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CTM Auditorium Named as Issac J. Crumbly Auditorium
Posted on Feb 29, 2024 at 11:26 AM
On February 26, students, faculty, staff, alums, and community leaders came together to honor the remarkable contributions of Crumbly during the naming ceremony of the Isaac J. Crumbly Auditorium.
Isaac J. Crumbly, Ph.D., serves as the associate president for careers and collaborative programs and the founder and director of the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) and Fort Valley State University has been home to him for almost 60 years. Now, he has an auditorium bearing his name.
Held in the Blanchet Computer Technology and Mathematics building, the lobby was full of individuals impacted in some way by Crumbly.
Student Government Association President Genesis Ivey initiated the program with a warm welcome. Anthony Thomas II delivered the invocation, while Jackie Hodges, Ed.D., assistant CDEP Director, presented the occasion, deeming Crumbly the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).
Former CDEP scholars shared heartfelt testimonials, recounting how Crumbly's mentorship had profoundly impacted their lives. Each narrative echoed a common theme: a journey marked by self-discovery, resilience, and an unshakeable belief in pursuing even the highest dreams.
“In 1983, FVSU and three other HBCUs went to the U.S. Department of Energy to start and fund the CDEP program, and by 1986, FVSU was the only college with the program still thriving,” said Crumbly. He expressed gratitude to the FVSU community, CDEP scholars, President Jones and his presidential cabinet, his family, and, saving the most heartfelt acknowledgment for last, Mrs. Dorothy Crumbly, his devoted wife of 58 years.
After hearing closing remarks from President Jones, Blue Coat Ambassadors unveiled the new name of the auditorium.
The naming ceremony was a gesture of appreciation for Crumbly's unwavering leadership and tireless advocacy for educational empowerment. For more than 40 years, he has guided students through the CDEP program, instilling a sense of purpose and determination to overcome adversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the very building where he devotes his time and commitment to students stands the recently renamed auditorium, serving as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and the transformative impact of education.
Amid the praise, Crumbly remained modest, his attention directed toward the future he had impacted. For him, real success didn't revolve around accolades or recognition but rather in the assurance that he had played a role, no matter how minor, in guiding others along their path and creating opportunities for students.
To date, the CDEP program has graduated more than 460 scholars.
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