History Was Made and Continues at CCSU

Article by Rev. Brian K. Riley

March 20, 2019

This evening at Central Connecticut State University, the naming ceremony of the Social Science Building took place. The building was named after Ebenezer D. Bassett. Mr. Bassett is an Alumnus, Distinguished Scholar, Civil Rights Leader, Humanitarian and Diplomat. He was the first African American to attend the State Normal School (C.C.S.U. est. 1849). Ebenezer enrolled in 1852 and graduated in 1853 with honors. The CCSU Social Science Building was bearing a new name.

The ceremony was well attended by many, including members of the community, students and faculty members of CCSU, politicians and local dignitaries. It was an honor to be there and to witness the legacy of Ebenezer D. Bassett being honored. William Fothergill, Chair of the Ebenezer D. Bassett Memorialization Committee informed us all tha,t within the state of Connecticut, Bassett is the first African American to have a building named after him at a higher learning institution.

The ceremony concluded with a elegant reception in Alumni Hall within the Student Center, it featured remarks by students who received the Bassett Student Achievement Award, a performance from the Queen Nzinga’s Daughters, and a cultural dance.

The Bassett Memorialization Committee was established in 2009, their goal was to recognize the achievements and inspirational life of Ebenezer D. Bassett. These are the accomplishments of the committee. In 2010, there was the establishment of the Ebenezer D. Bassett Student Achievement Award to support student retention and success. Then in 2014, instituted annual Bassett Day commemoration on campus. In 2015, an endowment fund for the Bassett Scholarship was created for students who exemplify Mr. Bassett’s character and values. In 2019, the committee sought the state’s formal recognition of Mr. Bassett (Connecticut Freedom Trail Designation) successfully; and in 2019, the committee pursued the naming of a CCSU academic building in honor of Ebenezer D. Bassett successfully.

The EBENEZER D. BASSETT Scholarship was created to help continue Mr. Bassett’s legacy, while helping students coming from underrepresented, non-traditional, underprivileged groups with a proven financial need and a strong desire to achieve outstanding levels of academics.

Donations to the Ebenezer Bassett Scholarship Fund may be made at the web page, www.ccsu.edu/BassettScholarship, which invites people to, “Honor the man. Support our students. Continue his legacy.”