President of Kittrell College Disputes HBCUs Claim

(Isstories Editorial):- Raleigh, North Carolina Jun 11, 2024 (Issuewire.com) – The president of Kittrell College says that she was shocked when she saw a headline that claimed Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design was the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to reopen after closure.  “I could not believe my eyes,” says Dr. Stephanie Freeman, president of Kittrell College’s degree programs. “I don’t think that people meant to take our place in history, but this claim is inaccurate and must be corrected,” Freeman continues.

Kittrell College, which was originally founded in 1886, closed in 1975, seemingly for good, after other shorter closures.  However, Freeman, who has been a collegiate educator for over three decades, reopened the school in 2020. “I reopened Kittrell College and then the pandemic hit, but we kept pressing forward with our programs,” Freeman adds.

Kittrell College was re-established as a vocational and trades school according to its website. “We kept the primary structure of the school, which was vocational training and the trades,” Freeman says. She also says that she and Kittrell College’s other administrators kept the mascot and school colors to further reconnect with the original vision of the school. “Kittrell College is the same as Kittell College but updated. It was and is relevant for many generations to come,” Freeman says.

Kittrell College will train students in the trades in conjunction with its sister institution, Royal Crest University and Seminary, according to the college’s Master Trainer, James Freeman.  “Royal Crest is accredited for the trades with NCCER (the National Center for Construction Education and Research),” according to James Freeman (who is also Stephanie Freeman’s husband). The school has over 20 companies awaiting tradespeople according to James Freeman.

Stephanie Freeman also says that she wants people to know that Kittrell College is not closed so that it can be rightfully returned to the HBCU family.  “My husband and I fought long and hard to reopen this school, and we made significant investments in it. The brand is growing, and the school deserves its full rights as an HBCU,” she adds.

Both Freemans acknowledge that the struggle to get Kittrell College recognized again has been difficult.  According to James Freeman, the rejection that they have encountered has hurt his wife beyond words. “She wanted to and did a great thing for this HBCU, but not everyone accepted her efforts. She was hurt by that rejection,” Freeman says.  Nevertheless, Stephanie Freeman says that she will not let rejection or inaccuracies steal her joy in reopening this important HBCU.  She says, “Kittrell College is a much-needed HBCU. It was then and it is now a two-year college that trains people in highly needed skills. I had to reopen this jewel of a college.”

Stephanie Freeman says that while she applauds the people who reopened Pensole Lewis, she does not want Kittrell College to lose its place in history.  “Pensole Lewis is a great second HBCU to reopen,” she says with a smile. “I welcome a friendly relationship with them.”

Stephanie Freeman will recruit a men’s and women’s basketball team in 2025.  Additionally, she says, she will have a one-of-a-kind marching band that will become the best HBCU marching band out there. “I have taught at an HBCU for almost 35 years now, and I love the marching bands.  Kittrell’s marching band will be like no other, and it will be a key component of our basketball season as well.”

Dr. Stephanie Freeman is also the founder of The Collegiate Collaborative, a system of schools that is building or rebuilding before accreditation is achieved or after accreditation is lost. Kittrell College is now located in Tarboro, North Carolina.  The campus, which is a former hospital, is under renovation and is scheduled to open in January 2025.  Kittrell College’s website is www.kc.education.  It features an “All-Inclusive Tuition Plan” that makes it very affordable according to the website.

Sources:

Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (uspto.gov)

North Carolina Secretary of State Trademarks Record Search Results (sosnc.gov)

Kittrell College is looking toward a new life | News | hendersondispatch.com

Source :Kittrell College

This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.