The Lives and Legacies of Irving Peddrew, III & Matthew Winston, Sr: Celebrating the Memory of Two Virginia Tech Pioneers
The Lives and Legacies of Irving Peddrew, III & Matthew Winston, Sr: Celebrating the Memory of Two Virginia Tech Pioneers
In May 2024, Virginia Tech lost two pioneers, Irving Peddrew III and Matthew Winston Sr., who were both among the first Black students at Virginia Tech (then Virginia Polytechnic Institute). Peddrew was the first Black student admitted to a historically white, four-year public institution in any of the 11 former states of the Confederacy. Winston was the fifth Black student admitted to Virginia Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1959. He went on to have a distinguished 35-year career with NASA-Langley.
Peddrew and Winston are remembered for their contributions, achievements, and perseverance despite the racism and difficult experiences in their early years as Hokies. Peddrew and Winston both became deeply involved with Virginia Tech, including with the Black Alumni Reunion, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, and the Corps of Cadets. In 1991, Winston and his son dedicated the mural, “Legacy,” outside the Black Cultural Center on campus, and in 1994, Winston received the Special Achievement Award from Langley for his work regarding Equal Employment Opportunity. In 2003, Peddrew became a namesake for the Peddrew-Yates Residence Hall and received an honorary degree in engineering in 2016 from Virginia Tech.
Special Collections and University Archives celebrates the memory of Peddrew’s and Winston’s time as students, their many accomplishments, and their legacies with these selections from our collections.
This exhibit was curated by Amelia Verkerk with production assistance by Anthony Wright de Hernandez.
- Date:
- Thursday, August 1, 2024 Show more dates
- Time:
- All Day Event
- Location:
- Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room (1010)
- Campus:
- Blacksburg Campus
- Audience:
- Advanced Alumni Beginners Faculty/Staff Graduate Students Postdoc Public Undergraduates
- Categories:
- Exhibit