Campus Spotlight:Rust College

Rust College was founded in 1866 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Freedman's Aid Society. It was founded by missionaries from the north who built a school in Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church that taught elementary courses to adults of all ages as well as children.The college is located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, which is 55 miles south of Memphis and is the county seat of Marshall County. The liberal arts college is one of only ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that were established before 1868 and are still in service today.The school was renamed Shaw University in 1870, in honor of Reverend S.O. Shaw, who donated $10,000 to the new institution. To avoid confusion with another Shaw University, the name was changed to Rust University in 1892. Richard S. Rust of Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary of the Freedman's Aid Society, was honored with the name. The name was changed to Rust College in 1915, which was a more realistic name. Rust College's aim to provide underprivileged yet academically gifted students with access to higher education continues. The college is dedicated to serving and equipping its students to become contributing members of society by instilling cultural, moral, and spiritual values while providing teaching in the humanities, social behavioral sciences, natural science, business, technology, and education. As a current student here at Rust College my prestigious HBCU gave me an opportunity to grow and achieve. Arriving at Rust College my freshman year I felt out of my comfort zone, due to the family culture Rust College has I already felt like I was at home. Being around a lot of my peers who look like me and have the same goal as me which was graduate.I felt motivated to do my best and as well to do service around this campus. My school may be small compared to other institutions, but we have spirit and pride. I'm proud to wear my Rust College apparel and tell the world I go to Rust College. There’s No Place I Rather Be : R-U-S-T