“In just a few moments, together we have doubled the amount
of money raised at this event last year,” said FAMU NAA President Tommy
Mitchell. “This is how much Rattlers love and support FAMU. We give to ensure a
bright future for our alma mater so that the legacy will continue to be there
for Rattlers yet unborn.”
Alumna Cheryl A. Miller, Allstate Senior Vice President of Sourcing and Procurement Services, set the tone through her stirring keynote speech where she encouraged the alumni to support the new administration because innovative change is critical to FAMU’s future. Miller reminded the audience that history tells the story of several corporations that are no longer present because they refused to change, such as Blockbuster, Kodak Camera, and Borders Bookstore. Similarly, academia has witnessed the demise of several institutions of higher learning. Miller stressed the importance of coming together to protect FAMU’s longevity.
“Industries evolve to meet future demands and FAMU is no
different,” said Miller. “FAMU must evolve to meet the needs of today’s
students or lose relevancy.” She invited the alumni to be a part of the change
by financially supporting the new president’s vision.
FAMU President Elmira Mangum delivered a video message
thanking the alumni for their continuous support. FAMU Provost Marcella David
shared an impressive list of recent campus accolades. The Social Mobility Index
ranked FAMU no. 3 in the nation for facilitating economic opportunity for
underserved students. FAMU outranked the nation’s leading Ivy League
institutions on the list, such as Princeton (360 th), Harvard (438 th), and
Yale (440 th). Additionally, FAMU recently awarded two doctoral degrees in
physics to two accomplished African American women. The national average number
of African Americans awarded the Ph.D. in physics annually is six.
“There is a lot for you to be proud of as alumni,” said
David.
Throughout the convention, alumni were reminded that there
are several options to support FAMU. NAA Life Membership dues help to increase
the university’s endowment, and those attending the conference were honored
during the exclusive Doris Hicks Life Members Reception. Football Coach Alex
Wood, Men’s Basketball Coach Byron Samuels, Golf Coach Marvin Green, and Tennis
Coach Carl Goodman each outlined financial needs to increase team productivity,
including a request for monies to send student athletes to summer school.
Professor Charles Magee gave a history lesson on the
significance of FAMU’s status as an 1890 Land Grant Institution. He has several
scholarships to give to students who major in the lucrative field of
agriculture science, but needs alumni assistance to direct top scholars his
way. Alumna Cecka Rose Green, founder of the FAMU 10 for 10 Campaign, gave a
presentation on how the fundraiser went viral instantly when she asked 10
friends to donate $10 to FAMU monthly and then ask 10 others to do the same.
Within 48 hours, the campaign raised $10,000. To date, the initiative has
generated $176,000 and garnered 3,000 first time donors. The next phase of the
campaign is #8434. When 8,434 commit to donating $10 a month for 12 months, the
collective efforts will raise $1 million annually.
Additionally, the convention hosted the FAMU Foundation
Board, which met privately to plan business affairs for the next year. The
Distinguished Alumni Awards made its inaugural debut at the convention with a
sell-out crowd. Twenty-four phenomenal alumni were recognized for their
contributions to FAMU and society, each sharing a touching story of how FAMU
helped them embody the leadership skills that they share with the world today.
FAMU alumni from across the nation partied with a purpose
throughout the 4-day convention. Many are already making plans to attend the
2016 convention, which will be held Memorial Day Weekend in Tampa, Fla.
“The national convention is essentially a large FAMU-ly
Reunion,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Clark, FAMUNAA 1 st Vice President and
Convention Chair. “It’s a great time to catch up with old friends, find out the
latest news from the university and give back so that the next generation of
Rattlers can experience everything that FAMU has to offer. This has been our
largest turn out in six years, and I expect even larger numbers as the Rattlers
gather in Tampa next year.”