LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's first Historically Black College and University is in the spotlight this week.
Simmons College of Kentucky is participating in National HBCU week, which honors the "rich history, culture and contributions of" the nation's HBCUs.
Simmons, in Louisville, was the first HBCU in the state of Kentucky, followed by Kentucky State University in Frankfort.
City leaders gathered Monday morning to kick off the festivities and celebrate Simmons College and its impact on the Louisville community.
Dr. Kevin Cosby, Simmons' president since 2005, said his students and their success are showing others what's possible.
Dr. Kevin Cosby, president of Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville, kicks off National HBCU Week Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (WDRB photo)
"To see kids in underserved communities look to these kids as role models, the value of that you can't measure," Cosby said. "So we're just fortunate to have an HBCU in the city of Louisville."
National HBCU week began Sunday at Simmons, with Kentucky churches honoring the school and "the enduring HBCU legacy."
Monday morning, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg hosted the official kickoff with Cosby, as well as Simmons faculty and staff—who were honored with an appreciation day. Monday evening, nonprofits and small businesses will attend a "Simmons Connects" networking event.
Tuesday morning, Simmons will host BWEC Chapel, as well as campus tours. Wednesday morning, it will host speed mentoring sessions for students and alumni — who will also be honored Thursday evening with HBCU Alumni Night.
The events will conclude Friday morning with a celebration, including food, music, fellowship and more. Simmons will also cut the ribbon on its new Falcon Bookstore to conclude the festivities.
To learn more about National HBCU Week in Louisville, click here.
While it was the first HBCU in Kentucky, Simmons is also currently one of the fastest-growing HBCUs in the country. Enrollment is up this year, with students coming from 28 states.
Simmons' history dates back more than 140 years ago to the late 1800s following the Civil War.
According to its website, members of the Kentucky State Convention of Colored Baptist Churches "proposed the establishment of Kentucky's first post-secondary educational institute for its 'Colored' citizens." In 1879, the group bought four acres of land in Louisville to open the Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute.
The second president of the institute, Dr. William J. Simmons—whose tenure ran from 1880-90, would be recognized in 1918 when the school was renamed Simmons University in honor of his leadership.
Simmons' website says it was "national leader in higher education for African Americans, established by formerly enslaved Kentucky Baptists," from 1879-1930 as university with a law school and medical school.
But with the arrival of the great depression and a decline in enrollment, many of the school's buildings were closed due to foreclosure and "course offerings were substantially curtailed." In 1935, Simmons relocated to a smaller location in west Louisville.
Simmons went through changes through the 1950s, leading to another name change as Simmons Bible College. That change came with a shifted focus toward a "limited set of theology courses."
In 2007, Cosby led the effort for Simmons to reclaim its original campus. Since then, it has expanded to multiple campus locations in Louisville.
To learn more about Simmons, click here.
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