Hey Fam! It’s a new month and we’ve got some great news: HBCU Leggings is thrilled to announce that Tuskegee University is our newest licensing partner! As a company that is dedicated to supporting and uplifting HBCUs, we are excited to work with Tuskegee to bring their legacy to life through our leggings.
About Tuskegee University Golden Tigers
In case Tuskegee University’s legacy is unfamiliar to you, here are three facts about TU and its history:
- Tuskegee University was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington to provide education and vocational training to African Americans in the South. Originally named the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, the institution grew in size and reputation, expanding its curriculum and becoming a center of research and innovation. Today, Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university that offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs, and is known for its commitment to social justice and producing leaders in various fields.
- Tuskegee University is known for producing notable alumni, including civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who attended the school's National Training School for Women and Girls in the 1930s and became a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement. Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., another Tuskegee alum, was the first African American astronaut selected for a manned space mission, and Lionel Richie, who studied economics and accounting at Tuskegee, became a highly successful musician. These and many other Tuskegee alumni have made significant contributions to their fields and to society, showcasing the impact of education and the university's legacy.
- The Golden Tiger is Tuskegee University's mascot, representing strength, power, and resilience, and is a significant symbol in African culture. The mascot has a rich history at Tuskegee, evolving from the original "Tuskegee Tigers" to a stylized version in the 1960s. Today, the Golden Tiger is a source of pride and identity for Tuskegee students and alumni, symbolizing the school's commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
The Collection
We've started this collection with our classic designs and will be adding more leggings, hoodies, tees and blankets.
This partnership comes at a great time as Tuskegee is gearing up to win the grand prize of $150,000 in store credit for campus improvements in The Home Depot's Retool Your School campaign. We are proud to support Tuskegee University in their efforts to enhance their campus and provide a better experience for their students, faculty, and staff.
How to Vote
The voting begins on February 27th and runs until March 26th. You can vote online at www.retoolyourschool.com/vote, or on Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #RYSTUSKEGEE. It's important to get as many votes as possible because the winner is determined by a total popular vote.
Tuskegee National Alumni Association (TNAA) is leading the charge for Tuskegee University, and they have some fantastic plans for the prize money. Last year, they won a $40,000 grant in cluster No. 2, which was used to place a large Golden Tiger statue in Cleve Abbott Stadium. This year, they want to expand the student social hub from two pavilions to four and improve campus security by adding high-intensity lighting.
Tuskegee University is one of 70 HBCUs eligible for the Retool Your School competition and is competing against schools of similar enrollment size in cluster No. 2. The goal is to get 14,000 votes a day, and every vote counts, so let's all vote daily for Tuskegee.
The TNAA has been successful in this contest for the past ten years, winning $350,000 in campus improvement grants. They have an ongoing partnership with the University’s Student Government Association, Pre-Alumni Council, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, Office of Advancement, Office of Facilities and Capital Projects, and Office of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations, which has helped them achieve their past success.
So let's all get out there and vote for Tuskegee University using the hashtag #RYSTUSKEGEE on Twitter and Instagram. Don't forget, you can only use the hashtag once per post, so let's make every post count. Let's help Tuskegee bring home the $150,000 check! #HDRetoolYourSchool #OneTuskegee #RYSTUSKEGEE