FAMU students cited as "best" at policy conference

FAMU student delegation named best in state at the Florida ENLACE --Engaging Latino, African-American, and other Communities for Education--- Education Policy Conference.

ENLACE is a statewide network funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to promote college readiness, access and success for Latinos, African-American and other underrepresented students.

Sixty-four college students from across the state of Florida convened for the first ever student education policy conference to deliberate the state of public education in Florida and recommend means by which it can be improved. Students from eight universities (FAMU, FAU, FIU, FSU, UCF, UF, UNF, and USF) studied and debated four critically important policy issues. The issues were adding rigor and relevance to Florida’s high school curriculum; reforming failing high schools; reforming the Bright Futures Scholarship Program; and expanding the system of higher education to accommodate increasing student demand and need.

A delegation from each university prepared recommendations for an assigned policy issue prior to attending the conference and presented the information to the entire group. The group debated and approved resolutions to present to the Florida Legislation.

The FAMU delegation was made up of: Willie Barnes, a public relations student from Lakeland, Fla, Kianta Key, a public relations student from Atlanta, Ga, Candace Hemphill, a healthcare management student from Pensacola, Fla, Alexandra Lee, a healthcare management student from Tallahassee, Gregory Woodall, a physics student from Atlanta, Mathia Sweet, a healthcare management student from Panama City, and Vincent Evans, a political science student from Jacksonville.