It’s official. North Carolina Central University’s freshman class is the largest in the university’s history in this, its Centennial Year. With 1,347 new first time students this fall as compared to 1,035 last year, NCCU is pleased to see an increase of 30 percent. There are also 30 percent more transfer and second-degree students registered.

The influx helped ensure that NCCU exceeded the enrollment target set for it by the University of North Carolina General Administration with a total enrollment figure of 8,501.

“The Undergraduate Admissions recruiters worked extremely hard to recruit new students who are academically prepared for college,” said Sharon Oliver, associate vice chancellor for enrollment services. “We are ecstatic about the students who are enrolled and grateful for the support of the entire Eagle team.”

Here is what a few of the freshmen are saying.

Charmenka Grier, a criminal justice major says, “My teachers, they’re nice and I like all my classes.”

Johnny Jones, II chose NCCU because of his family’s connections. “A host of my aunts and uncles have been here. My cousin played on that 1989 Division II national championship [basketball] team.”

Taleena Ashley picked NCCU because “when I did my research, NCCU was a fit because it had theater, law and nursing. So it would be pretty good for me and it’s not that far [from Charlotte].”