Historic Church Erases Student Debt With Massive Donation
A historic African American church in Virginia has made a generous donation to help graduating college seniors clear their student debt. Alfred Street Baptist Church, a congregation based in Alexandria with a legacy dating back to 1803 and a membership of around 10,000, contributed over $132,000 to eliminate the debts of 11 seniors graduating from Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) in North Carolina.
The contribution, totaling $132,469, was announced ahead of SAU’s commencement ceremony on May 3. Church representatives attended the graduation event, where the gift was formally recognized. SAU Interim President Marcus H. Burgess expressed deep appreciation, calling the donation a powerful and transformative gesture that lifts a significant burden from the students and brings renewed hope to the university community.
Rev. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church, emphasized that the donation reflects the church’s commitment to supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent students from reaching graduation. He described the gift as an expression of the church’s mission to serve and invest in future leaders.
The donation comes during a difficult period for SAU, which has been facing major financial challenges. The university has had to make staff reductions and cut back on in-person classes, and its accreditation is currently under threat. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges recently voted to revoke SAU’s accreditation, prompting the school to pursue arbitration in hopes of reversing the decision.
Despite the uncertainty, SAU remains operational and plans to continue issuing accredited degrees while the appeal process is underway. University officials have also shared plans to stabilize the institution’s finances through a $70 million bridge loan from an unnamed donor, which they believe will help secure SAU’s long-term future.