Florida A&M University (FAMU) started the first leg of its “President’s Tour: FAMU Up Close and Personal” Saturday, March 8, to a crowd of about 275 in Pensacola and awarded scholarships totaling $175,000 on the first day.
The first scholarship was awarded to Nelson James, a senior at Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, who is a National Achievement finalist. James joined the tour in Tallahassee and traveled to Pensacola and Dothan on the tour bus. He received the Life Gets Better Scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and books for four years. The scholarship also includes a $500 stipend each semester, internships and a laptop.
“This is pretty exciting,” said James. “I was hoping for a scholarship, but I wasn’t expecting to get it. It’s a great incentive to come to FAMU.”
During the tour, student leaders told their personal stories about how FAMU inspired them to achieve excellence. The FAMU connection told FAMU’s story through song and dance and FAMU President James H. Ammons provided university highlights and encouraged students to not only pursue a bachelor’s degree, but to earn a graduate degree and become change agents, solving some of the world’s problems.
“We are counting on you to find a cure for AIDS and other diseases that impact the African-American community,” Ammons said. “Who will have the passion that you will to find a cure? Who will solve the health issues plaguing minorities and America in general? Who will discover the next break through in physics that will advance the technology of the future? Who will step up to the plate? You must step up to the plate. America’s future depends on it.”
FAMU did a repeat of its program in Dothan, Alabama at Greater Beulah Baptist Church where additional scholarships were awarded. A framed picture of the tours’ logo and a cake were presented to Ammons in celebration of the first anniversary of his confirmation date for the FAMU presidency.
“When I knew the vote would take place on March 8th, I knew it was confirmation that pursuing the presidency was the right thing for me,” said Ammons. “March 8 was also my mother’s birthday.”
On Sunday, March 9, the group will start the tour at a worship service at Shiloh Baptist Church where Ammons is the keynote speaker.
Here’s a listing of the scholarship awards for March 8, 2008:
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
Nelson James, $60,000
Chiles High School
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
Haley Bengtson, $50,000
Washington High School
Kerstin Fleming, $50,000
Pensacola High School
Simp McCorvey, $2,000
Pine Forest High School
Destany Moorer, $2,000
Pensacola High School
Keelyn Fleming
Pensacola High School
DOTHAN, ALABAMA
Povshia R. Hall, $1,000
Pike County High School
Mathias Sweet, $1,000
Gulf Coast Community College
Ashley N. Robert, $2,500
Chipola Community College
