With an Increase in National Achievement Scholars, FAMU Continues to Attract the Best and Brightest

Mellori Lumpkin, Florida A&M University's Student Government Association vice president, was recruiting a National Achievement Scholar and she did not even know it. Through her effort and the effort of others, FAMU is currently ranked No. 2 in the state of Florida, No. 2 among Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) and No.17 in the United States in recruiting National Achievement Scholars. The university’s goal is to be No. 1.

“Through our aggressive recruitment campaigns, we were able to show prospective students that FAMU is an institution that provides an enlightening academic experience and faculty that cares about student development,” said Roland Gaines, vice president for student affairs.

Lumpkin and Shirelle Clark were next-door neighbors and grew up together in Bainbridge, Ga. Lumpkin’s success at FAMU is what sparked Clark’s initial interest in the institution.

“Seeing how happy she was made me take note of what FAMU had to offer,” said Clark, a FAMU freshman majoring in nursing.

As it would turn out, Clark followed in the footsteps of Lumpkin, who was the only National Achievement Scholar of her freshmen class in 2005.

Clark is one of the 11 National Achievement Scholars that enrolled at FAMU for the 2008-2009 school year. There are a total of 815 scholars enrolled at 173 institutions in the United States.

Increasing from six students in 2007-2008 to 11, FAMU continues to attract excellence by almost doubling the number of National Achievement Scholars for this academic school year.

Among the National Achievement Scholars enrolled at FAMU for the 2008-2009 school year are:

- Tyler Calhoun from Waukegan, Ill.
- Christon Byrd from Penfield, N.Y.
- Samuel Cawley from Atlanta, Ga.
- Dominique Chesteen from Jonesboro, Ga.
- Shirelle Clark from Bainbridge, Ga.
- Alexis Cooke from Tampa, Fla.
- Porscha Council from Loxahatchee, Fla.

National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding African-American high school students. Students are required to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, as well as meeting other requirements to be considered.

CAPTION: FAMU's Student Government Association Vice President Mellori Lumpkin’s (left) success at FAMU is what sparked Shirelle Clark’s initial interest in FAMU. Clark is one of the 11 National Achievement Scholars that enrolled at FAMU for the 2008-2009 school year.