A sports performance center at North Carolina A&T State University will be named for alumni and longtime supporters Darnell and Carolyn Glover, of Roanoke.
Giving back to HBCU, a personal commitment for local couple.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have played a vital role in the history of U.S. education, helping Black Americans advance their education, pursue professional careers and earn graduate degrees.
Support of these institutions, currently just over 100, is crucial to ensuring that role remains vital. The Roanoke residents, both graduates of an HBCU, are doing their part to ensure their alma mater continues to thrive.
North Carolina A&T State University has announced plans for the establishment of a sports performance center, to be named for 1975 alumni and longtime Aggie Athletic Foundation supporters Darnell and Carolyn Glover, of Roanoke. The Glovers each earned a B.S. in business administration from North Carolina A&T. Darnell Glover, who retired from Allstate Insurance Co. as a senior manager, serves as vice president of the Aggie Athletic Foundation. Carolyn Glover earned her master’s degree from Hollins University and retired as human resources director for the City of Roanoke.
“Our reason for giving back in this way is one of gratitude and a desire to help others excel,” said Carolyn Glover. “A state-of-the-art sports performance center will ensure student athletes have the amenities needed to compete.”
The center will occupy the 12,430-square-foot Aggie Dome and serve as an indoor training facility for the Aggies baseball, softball, golf and cheer teams. The space also will be used by the Air Force and Army ROTC programs for drills and the Department of Kinesiology for research. Darnell Glover, who played football and ran track in high school, was a four-year Aggie letterman in wrestling.
“One of the hurdles for Historically Black Colleges and Universities is to be counted in the top tier of all universities,” Darnell Glover said. “Our students deserve the same upscale amenities other elite universities have.”
A completion date for the Aggie Dome transformation has not yet been announced. Carolyn Glover noted that the pandemic has slowed renovations.
“We are hopeful that the dedication will occur sometime this year or early 2022,” she said. “We were also able to establish an endowment for the building to ensure future needs such as maintenance and equipment.”
Both of the Glovers are members of Divine 9 fraternities and sororities that have launched initiatives to support HBCUs and ensure that these institutions continue their important role in providing Black Americans access to quality higher education. Darnell Glover is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Gamma Alpha Chapter, Roanoke); Carolyn Glover is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Beta Chi Omega Chapter, Roanoke).
“Being part of the Divine 9 initiatives, specifically, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.’s “HBCU For Life: A Call To Action” and Omega Psi Phi, Inc.’s “Omega 1000 for 1000” campaign, allows opportunity to personally focus our support,” the Glovers said. “We’ve made annual contributions to North Carolina A&T for many years. It’s a personal commitment and an investment in the future of our beloved A&T. HBCUs thrive when alumni are generous with both financial support and encouragement.”
