Strategic Partnership
The Alcorn Memphis Alumni Chapter exists to strengthen our connection to “The Yard” and to invest in the students who will carry the Alcorn legacy forward. With Alcorn State University’s new partnership with NVIDIA and the launch of a scalable DGX Spark Laboratory, we now have a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to support students at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
Alcorn’s AI Moment: Why This Matters to Memphis
Alcorn recently hosted The Alcorn AI Moment: A Dialogue on HBCUs and the New Frontier in Education, featuring President Tracy M. Cook and NVIDIA’s Louis Stewart in conversation about how AI can transform learning, opportunity, and equity at HBCUs. They highlighted that this partnership is not just about powerful computers—it is about closing the technology gap for first‑generation and Pell‑eligible students and ensuring HBCUs have a voice in shaping AI’s future.
For Alcornites in the Memphis metro area, this is our signal that the university is stepping onto the national stage in AI, research, and workforce development, and our support can help accelerate that momentum.
Inside An NVIDIA DGX Spark Laboratory
Alcorn is the first HBCU to fully operationalize AI using a scalable NVIDIA DGX Spark Laboratory on campus in Mississippi. Starting with 15 NVIDIA DGX Spark systems and scaling to 25, the university is building a mini AI data center (that uses standard 110/115v power vs 220/240v power) that gives students hands‑on access to enterprise‑grade computing power. These systems enable students and faculty to train and experiment with advanced AI models directly on campus, without relying solely on costly cloud services.
This infrastructure positions Alcorn as an AI Center of Excellence among HBCUs, similar to how organizations like BMW and MITRE use NVIDIA platforms to drive consistent, repeatable innovation in their fields.
What This Means for Alcorn Students
For current and future Braves, this partnership opens doors that used to be reserved for students at large research universities or tech powerhouses. With DGX Spark systems on campus, Alcorn students can:
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Gain real experience building and deploying AI models in areas like healthcare, agriculture, business, and education.
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Develop competitive portfolios for internships, graduate programs, and high‑demand tech roles.
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Work alongside faculty on funded research and innovation projects that can benefit their home communities in Mississippi, Tennessee, and beyond.
This is exactly the kind of opportunity our Memphis‑area students and their families hope for when they choose Alcorn.
How Memphis Alumni Fit Into the Blueprint
The Alcorn Memphis Alumni Chapter already supports endowments, scholarships, and student recruitment as part of its mission to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with the university. Tying our local efforts to Alcorn’s AI leap allows us to:
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Highlight AI and NVIDIA in our student recruitment conversations across Memphis‑area high schools and community colleges.
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Encourage targeted scholarship giving for students pursuing STEM, computer science, data science, and AI‑related fields.
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Showcase the DGX Spark Lab in chapter communications, events like the Mid‑Winter Conference and Southern Heritage Classic, and on social media to build pride and awareness.
Memphis is already a hub for healthcare, logistics, and music. These are industries that are being reshaped by AI today. By supporting Alcorn’s AI Center of Excellence, we help prepare Braves to lead in exactly those spaces.
Three Ways You Can Take Action Today
As a Memphis‑area Alcornite, you can support this AI transformation right now:
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Stay Connected and Share the Story
Follow the Alcorn Memphis Alumni Chapter on Facebook and our website, and share updates about the Alcorn & NVIDIA partnership with your network. The more people know about this initiative, the more support it can attract. -
Engage Through Events and Membership
Attend upcoming chapter events like the chapter meetings and the Southern Heritage Classic, and stay active as a member of the local and national alumni association. Your presence and dues help fund the scholarships and programs that put students in position to benefit from the DGX Spark Lab. -
Invest in Students on the Frontlines of AI
Consider directing part of your giving toward scholarships and programs that support students in STEM and AI‑related majors. Even modest recurring gifts can help first‑generation and Pell‑eligible students fully take advantage of Alcorn’s new AI resources.
Alcorn’s partnership with NVIDIA is a clear sign that our alma mater is not just keeping up. It is leading in the next era of technology. As Memphis alumni, we have both the responsibility and the privilege to stand behind this moment and make sure future Braves have every tool they need to succeed.
Always Leading. Always Alcorn. Always Memphis.
