The Dream That became Reality: Southern University Laboratory Celebrates Centennial year

What started as a dream for Dr. Joseph S. Clark who served as president of Southern University A&M College from 1913-1938 became the institution now known as Southern University Laboratory School. Southern Lab has created many opportunities and exposure to their students over the centennial.
Southern Lab. was founded in 1922 by Dr. Joseph S. Clark. Dr.Clark dreamed that a strong training school should be established to provide a training ground for Southern University students to enroll in the teacher preparation program.
After interviewing Southern Lab director Dr. Herman Brister, we learned about Southern University Laboratory rich history and the potential this institution carries. Dr. Brister answered questions about the future of Southern Lab and the next 100 years. Brister responded, “It’s important for us to make sure that the
foundations in the core beliefs are still vibrant for the next 100 years. This institution is important for the North Federal community and the Baton Rouge community. Southern University Laboratory School is a microcosm of what the HBCU experience is like for college students,” Brister continued.
“At Southern Lab you don’t have to hide who you are, you don’t have to hide your blackness. It’s a safe haven for students. For the next 100 years we want to make sure we continue that legacy. We want to make sure that A: the school is still here. B: that the legacy and tradition is stronger than ever for the next 100 years from now,” Brister concluded.
Upon graduation, Brister provided a percentage of Southern Lab graduates that would go on to Southern University and A&M College. Brister stated, “A good 60-75% attend Southern if not, more.” Brister described how Southern University Laboratory School’s alumni are known to leave a legacy on Southern Laboratory students today. Brister responded, “The legacy is stronger than ever, I just ran across a few season alumni from the 60’s. It’s amazing.”
After interviewing Dr.Brister we located and interviewed former Southern Lab and Southern University SGA president Nickolas Harris. Harris was SGA president of Southern Lab in 2009 and 2015 for Southern University.
Harris answered questions surrounding his time as SGA president at Southern Lab and Southern University. “I went to Southern lab from 5th to 12th grade. Southern Lab is all kinds of connected, it started with me going to Southern University with my parents and my family used to tailgate at the games since I was a little kid. So going to Southern Lab in the 5th grade made me culture to the university. When it was time for me to run for SGA president at Southern Lab it was a good exspearce. It put me out of my comfort zone from being a quiet kid throughout middle and high school. I wanted to get involved and had other class positions at Southern Lab. With being the SGA president I got better at public speaking, something I was not well at.”
Harris continued, “Being SGA president at Southern Lab I was able to go meet the royal court and the SGA at Southern University. That just increased my excitement for Southern University even more. I was able to be at the coronation with Miss Southern and her court. Just being in these situations ignited me to want to go to Southern even more. Being SGA president I was able to represent Southern Lab on a bigger scale.”
After Harris talked about his time as SGA president at Southern Lab, he told us his time as SGA president at Southern University. He said “Being SGA president at SouthernUniversity was a full circle moment for me. I was asked to come back to Southern Lab to speak to the SGA president there the same way the SGA president of Southern has done for me.”
One tradition remains in effect is every year on Founders Day Southern Lab honors our founders by matching to their gravesites and memorial. With ambition and aspiration Southern Lab embarks onto their students, the future has a lot to fulfill. Southern Lab. has influenced generations of students, faculty and staff, and the community over the centennial.