Virginia Interscholastic Association

During a summer conference at Hampton University in 1952, high school principals in Virginia discussed the lack of funding in African American high schools and proposed an organization that would coordinate statewide activities for African American high school students.{{Cite web |title=Virginia Intercollegiate Association papers 1954-1969 {{!}} H-Sport {{!}} H-Net |url=https://networks.h-net.org/node/2622/links/4079/virginia-intercollegiate-association-papers-1954-1969 |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=networks.h-net.org}} On April 20, 1954, the VIA was established with the help of a group of African American high school principals in Virginia, Virginia State University, the Department of Education, and the General Assembly of Virginia which funded staff training for teachers and coaches at the request of Virginia State University.{{Cite web |title=A Guide to the Virginia Intercollegiate Association Papers 1954-1969 Association, Intercollegiate Virginia 1969-37 |url=https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?query=virginia+interscholastic+association&docId=vsu/vipets00051.xml&chunk.id= |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=ead.lib.virginia.edu}}

The VIA’s Executive Committee “administered activities, schedules, conferences, competitions and appointments. This body consisted of ‘(a) the three groups of member schools; (b) two representatives from the State Department of Education; (c) one member representing Virginia State College; (d) one junior high school representative (Womble).’”{{Cite web |title=Administration |url=https://viastory.org/administration |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Story of the Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA) |language=en-US}} A guidance counselor was made available to VIA members to assist them with their socioemotional and academic needs. The coordinated efforts of Virginia State University staff, teachers, coaches, the Department of Education and parents can be attributed with the success of the VIA.

Each year the VIA Heritage Association inducts members to the hall of fame. In 2016, Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley was selected.{{Cite web |last=VHSL |title=Benita Fitzgerald Mosley selected to inaugural VIAHA Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.insidenova.com/sports/benita-fitzgerald-mosley-selected-to-inaugural-viaha-hall-of-fame-class/article_411b9cd4-bb8a-11e5-ab2e-afd9e1fa322d.html |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |date=15 January 2016 |language=en}} In 2022, seven members were inducted.{{Cite web |title=VIAHA 2022 to induct new members |url=http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2022/jun/16/viaha-2022-induct-new-members/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=richmondfreepress.com}}

In May 2023, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss made a donation to Teaching for Change to digitize the archives at Virginia State University.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Cameron |date=2023-06-03 |title=How donation from 2 tennis legends is preserving chapter of Virginia history |url=https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/virginia-state-university-digitizing-virginia-interscholastic-association-archives-june-2-2023 |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR |language=en}}

The VIA organized and administered academics, associations, arts, and athletics programs for its student members.

African American high school students participated in academic competitions in mathematics and science, specifically algebra, chemistry, physics, and biology. Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton, and St. Paul’s College rotated hosting these academic competitions where students completed tests and quizzes. Students had to qualify for these competitions through an often rigorous process.{{Cite web |title=Academics |url=https://viastory.org/academics |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Story of the Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA) |language=en-US}}

The VIA also granted African American high school students leadership opportunities with Student Council, National Honor Society, and Student Participation Association. These leadership associations carved space for VIA members to learn and hone their leadership skills in a time of oppression and discrimination.{{Cite web |title=Associations |url=https://viastory.org/associations |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Story of the Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA) |language=en-US}}

In addition to academic and leadership opportunities, the VIA dedicated many of its resources to its arts and athletics programs. VIA members participated and performed in choir, music, and drama competitions and festivals at Virginia State University. Thousands of spectators attended these events where students were judged and awarded for their performances. Member schools often hosted theatrical performances as well.{{Cite web |title=Arts |url=https://viastory.org/arts |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Story of the Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA) |language=en-US}}

Through its network of member schools, the VIA created opportunities for African American high school students to compete in football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and track and field. Through its partnerships with Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton, and St. Paul’s College, the VIA helped African American high school students compete at the collegiate level. Collis P. Huntington High School, for example, won sixteen Virginia Interscholastic Association eastern District titles and seven VIA state championships under coach Thad Madden from 1943 through 1971. Some of the most accomplished athletes in Virginia were members of the VIA. Renowned American tennis player Arthur Ashe (Maggie L. Walker High School) was a member of the VIA.{{Cite web |title=THE VIA STORY |url=https://viaheritage.com/the-via-story/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The VIA Heritage Association |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.phenixhighstory.org/ George P. Phenix High School.]
• [https://richmondmagazine.com/news/richmond-history/a-place-of-kinship/ A Place of Kinship: Carver High School Nurtured African American Students]

Category:High school sports associations in the United States

Category:Education in Virginia