Office of Career Services is now back in its original home Anderson Hall since 2021. The building was renovated and housed the department  from 1978 to 2004. From February 2004 to July 2019 it was located in Evans Hall, 2nd Floor. It was temporarily located in the Don Clarke Building 3rd Floor from 2019-2020. Students are encouraged to register with Career Services to participate in the career fairs and internships.

The correct answer is Roy G. Perry.

Prior to 2007, the The Memorial Student Center was named in honor of students and alumni gave military service to the United States. The MSC was named in honor of Mr. Willie A. Tempton, Sr. who served as interim president from June 2002-September 2003.

Dr. Hines oversaw the University's role in the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) settlement that resulted in the Texas Commitment funding for four new buildings, additional master's and doctoral degree programs in Juvenile Justice and Psychology, Educational Leadership and Electrical Engineering and dollars for development initiatives, student scholarships and endowed chairs.

Dellenor R. Miles was the first Miss Prairie View A&M University to be named a finalist in the Miss Texas/Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Fort Worth, Texas.  She was the first Miss PVAMU to reach the top 10 was named 4th Runnerup in July 1984. She is now a recording artist in Europe.

The first Honor's College established at an historically Black College or University was the Benjamin Banneker Honors College at Prairie View A&M University in 1984-85, with the first class entering in Fall 1984.

The Abner Davis Memorial was originally the Abner Davis Memorial Fountain, a drinking fountain named in honor of Abner Davis, a member of the varsity football team who died following an accident in a football game with Texas college in Tyler on November 4, 1927. Mr. Davis sustained a broken neck in tackling a Texas College player. He tackled low, and the player’s knee struck his head at the base of the neck. Abner was paralyzed from his neck and shoulders down and past away after an illness of seven or eight days. “Abner’s classmates and the supervisor of the class erected a monument and plaque in his memory in the middle of the campus.”

DJ Premier of Gang Starr (Christopher Martin) attended Prairie View A&M University from `1985-1987 and served as the Campus DJ and the Marching Storm. He won a Grammy for producing music for Christina Aguilar.

President Ronald Reagan signed the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Bill into law in 1983 to become effective in 1985. President Percy A. Pierre decided to celebrate the Holiday in January 1984, thus Prairie View A&M University was the first University in the nation to commemorate the holiday.

Margaret Penn (Sherrod) was the first Miss Prairie View A. & M. College selected by a panel of judges to compete in the Miss Texas/Miss America Scholarship Pageant in July 1970 in Fort Worth, Texas. Margaret was the 2nd Black to compete in the pageant and was named to the Miss Texas Hall of Fame in 2016.

The board, authorized to appoint a principal teacher to administer the college under the direction of the president of Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College, selected Mr. L.W. Minor, who served in that capacity for only one year. On March 11, 1878, eight young Negro men became the first of their race to enroll in a state-supported college in Texas. Among the instructors were two brothers, E.H. and L.C. Anderson, who became the second and third principals of the young and struggling college.

The homecoming theme for 1973 included the words Pride Produces Productive People and was later revised to Prairie View following the parade by President Alvin I. Thomas.

The name of the university's Male Mascot is Panther Pete. The name was given to the live Panther in 1953 which was housed at the University's Veterinary Clinic.

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Dr. John B. Coleman was the first Black to serve on the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System. He was appointed by Governor Mark White and reappointed by Governor Bill Clemons.

The University Ana states that Thursday is traditionally Purple and Gold Day because it was a day designated for various convocations and general assembly.

Dr. Edward B. Evans became the eighth principal on September 1, 1947. That same year, the Fiftieth Legislature changed the name of the institution to Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The act provided that "courses be offered in agriculture, the mechanic arts, engineering, and the natural sciences connected therewith, together with any other courses authorized at Prairie View at the time of passage of this Act, all of which shall be equivalent to those offered at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas."

The school was fully integrated in 1963.

Dr. Ruth Simmons was confirmed as the 8th president of Prairie View A&M University on October 20, 2017, officially assuming the position on December 4, 2017. This is the correct answer because it provides the accurate dates of her confirmation and assumption of the presidency at Prairie View A&M University.

Admiral Brewer was among the first students in the Navy ROTC in 1968 and was considered as the Golden 13 to graduate in 1970. Check out PVAMU NROTC first graduates. http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=53470

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The Alvin I. Thomas developed the first comprehensive development plan for PVAMU with the appointment of the more htan 100 persons on the Centennial Council in 1968.

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The name of the sculpture in the front of Hobart Taylor Hall is the Centennial and was commissioned to commemorate the Centennial Celebration of the University in 1978. It was designed and cast by Richard Hunt, noted Black Sculpturist from Chicago, Illinois.

August 1879, established thirteen elementary and secondary subjects, and founded the coeducational institution. Girls were housed in the plantation house now called Kirby Hall, and boys were housed in a combination chapel and dormitory called Pickett Hall.

The sixth principal of Prairie View was J.G. Osborne, whose tenure lasted from 1918 to 1925. The nursing division was established in 1918.

A diploma and bachelor of science degree were given upon completion of any curriculum. The first three degrees were granted in May 1903.

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The Twenty-seventh Legislature, in 1901, authorized the school to offer a four-year course of study that included the Academy and Normal School in four Divisions: education, agriculture, home economics and mechanical arts. A diploma and bachelor of science degree were given upon completion of any curriculum.

In 1981-82, broadcasting began from newly renovated Hilliard Hall facilities of FCC-approved KPVU-FM 91.3 at Prairie View, an instructional laboratory of the Department of Communications. The station went on the air on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1981 under the leadership of Shirley Staples, second head of the department; Priscilla Hill was the first.

Dr. Thomas-Smith was the first woman to serve as a top administrator (interim vice president) for academic affairs due to the passing of Vice President George R. Ragland in 1977

Mary Powell was a Civil Engineering student and became the first female to be elected in the general election as the President of the Student Government Association in 1985.

Shelia Ruth and Cynthia Owens were member of Pretty Fat, formerly the Fat Girls Hip Hop Group along with Monique Ridge (Actress in Under One Roof). They were all members of the Charles Gilpin Players. Pretty Fat was produced by Bootsy Collins.

Prairie View A&M was accepted for membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in December of 1958 and later received full accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Dr. Edward B. Evans became the eighth principal on September 1, 1947. The title of principal of the college was changed to Dean by the Board of Directors effective during the 1947-48 school year. However, on September 1, 1948, the title was changed to President, and on December 3, 1948, Dr. E.B. Evans, the eighth Principal, was inaugurated as the first President of Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Dr. Evans retired in 1966, (19 years). The second longest serving was Dr. Alvin I. Thomas (16 years). Note: Dr. Edward L. Blackshear served 18 years as Principal.

The Division of Graduate Study was organized in 1937, offering Master of Science degrees in agricultural economics, rural education, agricultural education, school administration and supervision, and rural sociology.