Biography 
A native of Greene County, N.C., Dr. Velma R. Speight has been a professional educator for more than 45 years. She started her career as a high school teacher and, through promotions and appointments, expanded it to high-level positions including specialist in civil rights, state supervisor of guidance, and Assistant State Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education. 

A 1953 graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Speight earned master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Maryland at College Park. She served at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., as chair of the Department of Education, coordinated the graduate program in guidance and counseling, and received the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Teacher of the Year Award. Speight has also taught at Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College, and the University of Maryland College Park. She was on the faculty of East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., where she served as chair of the Department of Counseling and Adult Education. She earned a Fulbright Scholarship in 1991 to study in Ghana and Senegal, West Africa. 

In 1993, Speight returned to North Carolina A&T State University as Director of Alumni Affairs and served until her retirement in 1997. During her retirement, she continues to serve the university and its alumni. She is a past chair of the North Carolina A&T State University Board of Trustees and served as chair of the N.C. A&T Chancellor Search Committee in 2006. The university has honored her with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree at the 2006 Fall Commencement, where she also served as keynote speaker. The NC A&T University Foundation, Inc. named the main lobby of the Alumni-Foundation Event Center in her honor. In 2022, a residence hall on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University was named in her honor, further solidifying her lasting legacy. 

Throughout her career, Speight has been active in numerous professional and civic organizations. She is now a full-time volunteer and dedicated community worker. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she has provided extensive community service. She directed “Call for Action” at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, a national consumer advocate group, and serves as vice president of the National Call for Action Board of Directors. She serves on several boards in the greater Greensboro area, including the Shepherd Center (Chair), the Adult Enrichment Center, Oak Ridge Academy, Friends Home, and the Greensboro City Council’s planning board (Vice-Chair). She has chaired the Enrichment Fund for Guilford County Schools and Leadership Greensboro Senior. Speight received the Carolina Peacemaker Award, recognizing her as one of the 100 movers and shakers in Greensboro. She remains a respected consultant and speaker in her field. 

Award Criteria

• Must be an alumni of North Carolina A&T State University 
• Must be 40 years of age or younger. 
• Must be actively engaged with the programs and services of the University and/or the Office of Alumni Relations. This may include serving on a committee, participating in a local alumni chapter, serving as an Aggie Certified Alumni Recruiter, and volunteering at University-sponsored events such as Homecoming or Alumni Reunion Weekend. 
• Must provide two (2) letters of recommendation that reflect the nominee’s character, service, and commitment to the University and broader community. 
• Must have contributed to the University’s Annual Giving Campaign and/or maintained financial membership in an alumni chapter for a minimum of two consecutive years. 
• Previous recipients are not eligible to receive the same award.