FAMU tackles brain drain with summer program for youths
June 26, 2011
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – Area middle school students are curing the summer “brain drain” this year with a heavy dose of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fun at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp hosted by Florida A&M University (FAMU). The hands-on program offers students an exciting way to beat the heat as they design space suits while experiencing life on a college campus.
Founded by veteran astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the program targets underserved youth. It is a two-week, all-expenses-paid residential camp that encourages math and science. The ExxonMobil Foundation provides funding and expertise of talented engineers to support the educational experience.
“Summer learning opportunities are crucial to continued academic success,” said Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., veteran astronaut and camp founder. “In partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation, we are able to offer students a tremendous opportunity to hone the math, science, communications and leadership skills needed to realize their full potential. Our goal is to inspire them to reach beyond the classroom and pursue careers in critical technology fields.”
For the sixth consecutive year, the ExxonMobil Foundation has partnered with Harris and his nonprofit organization, The Harris Foundation, to provide residential camps to underrepresented and underserved middle school students at 25 universities across the country. This is the second year FAMU has had the honor of participating in the program.
The camp program aims to fill this critical need by offering a curriculum that features hands-on experiments, team competitions and field excursions to help students build essential skills. Campers receive quality instruction from local educators and hear from ExxonMobil engineers about the exciting and rewarding aspects of their profession.
FAMU awards $554,000 in scholarships during 2009 bus tour
March 19, 2009
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla. )– Students and their parents filled two venues — one in Gainesville, the other in Fort Lauderdale, where they were entertained by Florida A&M University (FAMU) students before 32 scholarships were offered on the spot as part of President James H. Ammons’ Up Close and Personal Tour.
The President’s Tour was sponsored by Coca-Cola and NASCAR.
On Thursday, March 12 in Gainesville, Ammons started his three-city road tour, which was designed to recruit the best and the brightest and boost FAMU’s enrollment….more
Reverend Ernest Ferrell to keynote Martin Luther King convocation
December 18, 2008
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – Reverend Ernest Ferrell will keynote Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Martin Luther King Convocation scheduled for Thursday, January 15, at 10:10 a.m. in Gaither Gymnasium. The general public is invited to attend.
Ferrell is the president of the Tallahassee Urban League and serves as pastor of Saint Mary Primitive Baptist Church in Tallahassee.
His church leadership began when he was a youth singing in the choir, the Lincoln High School Chorus, and a gospel group named the Walls of Zion. In 1972, he produced a recording album titled “The Ferrells in Concert,” with his brother and sister. The album was waxed in Nashville, Tennessee. From singing, he progressed to the church pulpit as a young gospel preacher. He became an ordained preacher, and in 1969, he was installed as pastor of his first church, Galilee Primitive Baptist Church.
Ferrell has been the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award from FAMU, the City of Tallahassee Reginald L. Rolle Minority Business Leadership Award, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen of the Year Award, and was nominated by the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce for the Distinguished Citizen Service Award. Also, the City of Tallahassee presented him with the Reverend Ernest Ferrell Day Proclamation Award. He received the Florida House of Representatives Leadership Award and many others. Reverend Ferrell is married to the former Mary E. Richardson.
FAMU to host a round table discussion and Go Healthy Tallahassee Expo in recognition of World Diabetes Day
November 12, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In recognition of World Diabetes Day, Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in partnership with Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals will host a round table discussion on diabetes, obesity and stroke and a Go Healthy Tallahassee health expo.
The round table discussion is scheduled for Friday, November 14, at 6 p.m. at the Leon County Health Department at 872 West Orange Avenue.
The purpose of the round table discussion is to facilitate thoughtful dialogue among University faculty and community healthcare providers about relevant advances being made in the effort of reducing the burden of diabetes as well as challenges experienced.
FAMU hosts presidential watch party with national network TV One
November 7, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Nearly 3,000 people attended Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Presidential Election Watch Party on Super Tuesday.
As part of the watch party, FAMU partnered with TV One, a national cable network that targets African Americans and reaches more than 45.8 million households, to provide cut-ins between 7 p.m. and midnight from FAMU’s campus. FAMU broadcast journalism students served as reporters for TV One during the cut-ins.
Local residents, FAMU students, faculty, staff and administrators flooded the air with cheers and claps of approval as the numbers for the historic presidential election came in throughout the night.
Rays of red, white and blue lights beamed from TV One’s live broadcast post while individuals waved American flags in the air in a sheer display of patriotism.
FAMU President James H. Ammons told the crowd they were gathered for no ordinary evening.
“This is the first time the United States could have an African American as president,” said Ammons. “Americans have showed up to the polls as early as two weeks ago in records numbers because they understood the importance of this election. Just think, here at FAMU, the Student Vote Coalition registered more than 3,100 FAMU students to vote; many of those students residing here on campus.”
