The Florida A&M University Presidential Recruitment Tour drew more than 1,200 students to events at Broward Community College (BCC) and Miami Dade College.
The two recruitment fairs were two of the events leading to the Orange Blossom Classic. On Thursday, the tour stopped at the BCC main campus in Davie. On Friday, about 450 students attended the Recruitment Tour at the Miami Dade College’s main campus on 27th Avenue, Miami. Recruiters from all of the FAMU schools and colleges staffed tables with information and met with students ahead of the main event inside the auditorium. The FAMU Connection troupe performed at both venues.
Broward and Miami-Dade are fertile recruiting grounds for FAMU.
President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., addressing the gathering at BCC Thursday, challenged the high school students to ensure they have the grades to succeed at FAMU. Among the accolated, he listed the names of prominent alumni who serve as role models and inspirations for them to follow. Along with ABC News President Kim Godwin, Converse President and CEO G. Scott Uzzell, and movie producer Will Packer, Robinson added a new name, 2021 Rattler football player Markquese Bell, who earned a place on the Dallas Cowboys 53-man NFL opening day roster.
Later, as students filtered out of the auditorium, Robinson reflected on the event.
“It’s really great to see this tremendous turn out at Broward College – more than 800 students at our first presidential recruitment stop of the school year,” Robinson said. “I am looking forward to seeing some of these students on the ‘Hill’ next year and beyond. It sustains us an institution to create this type of interest and enthusiasm on behalf of really talented young people.”
Broward and Miami Dade are among more than a dozen Florida colleges who are part of FAMU IGNITE, which is a transfer program that guarantees admission to students with an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree from partner institutions.
“This event re-established FAMU as the number one institution of choice for students in South Florida with over 800 students attending this event with staff and administrators from the Broward County school system,” said William E. Hudson, Jr., Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs.
Broward County leads in the number of students it sends to FAMU, followed by Miami-Dade and Leon County, where FAMU is based, Hudson said.
“These students are the next generation of Rattlers, and we’re happy that they were able to attend,” Hudson said. “This is a prime area for recruitment for FAMU.”
David Kenton, Ed.D., dean of Student Services at BCC, said both high school students and transfer students benefitted from the recruitment event.
“This event is so important to the Broward community and to students in general who are seeking postsecondary success. Students have an opportunity to attend Florida A&M University but also have great exposure to Broward College,” Kenton said. “Being able to actually meet with representatives from the University and having Broward College staff on hand has been just a great experience for those who are here in South Florida.”
For Student Government Association President Zachary C. Bell, the recruitment event brought back poignant memories.
“I can remember being in Jacksonville attending the President’s Tour in 2019 and being recruited, getting to see the FAMU Connection for the first time, talking to representatives from the School of Business & Industry and feeling like I had my first experience of FAMU. There was so much culture put together in an hour and a half, it was mind blowing,” said Bell, a fourth-year business administration student. “It’s giving me a new appreciation of Florida A&M University and I want to pass on the torch.”
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