Alabama A&M University concluded its yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration Tuesday with a formal Closing Ceremony that honored the institution’s 150-year legacy and reaffirmed its forward-looking motto, “Rich Heritage, Bold Future.” The ceremony, which brought together students, faculty, staff, donors and torchbearers, marked the culmination of a commemorative campaign that surpassed its anticipated philanthropic goals and strengthened the University’s foundation for its next era of growth.

The event opened at the AAMU Event Center with the Uncle Nearest Barrel Silent Auction, offering supporters the rare opportunity to acquire exclusive “Rich Heritage” and “Bold Future” commemorative bourbon barrels. The collaboration between Alabama A&M – founded by formerly enslaved scholar and educator William Hooper Councill – and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey underscores a shared historical thread rooted in perseverance and craftsmanship. Uncle Nearest is named for Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first known African American master distiller, whose legacy has become central to the brand’s national prominence. The auction invited alumni and friends to contribute to the University’s continued advancement while owning a symbolic artifact of its sesquicentennial year.

At 4:30 p.m., torchbearers gathered on The Hill for the lighting of the William Hooper Councill Eternal Flame Memorial. Conceived as a lasting tribute to the University’s founder, the memorial honors Councill’s pioneering work in expanding educational opportunity for formerly enslaved people and his profound influence on American education. Dr. Councill and his wife Maria are entombed on the campus hillside. The Eternal Flame now brings renewed prominence to his enduring legacy.

The evening’s program reached its artistic centerpiece when internationally acclaimed artist Charles Bibbs joined AAMU President Daniel K. Wims to unveil two original commissioned works created to honor the milestone anniversary. Bibbs, celebrated for his synthesis of realism and abstraction in depictions of African American resilience and cultural identity, framed the University’s 150-year journey as a narrative of endurance, intellect and communal purpose. A second silent auction featuring Bibbs’ newly unveiled pieces offered collectors an opportunity to acquire a rare work by one of the nation’s most admired contemporary artists. The artworks will be made available in several formats, including limited-edition remarques, museum-quality giclée prints and accessible offset editions, with proceeds benefiting scholarships, campus enhancements and other mission-driven priorities.

A video presentation chronicled Bibbs’ creative process, culminating in a reflection from the artist on the significance of the commission. “It was truly an honor,” Bibbs said. “These works are my tribute to a legacy of perseverance, brilliance and hope, and it is my deepest wish that they continue to inspire all who walk the grounds of this great University for generations to come.”

President Wims emphasized that, even amid the pride of a remarkable sesquicentennial year, the University’s pursuit of equitable state and federal funding remains ongoing. He outlined an ambitious vision that includes growth in enrollment, expanded research capacity and heightened national competitiveness in fields such as quantum computing, engineering, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

He described a University determined to attract the strongest students from Alabama, the nation, and the world. “I would like to see this institution in the next 20 years have 20,000 students,” said Wims. “I would like to see us produce Fulbright scholars and Rhodes Scholar finalists. Isn’t that what you want? Isn’t that what we should be?” Reaffirming AAMU’s identity as an 1890 land-grant institution rooted in teaching, research, and service, he closed with a tribute to the University’s enduring presence and its legacy of purpose.

“To the Normalites, our 7,808 students, our 1,200 faculty and staff, to our 33,000 alums that we can account for, to the countless members of Bulldog Nation, to those who walk these hallowed halls and grounds, this sacred place, to those who understand this magnificent campus that sits majestically on The Hill in the mighty city of Normal inside the magnanimous city of Huntsville - congratulations. God has blessed you and will continue to bless you. As we always say, Service is Sovereignty. Let’s Go, Bulldogs.”

Learn more at Alabama A&M University's 150th Anniversary Campaign.