Just before the last star appeared on stage Sunday at the 2019 Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival, Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert III recognized another star, a dedicated festival photographer Adrian Freeman, who passed away last November.
Gilbert presented representatives from Freeman’s alma mater, Florida A&M University (FAMU), with a $15,000 check that will establish a scholarship fund in Freeman’s name at the University.
The mayor was joined on stage by Freeman’s family, including his wife, Niesha Mack-Freeman, FAMU President Larry Robinson, FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA) President Col. Gregory Clark and Shawnta Friday-Stroud, vice president of University Advancement and dean of the School of Business and Industry. Freeman was a 1995 graduate of the business school and served as scholarship chair of the Miami-Dade County FAMU National Alumni Association Chapter.
“He was an amazing man with an amazing spirit,” said Gilbert, as he paid tribute to his friend before a crowd of tens of thousands. “For years he (Adrian) would sit in the bay and take pictures of this festival and a lot of you. He didn’t just take pictures of people on stage. He took pictures of people enjoying themselves.”
After the check presentation, Gilbert, an alumnus of FAMU, surprised the audience by announcing that Miami Gardens will host the FAMU football team in a Labor Day matchup in 2020. Clark also presented the mayor with the NAA’s Presidential Medal of Service.
Every year, the city donates a portion of the festival’s proceeds to a charitable organization. This year, Freeman’s family and friends, gathered under the FAMU tent at the Hard Rock Stadium to celebrate the continuation of his work.
“What this scholarship means is other students, besides students in Miami-Dade County, are able to go to FAMU, and not only go to FAMU, but go in the name of Adrian D. Freeman,” said Mack-Freeman. “So this is something that is amazing for me and my family.”
The Freemans met when they were students at FAMU. Kerrington Freeman plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps and enroll at FAMU in the fall.
“Adrian Freeman was a great Rattler, and this scholarship in his name will help to ensure that others at Florida A&M University get to know about him,” said Robinson. “We want to thank Mayor Gilbert and all those involved with Jazz in the Gardens for allowing FAMU to benefit from this electrifying event.”
The FAMU National Alumni Association’s application period for scholarships begins April 1, 2019. Students who are interested in applying for the Adrian Freeman scholarship should visit the association’s web site at FAMUNAA.org for information.