The Randolph County Training School (RCTS), a Rosenwald descendant school, existed between 1919 and 1970 in Roanoke, Alabama on Highway 431 before it was closed pursuit to a federal court desegregation order. RCTS was one of more than 5,000 schools constructed throughout the southern states to support the education of African American children.
Since 2005, with the generous financial support of RCTS alumni and friends, the RCTS Scholarship Fund has awarded 101 scholarships to RCTS descendant students at Handley High School, Wadley High School, Woodland High School, and the Randolph County High School. Fifty-four years since it was closed, the RCTS legacy continues to unfold in the collegiate and career achievements of its scholarship recipients.
Last night at the annual Handley High School awards ceremony, RCTS scholarships were awarded to the following RCTS descendant students: D'Niya Winston, Ta'Kara Houston, Trinity Nolan, William D. Dean, Talajhia Winston, Shaniah G. Foster, Zanautika Smith, Jestiny Z. Williams, Azorria Higgins, Raquel Joiner, Shareif Thompson, Takeira S. Tucker, Akia A. Brown, Takeriauna Mosley, and T'Marion Phillips.
The Handley High School scholarship recipients are pictured here receiving their awards from Gene A. Thornton ("62). Last week, Talee Sims and Liberty Jade McLain received RCTS scholarships at the Randolph County High School and Wadley High School, respectively.
Additional information about the historic RCTS Rosenwald School is available at: www.rctsfoundation.org. It is an honor to serve as chair of the RCTS Fund. Behind These Silent Walls - Remember and Grow Stronger. (Hattie Peters Clark, beloved RCTS 5th grade teacher).