Since 1837, more than 100 historically black colleges and universities, including Fort Valley State University's sister institutions, have planted seeds of knowledge in talented students that took root and blossomed into an indispensable, educated citizenry that transformed the nation and the world. Originally defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965 as colleges established before 1964 with a principal mission to educate African Americans, these institutions became fertile ground for cultivating genius in students from all walks of life, and their graduates went on to become consequential professionals.