Virginia State University is set to make history as the first HBCU to host a presidential debate.

According to a news release issued by the university, the debate is scheduled for October 1, 2024, and will be held at the state-of-the-art  VSU Multipurpose Center. The debate will be the second of three scheduled general election presidential debates. 

VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah expressed his excitement about the school being selected to host the event.

“We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a host for a 2024 Presidential Debate,” Abdullah said. “This is a historic moment for our university and for HBCUs nationwide. Our university mantra is “Greater Happens Here,” and we look forward to welcoming the candidates, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the entire nation to the GREATER at VSU.” 

“We have always been committed to excellence, inclusivity, and civic engagement,” added Eldon Burton, VSU Assistant Vice President for Government Relations. “This incredible achievement will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the campus community, the university’s reputation, and the nation as a whole. Now people will know that not only does Greater Happen at VSU, but history happens here as well.”

Other locations for the Texas State University, Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, and the University of Utah.

More updates will be provided as the date approaches.

In addition to hosting a presidential debate, VSU students were selected to participate in the 2023-2024 NASA Student Launch Challenge for the first time in the school’s history.

The Trojan Takeoff Team will go up against 48 teams from universities across the nation in what is considered to be one of the most prestigious rocketry competitions in Huntsville, Alabama, in April 2024.