Alabama State University and Valiant Cross Academy are partnering to expand educational opportunities, create a clear path for student success, and strengthen community impact in Montgomery and beyond.
With this partnership, Valiant Cross Academy’s elementary school will move to the ASU campus at the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center. This step builds on ASU’s history of community engagement and will open new opportunities for students, educators and the wider Montgomery community.
Through this collaboration, ASU and Valiant Cross Academy will work together to:
- Provide space for the elementary school to be housed on the ASU campus.
- Provide dual enrollment opportunities enabling academy scholars to earn college credit while completing their high school education.
- Create pathways for Valiant Cross graduates to pursue higher education at ASU with access to scholarships, internships and career readiness initiatives.
- Strengthen community ties by collaborating on service projects and initiatives that align with both institutions’ missions.
- Serve as a living laboratory for training future educators, curriculum development, and community-based research in education.
Alabama State University has a longstanding record of promoting academic achievement and fostering community engagement within the region. Valiant Cross Academy, an all-boys private school in Montgomery, is distinguished by its academic rigor and emphasis on character development and leadership. Through collaboration, these institutions aim to broaden educational access and enhance student success.
“Alabama State University has always been committed to advancing education at every level, and this historic partnership with Valiant Cross Academy represents a bold step in that mission,” said ASU President Quinton T. Ross Jr. “By opening our doors to the next generation of learners, we are not only honoring the legacy of the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center but also affirming our responsibility to help nurture young minds, strengthen our community, and build pathways to lifelong success. Together, ASU and Valiant Cross Academy are creating opportunities that will resonate far beyond our campus, inspiring excellence for years to come.”
Anthony Brock, an alumnus of Alabama State University, is the co-founder and Head of School at Valiant Cross Academy. He holds two degrees from the University and currently serves on both the Foundation Board of Directors and the Continuing Education Policy Council. Both Brock and his brother, Fred Brock, began their education at the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center, underscoring the significance of this partnership.
“Partnering with Alabama State University to open Valiant Cross Academy on its campus ranks as one of the most significant highlights of my life,” Brock said. “The support and love from my ASU family have profoundly impacted both me and the VCA community. I would not be the educator I am today without ASU.”
The partnership between Alabama State University and Valiant Cross Academy demonstrates the potential for educational institutions to collaborate in expanding opportunities for students and their families.
