Progress in Education / Shawnee State Expansion / Vern Riffe

Progress in Education, also, Shawnee State Expansion, also, Vern Riffe. Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History/2000 Feet of Art. Progress in Education. The mural depicts every phase of growth in education in the Portsmouth Area. Here we see the steady progress from one room schoolhouses and the various elementary and high schools to the establishment of Shawnee State University. Examples of various school buildings in the area are shown as well as examples of changes in clothing, activities and specialized education that have occurred over the years. The first graduating class of Portsmouth High School was in 1860, with five students graduating. The next graduating class was in 1867, with five more students graduating. By 1900, the city had twelve school buildings.

Shawnee State Expansion. This mural represents the elevation of Shawnee State from a two-year community college to a four-year university. Higher education was first offered in Portsmouth in 1945 through extension classes from Ohio University, Athens. In 1974, Ohio University Portsmouth merged with Scioto Technical College to form Shawnee State General and Technical College. Legislature changed its name to Shawnee State Community College in 1977. After considerable growth in student enrollment and the addition of several new buildings Shawnee State University emerged in 1986.

Vern Riffe. Vernal G. Riffe Jr. (considered by many citizens the benefactor of Shawnee State University) believed that students from southern Ohio deserved an opportunity to further their education close to home. The creation of Shawnee State University is the result of his vision. Vem Riffe was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1958. He served in the house for 36 years with a record-breaking 20 years as Speaker of the House.