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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 $240,000 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.”
In Jacksonville at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Fellowship Hall, the church had FAMU Day. During the morning service, the university’s recruitment video “Legend of the Hill” was played and Ammons was given an opportunity to address the congregation. Later in the fellowship hall, he awarded scholarships totaling $346,000.
In Daytona, Ammons awarded a second Life Gets Better Scholarship to Earl Twiggs, a senior at Flagler Palm Coast High School, valued at $80,000.
“I was about to cry when they told me I got the scholarship,” said Twiggs. “My mom doesn’t have to pay for my college. FAMU came to me early showing interest.”
Here’s a listing of the scholarship awards for March 8, 2008:
TALLAHASSEE — $80,000
Nelson James, $80,000
Chiles High School
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — $128,000
Haley Bengtson, $50,000
Washington High School
Kerstin Fleming, $50,000
Pensacola High School
Destany Moorer, $12,000
Pensacola High School
Keelyn Fleming $8,000
Pensacola High School
Simp McCorvey, $8,000
Pine Forest High School
DOTHAN, ALABAMA — $32,000
Ashley N. Robert, $10,000
Chipola Community College
Erin Witt, $10,000
Chipola Community College
Robert L. Ashley, Jr., $4,000
Gulf Coast Community College
Povshia R. Hall, $4,000
Pike County High School
Mathias Sweet, $4,000
Gulf Coast Community College
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — $346,000
Nijah A. Crawford, $8,000
Paxon School for Advance Studies
Elisabeth Drayton, $8,000
Paxon School for Advance Studies
Angelica Jade Eliam, $8,000
Andrew Jackson High School
Breeme Murray, $8,000
Lee High School
Brea S. Parks, $8,000
William M. Raines High School
Staycee Harper, $10,000
Florida Community College
Standrell J. Nicholson, $12,000
Englewood High School
Olivia Wheatley, $12,000
Englewood High School
Brone Allen, $12,000
Andrew Jackson High School
Tia Cohens, $12,000
Palatka High School
Rhian A. Sutherland, $12,000
Stanton College Prep
Melissa Brown, $16,000
Paxson Sas
Joran M. Hadley, $16,000
Terry Parker High School
Roger Jefferson, $16,000
Bradford High School
Takiyah Walls, $20,000
Drop Back in Academy
Seygourney L. Gilbert, $40,000
Stanton Prep
Bernice Green, $40,000
Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Trinity Lewis, $40,000
First Coast High School
DAYTONA BEACH — $358,000
Earl Twiggs, $80,000
Flager Palm Coast
Arabeka Sewdath, $8,000
Rockledge High School
Brian Smith, $8,000
Rockledge High School
Violeta Barac, $10,000
Valencia Community College
Nyemachi Ejiowhor, $10,000
Seminole Community College
Megan Stone, $10,000
Rockledge High School
Llaurtis Cruz, $12,000
Seminole High School
Darrell Coleman, $20,000
Ocoee High School
Trenton Campbell, $40,000
Miramar High School
Matthew Davis, $40,000
Leesburg High School
Kourtney Johnson, $40,000
West Orange High School
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