FAMU has been selected as one of the 2010 winners of the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3). As such, the University is the recipient of a $50,000 grant to develop a student-led project focused on sustainability in the farm community. Ford C3 is a initiative of the Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Students at FAMU will implement a demonstration and education model for renewable biofuel production. The project will test the use of biofuel made from oil seed crops and waste vegetable oil for use as an alternative energy source for farm machinery in the university’s StateWide ® Small Farm Collaborative. The project will involve students from the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA), the School of Architecture, and community stakeholders.
“This project will provide a unique opportunity to partner with community collaborators, provide education and training experiences to FAMU students, while equipping small farms and the community with exciting options for a thriving sustainable future,”said Jennifer Taylor, FAMU’s coordinator for the Small Farms Program.
The Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) recognizes colleges and universities that utilize a school's resources to address an urgent community need. This year's proposals were expected to incorporate the use of alternative energy in a unique way. Unlike many traditional college grant programs, Ford C3 requires colleges to create proposals that have significant student input, involvement and leadership from beginning to end.
“Winning proposals have a distinctive student perspective on what it means to have a sustainable community,” said Mike Schmidt, director of Education and Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “We are pleased to be able to support the millennial spirit of innovation in these students, whose projects help address critical needs within their communities.”