Today NC State changed the name of University College Commons to Holmes Hall in honor of Irwin Holmes, the first African-American to earn an undergraduate degree.
The official @NCSU dedication of Holmes Hall, named for the first black undergraduate to earn a degree at the school. #WRAL pic.twitter.com/oODhzIS7Zm
— Adam Owens (@AdamOwensTV) November 1, 2018
Holmes proudly walked across the graduation stage on May 29th, 1960, with a degree in electrical engineering in hand.
Not only was Holmes the school’s first African-American graduate, he was also the ACC’s first African-American athlete, playing tennis and running indoor track.