In a stirring moment of recognition and history-making, Wake Forest University announced that a new residence hall will be named in honor of Beth Hopkins and her late husband Larry Hopkins M.D.—a couple whose achievements at and beyond the campus broke barriers in race, education, medicine and athletics.
Breaking the Mold on Campus
When Beth Hopkins arrived at Wake Forest in 1969, she became one of the first two Black women to live in one of the school’s dormitories—a time when just around 20 Black students were enrolled at the university. She recounts enduring both subtle and blatant racism: the kind of incidents that stayed with her decades later. “We would gather in what became the Black Student Association to cry together, strategize together… we faced hostilities from some of the professors who felt like we weren’t academically prepared to be there,” Beth says.
Meanwhile, Larry Hopkins, a former Wake Forest football star, made his own mark—he was the first Black student to graduate from the university with a chemistry degree and later earned a medical degree to serve his community. After football success (he scored the winning touchdown for Wake Forest’s first ACC championship in 1970), he dedicated himself to medicine in Winston-Salem, treating patients regardless of their ability to pay and helping launch a health centre in an area with the highest infant mortality rate in the state.
A Lasting Legacy
Late this year, Wake Forest will formally rename the residence hall in their names and host a dedication ceremony on October 25, 2025. Beth Hopkins says when she first got the call, she was “speechless…and the tears just flowed.” She adds it’s humbling to see their names above the doors—though she’s quick to note it’s the collective effort of Black students from that era that laid the foundation.
For Beth, being honored alongside her husband—whose name she says she’s proud to carry—feels like a full circle:
“With these two dormitories in proximity to one another, we’re saying to the women of the world: you can do it too.”
Why This Matters
This story matters not just to Wake Forest but to every student, every institution and every community seeking to understand how change happens. It’s a reminder that progress in education, medicine and athletics doesn’t come overnight—it comes from small steps, courageous walks, and the heavy lifting of those who came before.
The Hopkins’ story echoes similar struggles and triumphs faced by Black professionals and academics across continents. It shows that legacy isn’t only about individual achievement—it’s about paving the way for those who follow.
