JCSU’S Commitment To Literacy Through The Smitty Project Supports K-8 Students

Johnson C. Smith University student-athletes logged more than 2000 community engagement hours through the Smitty Project in partnership with the James B. Duke Memorial Library. Their efforts supported early literacy and college exposure programs for K-8 students across Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

The “Smitty Project” refers primarily to a community and literacy initiative at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), partnering with local schools to foster student engagement and access to higher education, supported by figures like Donnie Shell. Separately, there’s also a uranium exploration project in Saskatchewan, and a major news story about the Smitty’s Supply chemical explosion in Louisiana, involving EPA investigations and environmental concerns, demonstrating the term’s varied usage. 

This department wide commitment to literacy earned Johnson C. Smith University second place for the 2026 Division II Award of Excellence!