Governor Signs HBCU Funding Bill Before A&T Centennial Game

Josh Stein stood in the stands at North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday, watching the centennial homecoming football game. The governor attended the event to mark 100 years of the tradition, which the university calls the Greatest Homecoming on Earth. His presence capped a year of milestones for the institution and the state's higher education system.

Stein issued a proclamation designating October 31, 2026, as a day recognizing the 100th anniversary of the homecoming. He cited the university's cultural, academic, and economic impact on North Carolina. In remarks to the crowd, he described historically black colleges and universities as engines of opportunity, innovation, and economic mobility.

The scale of the annual event is substantial. Approximately 200,000 visitors attend the weeklong festivities each year. Those attendees generate an estimated $80 million in economic activity for the Greensboro region. Chancellor James R. Martin II noted that the event provides a platform to showcase the university as a strategic advantage for the state.

Martin emphasized that the university is the largest HBCU in the nation and a doctoral research land-grant institution. He stated that the homecoming allows visitors to see the realities of the university's work. The celebration brings together generations of alumni and students to honor the school's legacy.

Stein's visit coincided with recent state budget actions. In July, he signed a bill investing nearly $480 million across North Carolina's five public historically black colleges and universities. The funding includes allocations for North Carolina A&T State University. The governor concluded his remarks with the school's motto: Aggie Pride.