tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46607070260158243942024-03-12T19:30:48.491-07:00RattlerWIRENews Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.comBlogger623125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-40179781634353434982011-12-14T07:35:00.001-08:002011-12-14T07:35:30.682-08:00FAMU Family Mourns Death of a Student Drum Major<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The Florida A&M University (FAMU) family is mourning the death of Robert Champion, one of the drum majors in FAMU Marching "100," who passed away on Saturday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">According to Ginette Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, "after the game, the band returned to the Rosen Plaza Hotel (9700 International Drive) and the victim reportedly threw up in the parking lot and started complaining of not being able to breathe. Friends of the victim called 911 and administered CPR. The victim was transported to Doctor Phillips Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. This is an ongoing investigation. There is no sign of foul play at this time."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">"We are deeply saddened by this loss," said FAMU President James H. Ammons. "Our hearts and our prayers go out to Mr. Champion's family. This is a major loss for our student body, the Marching "100" and the University."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Champion, a music major from Atlanta, served as one of six drum majors for the 375-member Marching "100" band who traveled to Orlando this weekend for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Classic. A drum major since spring 2010, Champion had performed in the Classic's half-time show earlier in the day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">"We are in shock," said FAMU Band Director Julian White. "He was a very fine drum major who was of excellent character and very trustworthy. I had not told him yet, but he was slated to be the head drum major next year."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">White met with band members early Sunday morning to inform them of Champion's death. The university is preparing to provide grief counseling for band members and other students through the University Counseling Center.</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-36447637424870307252011-12-14T07:34:00.001-08:002011-12-14T07:34:54.707-08:00FAMU College of Law Receives $10,000 Gift from Wells Fargo Bank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxGn-BGZoem_IYFa_UlBBYNt41PSXMnGBI4kIZhiJ7nHOCT82K-vhgtyBt5WUTYJ5ppBwoQ5sqPelYVQ9dR28xhqQaskbWC8mjmuBynEMd3m4G9RPNX8IBWu98m86E1_iYfI2ypA8hRoU/s1600/Wells+Fargo+-+COL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxGn-BGZoem_IYFa_UlBBYNt41PSXMnGBI4kIZhiJ7nHOCT82K-vhgtyBt5WUTYJ5ppBwoQ5sqPelYVQ9dR28xhqQaskbWC8mjmuBynEMd3m4G9RPNX8IBWu98m86E1_iYfI2ypA8hRoU/s320/Wells+Fargo+-+COL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><strong>ORLANDO, Fla</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">. - Valerie Hendriex, vice president, Senior Community Development Officer at Wells Fargo (third from right), presented a $10,000 commemorative check to FAMU’s College of Law Dean LeRoy Pernell (second from left). The funds will be used to host a mortgage foreclosure workshop through the FAMU Legal Clinic under the direction of Associate Professor Ann Marie Cavazos (right). Also pictured: Mildred Graham, FAMU College of Law Director of Development and Alumni Affairs (left) and Eunice Cassuade-Garcia, visiting instructor and coordinator of the FAMU Housing Clinic (second from right).</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-18798093472236557362011-12-14T07:33:00.002-08:002011-12-14T07:33:52.206-08:00CIS Student Awarded NCWIT Student Seed Fund<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM65P0q7W458_u4EYhNDaQjcoPuGA65EdBeCEHWbeywGbbB20vZigvxvpcM_SX2OUdrYZ8Xd5c68J19y6d1Fv7ozDQi7bJYNxxNc6O-Q1Ah6xPZLgnTxPzsBtmFq6bSxad1_CyH97k68Ev/s1600/Olivia+Wilson+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM65P0q7W458_u4EYhNDaQjcoPuGA65EdBeCEHWbeywGbbB20vZigvxvpcM_SX2OUdrYZ8Xd5c68J19y6d1Fv7ozDQi7bJYNxxNc6O-Q1Ah6xPZLgnTxPzsBtmFq6bSxad1_CyH97k68Ev/s1600/Olivia+Wilson+sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The National Conference on Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) has selected Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) African-American Women in Computer Science (AAWCS) Scholarship Program to receive the Return Path Student Seed Fund Grant.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The grant, valued at $500, has been awarded to Olivia Wilson, a junior computer and information sciences student from Tallahassee, Fla.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“I am happy and honored to get this fund,” she said. “With it, I can do more to help recruit for not only our department, but for this field as well.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The grant is to be applied toward activities designed to recruit and attract women to the field of computing. The award will also be announced at the next national NCWIT event.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">With this funding, Wilson plans to develop and implement several initiatives to recruit women to the field, including a Showcase of Women in Information Technology Luncheon, that will feature women in computer science and information technology speaking to high school and college women. In addition, prizes and mini-scholarships will be offered.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“Coming into the technology field, I noticed that there is a shortage of women here—especially minority women,” said Wilson. “With the grant, I plan to do something that draws high school students, specifically women, to the field and show them that they can be successful as well.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Jason Black, AAWCS principal investigator and Wilson’s adviser, said he is proud of Wilson and her accomplishment.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“This is an exciting offer,” said Black. “We are already dedicated to this goal and this funding will definitely aid in our efforts to increase these numbers.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Wilson works with the Students and Technology in Academia, Research and Services Program, where she uses the information she gathers from her programs for research to assist in recruiting women to the technology field.</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-34623449054513641252011-12-14T07:33:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:33:06.150-08:00FAMU Student Reamonn Soto Invited to the White House to Participate in a Community Leaders Briefing Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA6PHcj5Xmq5zjYCBONxC3zsnJLjhxRoG9CJyWrUnR4R_xnHHH3cGjuSnQo82oZQoELqvwxb3C8WiBbKbOkTCqfqxbhAMnuUbx94gywW3HwJK9aVKqrZyfvtyeJ5Ogo345nGXWWiyn3Q7/s1600/R.+Soto+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA6PHcj5Xmq5zjYCBONxC3zsnJLjhxRoG9CJyWrUnR4R_xnHHH3cGjuSnQo82oZQoELqvwxb3C8WiBbKbOkTCqfqxbhAMnuUbx94gywW3HwJK9aVKqrZyfvtyeJ5Ogo345nGXWWiyn3Q7/s1600/R.+Soto+sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Reamonn Soto, a senior majoring in physics at Florida A&M University, has been invited to the White House to participate in the White House Community Leaders Briefing Series on November 10 for Florida leaders.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The briefing series is a unique opportunity for grassroots leaders to come to Washington to hear directly from White House officials on the issues that are affecting communities across the country and learn more about the President’s priorities and initiatives from the people that work on them every day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">In return, Administration staff will learn what is going on in cities and towns across the country directly from the experts – the grassroots leaders.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“I'm very excited to be invited to the White House to have dialogue with White House officials and most importantly with community leaders throughout Florida,” said Soto. “Although, many are looking forward to meeting President Obama, I look forward to learning more about the issues from the communities that have not been heard in popular political conversation. I don't believe government should solve all of our problems, but the government should at least understand them, and the invitation to participate in the White House Florida Community Leaders Briefing will make that conversation possible.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Participants are local leaders who are currently involved in their cities and towns at the grassroots level – in their neighborhoods, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, environmental groups, activist and advocacy groups, etc. and who are continuously invested in improving their own communities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The White House is looking for those that can bring their successes, challenges, and ideas directly to the White House to help improve the conversation between the grassroots and Washington.</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-53329745197828831862011-12-14T07:32:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:32:24.295-08:00FAU and FAMU Partner to Establish Medical Honors Program for Outstanding High School Seniors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSccn_qNjHI2ReM0svWHdITX8Rd80_zhMPY-65vYNLscdGkZjf-WNVfvJSkJuNnddih49EBC_Po3eM6cN6kmXTEAof7OQr6NKItx0lnMae0eyXwBq8Tr8UQMwLop0gbEPnSYr9LWiFnKs/s1600/FAU-FAMU+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSccn_qNjHI2ReM0svWHdITX8Rd80_zhMPY-65vYNLscdGkZjf-WNVfvJSkJuNnddih49EBC_Po3eM6cN6kmXTEAof7OQr6NKItx0lnMae0eyXwBq8Tr8UQMwLop0gbEPnSYr9LWiFnKs/s1600/FAU-FAMU+sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><strong>BOCA RATON, Fla.</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> —The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University has partnered with the Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee to establish a first-of-its-kind Medical Honors Program (MHP) between the two institutions. FAU and FAMU have signed an affiliation agreement to formally establish the MHP with the overall goal of attracting and enrolling outstanding high school seniors who have made an early and informed decision to ultimately pursue a doctoral degree in the field of medicine. The primary goal of this program is to admit academically talented high school students to the MHP at FAMU, with a conditional acceptance to FAU’s College of Medicine. The students will have to successfully complete the MHP and satisfy the requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and FAU’s College of Medicine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“We are very pleased to be working jointly with FAMU on the Medical Honors Program, which is distinguished by the strength of both our institutions,” said FAU President Mary Jane Saunders. “We will be able to offer aspiring doctors who excel academically with a competitive program that ensures a seamless route from undergraduate study to medical school.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The MHP is a four-year curriculum, which will focus on professionalism, ethics, problem-based learning and inter-professional (team building, communication and leadership skills) education. MHP students will also be required to fulfill non-classroom extracurricular requirements such as clinical education, physician shadowing, working with patients in a hospital, clinic or physician’s office, and participating in health related community service. The program is designed to enable students to gain an understanding of the intellectual, emotional and physical demands incumbent upon medical students, and to train socially conscious and humane physicians.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“Florida A&M University is excited to join forces with Florida Atlantic University in this endeavor,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “The Medical Honors Program reinforces the commitment of both universities to identify and engage in strategies to meet the health needs of underserved populations. Through this program, the citizens of Florida will benefit as well as the MHP students.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">To be eligible for the MHP at FAU/FAMU, applicants must have an un-weighted high school average of at least 3.50, an SAT 1 composite minimum score of 1100 and must be in their last year of high school at the time of application. Up to ten total FAMU students will be admitted each year beginning in fall 2012. A MHP committee jointly composed of faculty from FAU and FAMU has been established to oversee the administration and admissions of this cooperative and integrated program. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“Educating and training underrepresented students who are outstanding academically is critical to helping address our physician shortage in Florida and the U.S., and ultimately providing first-rate medical care among our underserved populations,” said Julie C. Servoss, M.D., M.P.H., assistant dean of diversity, cultural and student affairs in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and chair of the MHP committee.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">According to the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2008, the total number of African-American physicians in the U.S. was 33,781 or 3.5 percent of the total physician population. Hispanic physicians in the U.S. total 46,507 or 4.9 percent of the total physician population. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">One of America’s newest medical schools, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU welcomed its inaugural class of 64 students in August. The College has developed a new and innovative curriculum, which features early and continuous community-based clinical experiences and problem-based learning with emphasis on small-group and self-directed learning. The curriculum includes a student-centered and patient-focused approach and clinical experiences with local physicians, health departments and hospitals, and a state-of-the-art simulation center. A key component of the innovative curriculum is early exposure to patients and the actual practice of medicine. To that end, the College has established relationships with several prominent area hospitals that are serving as sites for clerkships, hospital-based electives and residencies. During clinical trainings, students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, applying knowledge learned from the first two years of study to real-life situations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">– 30 –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><strong>About Florida Atlantic University</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.fau.edu/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.fau.edu</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><strong><br />About Florida A&M University</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Florida A&M University (FAMU) was founded on October 3, 1887, as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Today, FAMU offers 52 bachelor’s degrees and 27 master’s degrees and one specialist degree program. The university has 13 schools and colleges, and one institute. FAMU has 11 doctoral degree programs including 10 Ph.D. degrees. The Ph.D. degrees include the following: biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil engineering; electrical engineering; mechanical engineering; industrial engineering; pharmaceutical sciences; physics; educational leadership; and environmental science.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">With a distinction as a doctoral research institution, Florida A&M University has an enrollment of more than 13,000 students. Florida A&M University is part of the State University System of Florida and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.famu.edu/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.famu.edu</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">.</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-28353735408306018432011-12-14T07:31:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:31:23.059-08:00Lyceum Series to Present The Munich Symphony Orchestra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTse3FwB0CVR_L_OhETnQ6MIndKRFysxRV_pbmpQuTu05hYfaZl45qLZ_0Cgs5QN5DaWu8Qa2Sr9sRHXIaViv0fLsnk4rDYRpHXZmOr0pkAqxpjAAkdiqPY9Qz-DCqXPkx9YQye1co55NE/s1600/Munich+Symphony+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTse3FwB0CVR_L_OhETnQ6MIndKRFysxRV_pbmpQuTu05hYfaZl45qLZ_0Cgs5QN5DaWu8Qa2Sr9sRHXIaViv0fLsnk4rDYRpHXZmOr0pkAqxpjAAkdiqPY9Qz-DCqXPkx9YQye1co55NE/s1600/Munich+Symphony+sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Lyceum Series is proud to present the Munich Symphony Orchestra featuring Maestro Philippe Entremont, Saturday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Tickets are now available through ticketmaster.com and the FAMU Ticket Office located in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium for $20, $15 and $10, depending on the location of the seats.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The Munich Symphony Orchestra is one of Munich’s four symphony orchestras. It was founded in 1945 as “Symphonieorchester Kurt Graunke” and – with its four subscription series in Prinzregententheater, Herkulessaal and the Philharmonie am Gasteig – is regarded as one of the high-profile ensembles of the city of Munich.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">For more than 10 years, the Munich Symphony has been a cooperative partner to the opera festival at Gut Immling in Chiemgau with two major opera productions each summer. Attractive productions of film scores (for example, a live concert of the score of “The Lord of the Rings”) and show productions (Roncalli’s “Circus Meets Classic”) add to the profile of the Munich Symphony Orchestra.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The exceptional career of Entremont began at the age of 18 when he came to international attention with his great success at New York’s Carnegie Hall playing Jolivet’s piano concerto and Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Since then, he has pursued a top international career as a pianist, and for the last 30 years, on the podium as well.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons have taken Entremont all over the world, with many orchestral tours including the Munich Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Festival Orchestra, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie, and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. He will also guest conduct European and American orchestras as well as perform numerous piano and chamber music concerts. Moreover, in the 2010-2011 season, Entremont became principal conductor of the Boca Raton Philharmonic and Lifetime Laureate conductor of the Munich Symphony Orchestra.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">His is renown as an orchestral conductor and his dedication to developing orchestras’ artistic potential have led to numerous international tours, playing before full houses: 10 tours in the U.S. and seven in Japan with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, a tour of 11 concerts with the Orquestra de Cadaqués in capitals of countries in Asia, and a tour in Switzerland and Germany conducting the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">One of the most recorded artists of all time, Entremont has appeared on many labels, including CBS Sony, Teldec and Harmonia Mundi, and he has garnered all of the leading prizes and awards in the industry. His 2008 releases include Mozart’s Concertone; Concerto for Violin and Piano with the Wiener Kammerorchester; Strauss’ lieder with Sophie Koch (mezzo-soprano); and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 with the Orquesta del Festival Musical de Santa Domingo. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Known as Great Cross of the Austrian Republic Order of Merit, Officer of the French Legion of Honor, Commander of the Order of Merit, Commander of the Order of Arts et Lettres, Entremont has also been awarded the Arts and Sciences Cross of Honor of Austria. He is president of the International Certificate for Piano Artists, president of the Bel’Arte Foundation of Brussels and is director of the famed American Conservatory of Fountainebleau, a post formerly held by the legendary Nadia Boulanger.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">For more information, visit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.FAMU.edu/Lyceum" style="text-decoration: none;">www.FAMU.edu/Lyceum</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-39878751125083735432011-12-14T07:30:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:30:30.602-08:00Thomas J. Haynes Named Vice President of University Relations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X63L7oWozkFzSiemTT7vpbUs99TLIXH_zA-XiQPCKEjPWi1TZ7utLb6azFf_skknXR_s5x0vEVodBLzm5F2fWrHPql8qLIx_n45fX72ZvyfRBGFgMBdmlWHnrwAJUcNr5tW8LDRcvZca/s1600/Thomas+Haynes+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X63L7oWozkFzSiemTT7vpbUs99TLIXH_zA-XiQPCKEjPWi1TZ7utLb6azFf_skknXR_s5x0vEVodBLzm5F2fWrHPql8qLIx_n45fX72ZvyfRBGFgMBdmlWHnrwAJUcNr5tW8LDRcvZca/s320/Thomas+Haynes+sm.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has appointed Thomas J. Haynes as the new vice president for University Relations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“I am confident that Thomas Haynes will demonstrate strong leadership and fundraising skills for University Relations,” said Ammons. “He has experience with capital campaigns and a thorough knowledge of marketing and grant solicitation. We look forward to working with him as we take FAMU to the next level in higher education.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Haynes, who officially begins at the end of the October, has worked at the university in various roles from 1977-2003.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“I’m excited about returning to FAMU,” Haynes said. “It’s a place I know and am passionate about. I am committed to its mission and looking forward to working with the president, board of trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni as we position the university to continue to achieving its mission.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Haynes is an experienced senior fundraiser with a strong strategic and entrepreneurial vision and passion for organizational success. He has been recognized in the industry as one with a proven record of success and a high standard of professional integrity and ethics. His expertise includes strategic planning and marketing for external support; grant solicitation and acquisition (public and private sources); capital campaign development and execution; development of collaborative corporate and community partnerships; innovations in curriculum development; international experience in developing education/business partnerships.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Haynes said one of his first goals is to begin to develop a fundraising infrastructure that will not only meet the Capital Campaign goal, but also position the university in terms of resource development.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“I bring a strong fundraising background to this position,” Haynes said. “I understand the value of creating partnerships for higher education. I bring a special set of skills—especially around resource development.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Haynes earned his bachelor’s degree in 1976 from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.; his master’s degree from FAMU in 1977; and his doctorate in education leadership with specialization in educational policy, planning and analysis in 1991 from Florida State University.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">While an employee at FAMU, he served as a career development specialist, student affairs coordinator, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant professor / executive director of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">the Career and Cooperative Education Center, associate vice president for University Relations, and the executive director of the Business Industry Cluster.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">While working with University Relations, he and his team were responsible for developing the strategic plan to raise $50 million in a capital campaign (results exceeded $75 million in assets). He also managed development of foundation proposals (public and private) and stewardship activities. With the Industry Cluster, he provided leadership that resulted in one of the most benchmarked Industry Cluster programs (business/education partnership) in the country.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">From 2003-2008, he served as the Montclair State University vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Montclair, N.J. There he provided vision, leadership and management for the following functional areas: communications and marketing, alumni relations, public and media relations, community relations, career services, development and advancement services, foundation services, web services and publications. He developed infrastructure and internal and external relationships required to achieve the strategic goal of transitioning from a Master’s Comprehensive University to a Doctoral Research Intensive University.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">From 2008-2010, he served as Coppin State University vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Baltimore, Md.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Prior to returning FAMU, he has been working as a fundraising consultant where he provides consulting services to small to mid-sized non-profit organizations in the areas of: strategic planning, capital campaign planning, implementation and, feasibility studies, major gift and fundraising counsel, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, design, implementation and management of planned giving programs, fundraising assessment and audits, executive coaching, grant writing, research and administration, interim staffing solutions, donor data base analysis and prospect development, corporate and foundation relations, annual fund management, and foundation operations and management.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Haynes says he is looking forward to meeting the staff and getting reacquainted with the university again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“The most important thing to me is getting back to campus and raising the resources needed to keep FAMU a premier institution in this country.”</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-33937685177159119302011-12-14T07:28:00.001-08:002011-12-14T07:29:10.693-08:00NOAA Awards FAMU $15 Million to Train a New Generation of Scientists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXKx6Hj8GYKUNIAvM4AOyO8HoX7mzdgegY0Tqd8u7FNicObNQLjPBnR67DM5Kct65poH47sifQQ3Abgnl-MNLXKCilpci1xcq28MWYw3GpMAugIsqJ6II9JBPpUodATNo75E0tmYQOYnU/s1600/SOE+Student+Researchers+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXKx6Hj8GYKUNIAvM4AOyO8HoX7mzdgegY0Tqd8u7FNicObNQLjPBnR67DM5Kct65poH47sifQQ3Abgnl-MNLXKCilpci1xcq28MWYw3GpMAugIsqJ6II9JBPpUodATNo75E0tmYQOYnU/s320/SOE+Student+Researchers+sm.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been awarded an education and research grant totaling $15 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to meet the agency’s workforce needs in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that support NOAA’s mission. This is the largest single grant awarded in the history of the University.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“One of the highest criteria used to determine the quality of a university is the level of extramural funding and quality of research taking place by faculty and the funding obtained for them to conduct research on a regular basis,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This announcement proves that Florida A&M University meets that standard of excellence.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">With 30 percent of the grant designated for scholarships, FAMU has partnered with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Delaware State University, Jackson State University, University of Texas at Brownsville, and Creighton University as well as three National Estuarine Research Reserves; Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; the Gulf of Mexico Alliance; and, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System. The grant will provide funds to support students as they pursue NOAA-relevant education, research, and training in environmental science. This grant supports enhancing environmental literacy from K-12 to the doctorate level. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“Our education efforts will focus on training and graduating under-represented minorities and utilize research as a vehicle to educate students, and develop skills relevant to the new economy,” said Michael Abazinge, professor and interim director of the School of the Environment who also serves as the principal investigator for this</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">significant award.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The award will support the NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC), FAMU as the lead institution with its partners to focus on the following goals:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Increasing the number of well-trained and highly qualified scientists and managers, particularly from under-represented minority groups entering the NOAA workforce and other resource management entities;</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Improving the scientific bases for coastal resource management and to develop tools and research products to characterize, evaluate, and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem responses to natural and human induced stressors; and,</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Facilitating community engagement related to the function and relevance of coastal ecosystems and the services they provide to society.</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“The magnitude of this environmentally-focused research and training award is critical to our region, nation and to the world, as we develop best practices to govern us in all areas of our existence,” said K. Ken Redda, professor and acting vice president for research.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The ECSC was established in 2001 at FAMU through a national competitive process. This five-year award was made to a team of academic institutions led by FAMU. Through this award, ECSC will increase the number of scientists, particularly from under-represented minority groups in environmental, coastal, and oceanic sciences. Of the over 180 postsecondary student participants, ECSC has graduated 19 Ph.D. degree recipients, 41 master’s degree holders, and 56 bachelor’s degree recipients, since 2006. Graduates of ECSC, a part of FAMU’s School of the Environment, has a 100 percent placement rate. Eight are working as employees of NOAA, while others are employed by state or other governmental employees or as researchers in university settings.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">“We’re committed to developing problem-solving skills as we engage undergraduate majors and graduate students from varied disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, math and other STEM areas needed to address and resolve environmental issues,” said Charles H. Jagoe, distinguished professor in the School of the Environment.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Those problem-solving skills are being put to use in the laboratories in the School of the Environment.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Currently, two students, LaTrisha Allen and Kali Farris, are conducting research under the leadership of Jagoe. Allen, a second-year Ph.D. research student, and Kali Farris, a third-year master’s degree student majoring in environmental science marine toxicology, are examining and conducting different analysis of several fish species to determine their exposure to the oil released in the BP Oil Spill.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">This grant will also provide educational opportunities for students and teachers in the local K-12 school districts through summer workshops, Brain Bowl competitions and others enrichment activities. K-12 student participants will learn how environmental decisions impact the social and economic structure of their communities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The Environmental Sciences Institute, which is currently referred to as the School of the Environment, was established in 1995 and became a school in 2011. It is one of several new innovative programs at Florida A&M University. The FAMU School of the Environment is a multidisciplinary unit that offers a wide range of services to students, governmental agencies, private sector companies, communities and other organizations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The grant awarded to the School of the Environment is budgeted over the next five years, ending on June 30, 2016. For more information on NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science Center at Florida A&M University visit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.ecsc.famu.edu/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.ecsc.famu.edu</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-41338556550856098742011-12-14T07:26:00.001-08:002011-12-14T07:28:00.929-08:00U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn to Keynote Fall Commencement Ceremony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuexe6XU_HspUbXqhKvgH1LwsdzYtMt9qJAWajmZr0J7Cx9ziGA1BMMcu2L42JSr7fAfK-6j-hGoS1MZrag54qMPHucb72q6GBF46mM0r58crUh3FX4qZzYEW7425ADs-tJ7Aixw4y22-b/s1600/Clyburn+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuexe6XU_HspUbXqhKvgH1LwsdzYtMt9qJAWajmZr0J7Cx9ziGA1BMMcu2L42JSr7fAfK-6j-hGoS1MZrag54qMPHucb72q6GBF46mM0r58crUh3FX4qZzYEW7425ADs-tJ7Aixw4y22-b/s320/Clyburn+sm.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn will serve as the 2011 Florida A&M University (FAMU) fall commencement speaker on Friday, December 16 at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Clyburn is the leadership liaison to the Appropriations Committee and one of the Democratic Caucus' primary liaisons to the White House. Working with the internal caucuses, he plays a prominent role in messaging and outreach.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">When Clyburn came to Congress in 1993, he was elected co-president of his freshman class and quickly rose through leadership ranks. He was elected chairman of the congressional Black Caucus in 1999, and his reputation as a leader and consensus-builder helped him win a difficult three-way race for House Democratic Caucus vice chair in 2002.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Three years later, he was unanimously elected chair of the Democratic Caucus. When Democrats regained the House majority in 2006, Clyburn was elevated by his colleagues to House Majority Whip.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">As a national leader he has worked to respond to the needs of America’s diverse communities. He championed rural communities supporting the development of regional water projects, community health centers, and broadband connections. He has supported higher education by leading the charge for increased Pell grants and invested millions in science and math programs and historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">He has encouraged economic development by securing funding for Empowerment Zones; invested in green technology development such as nuclear, wind, hydrogen and biofuels; and directed 10 percent of Recovery Act funding to communities 20 percent under the poverty level for the past 30 years. Clyburn was instrumental in advancing into law measures to resolve historic discrimination issues, significantly reducing the statutory disparity in cocaine sentencing and compensating African and Native American farmers who suffered racial discrimination under the USDA loan program.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Clyburn and his wife, Emily, have three daughters, Mignon, Jennifer Reed and Angela Hannibal; two sons-in-law, Walter Reed and Cecil Hannibal; and two grandchildren, Walter A Clyburn Reed and Sydney Alexis Reed.</span></span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-15277825254694177822011-10-20T08:36:00.001-07:002011-10-20T08:36:22.991-07:00CBS “60 Minutes” Correspondent Byron Pitts Encourages FAMU Students to Dream BigCBS “60 Minutes” correspondent Byron Pitts told the up-and-coming
journalists of Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism
and Graphic Communication to “do you” during the CBS Harold Dow
Professor Luncheon on Friday, October 14 at Hotel Duval.<br />
<br />
“Be the best that you can be,” he stressed to them. “Be excited about life and all of its opportunities.”<br />
<br />
Pitts
served as keynote speaker during the event, which was also an official
welcome for the inaugural CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor Benjamin
Davis. Davis is a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner who has
30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies such as
NBC Universal, ABC, CBS, Fox and National Public Radio.<br />
<br />
The position was named after long-time CBS News Correspondent Harold Dow, who died in August 2010.<br />
<br />
Davis
described the position that bears Dow’s name as standing in a giant’s
footprint because of the legacy that Dow left on the field of
journalism.<br />
<br />
“FAMU is the mother load of students looking
for success,” said Davis. “At the end of the day, I hope to help
produce good journalists. I have to imagine what Harold Dow would
expect and then I push (the students) a little further. He has a
giant’s footprint.”<br />
<br />
CBS officials announced last year
they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as part
of their diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow.<br />
<br />
“Harold
was my friend and mentor,” said Susan Zirinsky, executive producer for
CBS 48 hours and Dow’s former supervisor. “There wasn’t a single story
that he didn’t see the merit. It was more than losing a colleague — it
was losing a member of the CBS family.”<br />
<br />
FAMU President James H. Ammons said he was grateful to CBS for investing in the university.<br />
<br />
“CBS
wouldn’t put this professorship anywhere,” he said during the
luncheon. “They put it at Florida A&M University because of its
tradition of academic excellence. The students at the<br />
School of Journalism and Graphic Communication are indeed fortunate. We have somebody special. We got it right.”<br />
<br />
Dow’s widow, Kathy Dow, also attended the luncheon. She gave the students advice that she felt her late-husband would give.<br />
<br />
“Always remember to dream big,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Be disciplined; be determined.”News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-72426953926509302092011-10-20T08:35:00.001-07:002011-10-20T08:36:01.702-07:00College of Law Moot Court Team Places Second in National CompetitionA team of law students from Florida A&M University (FAMU) College
of Law went undefeated in the E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation
National Moot Court Competition’s preliminary and semifinal rounds, and
finished the competition in second place. The team argued against
Florida Coastal before a panel from the Florida First District Court of
Appeals. The team was composed of third-year law students Clifton Dortch
and Tayo Popoola, and was among 14 teams participating in the
competition held in Orlando, Fla. The team was coached by Associate
Professor William Henslee and College of Law alumna Elizabeth Henslee.<br />
<br />
The
E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation National Moot Court Competition
is widely known for its complex issues and concepts designed to immerse
the student in worker’s compensation law. Schools represented at the
competition included Stetson University College of Law, Florida Coastal
School of Law and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.<br />
<br />
“I’m
glad we competed as well as we did,” said Dortch, who also serves as
chair of the College of Law Advocacy Board. “This was definitely
another step in the right direction. We’re progressing; however, we need
to continue to the point where we are winning entire competitions.”<br />
<br />
Although
finishing second place in a national moot court competition is an
enormous achievement, both Dortch and Popoola are no strangers to
success in moot court competitions. Dortch received the award for Second
Best Oral Advocate in the 2010 Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court
Competition, and Popoola was a finalist in the 2009 Navy JAG (Judge
Advocate General) National Moot Court Competition.<br />
<br />
Second-year
law student M. Taylor Tremel and third-year law student Joan Matthews
also represented FAMU at the E. Earle Zehmer Worker’s Compensation
National Moot Court Competition.<br />
<br />
The team, along with its
coaches, thanked attorneys J. Michael Matthews, Shawn Diederich, Morgan
Indek, D. Paul McCaskill, Monte Shoemaker and Associate Professor Nicky
Boothe-Perry for their assistance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>
The FAMU College of Law was founded in 1949 on the main campus in
Tallahassee. After graduating 57 lawyers, the law school was closed by
the state of Florida in 1968. The Florida Legislature voted to reopen
the law school in 2000 and Orlando was selected as the location. The
re-established FAMU College of Law opened its doors in 2002 and is now
housed in a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Orlando’s Parramore
neighborhood. The FAMU College of Law received full accreditation from
the American Bar Association in July 2009, and has consistently been
ranked in the top five for Diversity by U.S. News & World Report
since 2007 -- achieving the top rank on three occasions.</em>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-56874350705226295022011-10-20T08:34:00.002-07:002011-10-20T08:35:15.925-07:00President Ammons Awards Scholarships at the Harlem Children Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uplRQF7azWApEWJQ0LyA4x609TxKD-aiu67AI4oH7VMW17xVb7XCQeE37Fz4BupXT_jE0Yv5fly13FRaxBqqnrbs97jdMdEypH3yu_aore63bKd7VB0uLg7TgszxKlS0rgTFkSjqVnRk/s1600/315780_10150333804646884_16502236883_8720143_535227702_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uplRQF7azWApEWJQ0LyA4x609TxKD-aiu67AI4oH7VMW17xVb7XCQeE37Fz4BupXT_jE0Yv5fly13FRaxBqqnrbs97jdMdEypH3yu_aore63bKd7VB0uLg7TgszxKlS0rgTFkSjqVnRk/s320/315780_10150333804646884_16502236883_8720143_535227702_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons awarded
$175,000 in scholarships to students at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) in
New York, NY. Ammons met with the administration of HCZ as well as with
parents and students to award scholarships on the spot to students who
meet scholarship requirements. Five students, who will be the first
generation in their family to attend college, were recipients of the
scholarships.<br />
<br />
Dominique Bradham-Riddy was awarded a
Life-Gets-Better Scholarship totaling more than $100,000. This
presidential scholarship provides four years of tuition and fees, room,
board, books, $500 per semester stipend, internships and a laptop.
Bradham-Riddy plans to major in engineering and pre-med. The other
students included:<br />
Falilou Barry, business and engineering;<br />
Jainelle Gailard, psychology;<br />
Brittany Williams, science/pre-med; and<br />
Deloris Witcher, science/pre-med<br />
According
to Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of HCZ, this is first time a
university has offered scholarships to students at HCZ.<br />
<br />
“We
have worked with these students since they were in sixth grade to make
sure they were academically prepared for college and the high-skills job
market,” said HCZ President and CEO Geoffrey Canada. “By offering our
students these scholarships, Florida A&M University is knocking down
one of the biggest remaining barriers to success for these kids. We are
thrilled that the college is giving our kids this opportunity.”<br />
<br />
President Ammons said the students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented.<br />
<br />
“The
students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented and driven,” said
Ammons. “Florida A&M University can help them discover who they can
become and succeed to their fullest potential.”<br />
<br />
The funds for the scholarships come from private donations.<br />
<br />
About the Harlem Children Zone<br />
Under
the visionary leadership of its President and CEO, Geoffrey Canada, HCZ
continues to offer innovative, efficiently run programs that are aimed
at doing nothing less than breaking the cycle of generational poverty
for the thousands of children and families it serves.<br />
<br />
All HCZ programs are offered free to the children and families of Harlem, which is made possible by donations.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-75272956314240741452011-10-20T08:34:00.000-07:002011-10-20T08:34:02.729-07:00Byron Pitts of “60 Minutes” to Speak at CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon<span>Byron Pitts, a CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent, and other CBS
executives will speak to Florida A&M University (FAMU) journalism
students and faculty as part of the CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon on
Friday, October 14 at Hotel Duval.</span><br />
<span>“This
professorship adds exceptional value to our program,” said the FAMU
School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) Dean James E.
Hawkins. “We’re delighted that Byron Pitts and other representatives of
CBS are here to help us launch this partnership.”</span><br />
<span>In addition to Pitts, other CBS executives expected include:</span><br />
<br />
<span>• Kim Godwin, a CBS Evening News senior producer, outstanding SJGC alumna and member of the SJGC Board of Visitors;</span><br />
<span>• Crystal Johns, CBS News director of development and diversity; and</span><br />
<span>• Susan Zirinsky, executive producer for CBS 48 hours and a former supervisor for Harold Dow</span><br />
<span>Dow
was a long-time CBS News correspondent who came to FAMU and spoke to
students as part of the Journalism Division’s 35th anniversary in 2009.
Dow died unexpectedly in August 2010, and CBS officials announced last
year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as
part of their diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow. His widow,
Kathy Dow, is expected to attend the luncheon.</span><br />
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<span>Benjamin
Davis, an award-winning broadcast journalist and digital journalism
professor, has been hired as the inaugural CBS Harold Dow Visiting
Professor at FAMU. Davis, a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award
winner, has 30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies
such as NBC Universal, ABC, CBS, Fox, and National Public Radio. He
also was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Journalism
in New Jersey, where he gained nine years of experience teaching
courses in broadcast and digital journalism. Davis is an entrepreneur
who developed the Digital Media Pyramid writing style and founded
Mediafriendly.com, a company that helps major media companies locate
diversity experts.</span>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-7305094054788418262011-10-20T08:25:00.001-07:002011-10-20T08:25:44.121-07:00Audra Burch is the 2011 Recipient of the Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus AwardThe School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) announces
that Audra D.S. Burch is the 2011 recipient of the Thelma Thurston
Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award.<br />
<br />
The award will be
presented to Burch at the school’s annual Grads are Back Luncheon,
Thursday, Oct. 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the SJGC Gallery.<br />
<br />
Burch
is an award-winning and enterprise writer for the Miami Herald. She
has been nominated three times for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and
she was part of a team that published a book on hurricanes.<br />
<br />
“We
are so proud of Audra’s professional accomplishments,” James Hawkins,
SJGC dean, said. “Anyone who knows Audra knows her commitment to
journalistic excellence.”<br />
<br />
The 1988 graduate currently
writes on a range of stories for the Miami Herald. Most recently, she
covered the Casey Anthony murder trial and wrote stories on prescriptive
drug abuse in Florida.<br />
<br />
Burch launched her career at the
Post Tribune in Gary, Ind. There she covered police, county government
and legal affairs. She then joined the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale
and was on a two-person team that won several national awards for a
series exposing menu fraud at South Florida restaurants.<br />
<br />
“The
Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award bears the name of
FAMU’s first instructor of journalism—Thelma Gorham,” Hawkins said.
“The award is given to an alumnus who has excelled professionally and
demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the University.”<br />
<br />
Burch
is a former deputy regional director of the National Association of
Black Journalists Association. She chaired the NABJ Region IV
conference in 1999 and she is a former president of the Palm Beach
chapter. Over the years, she has mentored numerous aspiring journalists
and has served as a teacher/coach at several FAMU summer journalism
programs.<br />
<br />
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She lives with her husband in Hollywood, Fla.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-61740292102891496372011-10-20T08:24:00.000-07:002011-10-20T08:24:21.711-07:00College of Law Ranked Nationally for Clinical Opportunities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Orlando, Fla. – Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Law was recently ranked 17th in the nation for providing clinical opportunities by National Jurist magazine, beating out other law schools such as Harvard, University of Kansas, and all Florida law schools. The FAMU College of Law is one of only two historically black colleges or universities (HBCU) to make the list.<br /><br />“There is a need in Central Florida and around the nation for legal representation for underrepresented populations,” said LeRoy Pernell, FAMU College of Law Dean. “I am pleased that we can be recognized for the opportunities we provide to law students knowing that our efforts impact the surrounding community to a positive end.”<br /><br />The September issue of the magazine for law students ranked the top 20 American Bar Association (ABA) law schools based on the total number of full-time clinical course positions offered per the number of full-time students. National Jurist used information from the Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools, 2011 and 2012 edition to compile the list. <br /><br />The FAMU College of Law’s Legal Clinic Program is under the direction of Assistant Professor Ann Marie Cavazos and includes Guardian Ad-Litem, Public Defender, Prosecution, Judicial Externship, Homelessness and Legal Advocacy, Death Penalty, Housing and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Community and Economic Development. Information sessions are held regularly to inform students of available opportunities. Students participating in the legal clinics have assisted Orlando’s indigent population with numerous court cases, and have been recognized for their winning efforts. <br /><br />“Consistent with the law school mission to provide legal services to the underrepresented population our primary objective is to create and increase opportunities for law students to get hands-on experience,” said Ann Marie Cavazos, associate professor and director of the FAMU College of Law Legal Clinic. “In a down economy, the poor and underrepresented are faced with myriad of legal issues and employers are looking at law school clinics to teach students practical skills and professionalism, so they can hit the ground running.”<br /><br />During the 2010-2011 academic year, three College of Law students participating as legal interns worked with Jim Kallinger, former Florida Chief Child Advocate with the Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection, to compose a proposed bill that would require parents of children in state custody to pay child support to the State of Florida, if it were to become law. Additionally, students participating in the Housing Clinic and Homelessness and Legal Advocacy Clinic were specially trained to conduct a canvassing project to warn Orlando area homeowners of loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams. The Legal Clinic received a $40,000.00 grant for the initiative. Also, for the past five years, the Legal Clinic has received a grant from the Florida Bar Foundation to fund Public Service Fellowships to law students interested in providing and promoting pro bono and public service.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-22674031889329562542011-10-20T08:22:00.001-07:002011-10-20T08:22:52.688-07:00Mr. and Miss FAMU Committed to Shaping Future Generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Miss and Mr. FAMU 2011-2012 NaKena Cromartie and Frederick Johnson, have laid out a platform to assist in recruiting the best and brightest students, while shaping current students into young professionals with superb etiquettes.<br /><br />The Miss and Mr. FAMU coronation was held on Sunday, October 2 in Lee Hall Auditorium followed by the coronation ball in the Grand Ballroom.<br /><br />Cromartie, 22, said that she had to look within herself to see if she possesses the qualities Miss FAMU should emulate: a woman of character, a well-rounded person, self assured and able to advocate on behalf of the university.<br /><br />Cromartie plans to start the “Keen Machine” which is a vocabulary enhancer project that will assist students to expand their vocabulary.<br /><br />Her goal is to help students when they are out on job interviews or meetings to not only look the part. As part of the initiative, she plans to donate a book scholarship to a student who correctly spells and defines the words. In addition, she plans to spearhead several community service projects.<br /><br />“Community service is really important to me,” said Cromartie, a first-year MBA student from St. Petersburg, Fla. “I want students to join me in “Cromartie on your Corner,” go into the community and participate in giving back by visiting soup kitchens, nursing homes and shelters; whatever we need to do to help.”<br /><br />Cromartie has also launched “TRULY FAMU." This initiative is intended to “acknowledge the legacy of FAMU and help preserve the history and traditions that once served as the guiding light for the State Normal College for Colored Students.”<br /><br />Students will have the opportunity to make personal quilt squares which will be stitched into a larger quilt and displayed in the Black Archives.<br /><br />Serving on the Royal Court with Cromartie and Johnson are Dominique James, freshman attendant; Micka Chavre, sophomore attendant; Sheree Oats, junior attendant; Nadia Deravine, senior attendant; Jasmine Miles, graduate attendant; Jean Altidor, king of Orange and Green, and Ciera Hall, queen of Orange and Green.<br /><br />Johnson, 21, based his platform on chivalry and targeting young men by encouraging them to appreciate women. He plans to implement a monthly event where the students will be groomed on their etiquettes of courtesy.<br /><br />“I’m glad it worked out in my favor,” said Johnson, a fourth-year business administration student from Dallas, Texas. “I definitely believe the things I plan to implement will bring about a positive change to the university and I am ecstatic that the student body has put their faith in me to be a male ambassador for them.”<br /><br />As part of Johnson’s campaign, he selected 20 males to demonstrate chivalry wearing his signature - the letter F representing his first name - on a cardigan while walking around campus holding doors open and handing out roses to young ladies.<br /><br />One of his initiatives is to encourage the royal court to exercise continued communication with prospective students they meet during recruitment trips.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-78274115627540882212011-10-20T08:21:00.001-07:002011-10-20T08:21:52.277-07:00FAMU will Build a Paradigm for the Future<br />TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Legacy Continued: FAMU Building Paradigm for the Future was the message Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons delivered during his state of the university address to a filled to capacity audience in Gaither Gymnasium consisting of administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and retirees. <br /><br />“As we begin this year, we are building a new paradigm for FAMU’s future by focusing on areas that will continue to distinguish us from our peers while continuing our tradition of using our research and the creation of new knowledge to meet the needs of our neighbors locally and globally,” said Ammons. <br /><br />Ammons stated that FAMU Board of Trustees and he have identified a list of mutual goals to achieve this academic year. <br />To become internationally recognized, FAMU must strengthen the University’s performance and presence in the professional worldImprove the environment in two critical areas of operations and services (housing facilities and customer service)FundraisingEnhance enrollment management by providing services that will retain and assist students in their movement from enrollment to graduation“I am so proud of FAMU and all of our accomplishments over the past year,” said Markia Butler, a senior from Jacksonville, Fla. “President Ammons’ speech not only encouraged me to succeed in the classroom, but to succeed in the workforce once I graduate this fall.”<br /><br />“I look forward to the President’s convocation,” said Kayana Lewis, an administrative information management major. “It gives me a lot of inspiration for the fall semester.”<br />Speaking of inspiration, it seems that the freshman class are a group of inspiring individuals.<br /><br />According to Ammons, the average GPA for the class is 3.2 and the average ACT score is 20.5.<br /><br />“You are an outstanding class and will be torchbearers for FAMU,” said Ammons.<br /><br />Ammons concluded his message by sharing how important it is for everyone to work together in order for the university to more forward. <br /><br />“Without your support our future is limited; with your support we can make this a stellar year. Join me as we charter new territories of greatness for our students, our alumni and generations to come.”<br /><br />Following the president’s address, volleyball coach Tony Trifonov and Darlene Moore, women’s cross-country and track and field coach, and men’s track and field and cross country coach Wayne Angel introduced their team. Joe Taylor, head football coach, introduced the coaching staff and the Rattler Football team to the university community. Julian White, director of Bands, introduced the Marching “100.” The convocation concluded with the singing of the alma mater. <br />News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-76747925182072642272011-10-20T07:53:00.001-07:002011-10-20T07:53:34.600-07:00FAMU Kicks Off Homecoming with the Rattler 5K Urban ChallengeFAMU will kick off homecoming with the second annual Rattler 5K Urban<br />
Challenge, a run/walk and youth fun run, on Saturday, October 1. The<br />
run/walk will start at 8 a.m. and registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at<br />
the Hansel E. Tookes Sr. Student Recreation Center. A wellness expo is<br />
scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the recreation center.<br />
<br />
The Rattler 5K Urban Challenge has a course filled with walls and<br />
hills to climb, cars to jump over and a mud pit to scramble through.<br />
<br />
Following the race, the Wellness Expo will feature community<br />
organizations and businesses devoted to helping individuals to be more<br />
active, eat healthier and improve their overall wellness. During the<br />
Expo, the FAMU Women’s Center will announce the winners of the new<br />
campus bicycle program. Twenty-eight students will receive bicycles<br />
to help increase their physical activity and serve as role models for<br />
other students.<br />
<br />
Registration for the race is $20 for runners, $10 for walkers and $5<br />
for college and high school students. There is no charge for children<br />
12 and under for the fun run. The registration fee includes a T-<br />
shirt. Prizes include cash, gift certificates, FAMU apparel and<br />
participant medals.<br />
<br />
For more information about the Rattler 5k Urban Challenge, contact<br />
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George Heimbach at (850) 412-7281 or by email at george.heimbach@famu.eduNews Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-10898752221149224012011-10-20T07:52:00.002-07:002011-10-20T07:52:44.751-07:00FAMU Alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer Launch Bounce TVFlorida A&M University (FAMU) alumni Will Packer and Rob Hardy
will launch Bounce TV this fall, the first African-American digital
multicast broadcast network geared toward African Americans in the 25-54
age range.<br />
<br />
Bounce TV will feature a programming mix of
theatrical motion pictures, sporting events, documentaries, specials,
inspirational faith-based programs, off-network series, original
programming and more.<br />
<br />
Hardy will serve as the chief
content officer, and Packer in the chief strategy and marketing officer
position. Other founders include Martin Luther King III, former United
Nations Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and Andrew “Bo” Young
III.<br />
<br />
Packer and Hardy started their production company,
Rainforest Films, in 1994. One of their most successful projects, “Stomp
the Yard,” grossed more than $65 million and held the No. 1 position at
the box office for two weekends in January of 2007. Later that year,
the company produced “This Christmas,” which made $50 million. The
success of both projects landed the duo amongst the “Top 25 Entertainers
and Moneymakers” in Black Enterprise magazine in 2008.<br />
<br />
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In
2010, Packer and Hardy were named as one of FAMU’s 40 alumni Under 40
years old. The duo have also begun production of the movie, “Think Like a
Man,” a comedic adaptation of actor and comedian Steve Harvey’s New
York Times best-selling book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-44093893910648547332011-10-20T07:52:00.000-07:002011-10-20T07:52:02.241-07:00Entertainment Industry College Outreach ProgramThe Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic
Communication, the School of Business & Industry and leverageup.com
will host the "Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program" on
October 11, 2011 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. S<br />
<br />
ALL FAMU STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE INVITED!<br />
<br />
This
programs seeks to develop a pipeline from HBCU campuses into the
auxiliary enterprises that make up the Entertainment Industry. This is
for students who desire a career, outside of performance, in the
industry that is large, but very exclusive.<br />
<br />
From
architecture, engineering and business, to music, content and research,
this program is reaching out to ALL MAJORS!!! This is a great
opportunity for those students interested in lighting, set-design, sound
and music production, film scores, script writing, technology,
animatronics, publishing, history, construction, business, marketing,
finance, architecture, animation and the various other areas of theater,
film, studio and theme park production.<br />
<br />
Faculty are also
invited to a FACULTY RECEPTION to network with industry representatives.
The reception will be held at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives from 4
p.m.-6 p.m.<br />
<br />
Faculty and students must register at
www.famusjgc-oip.com. Click the "Entertainment Forum" tab. You do not
have to be logged in to view the site.<br />
<br />
Industry representatives include: • CBS • Disney • Dreamworks Animation SKG • NBC Universal • OWN • Sony<br />
<br />
For more information, contact Yanela Gordon at yanela.gordon@famu.edu or 850.412.5395.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELbjxXCt0wjDhrilf4JzNsrIEVDWyQYYKzyxT9-gR5V4hIWnu9K_bkZ-toGkGjiBlO4GgcbwV-fq5TnxhXjozeQPgziItRBOfzEvAtRCsbx6mhlIbOl3y5pfde_GoBkkujSoJ-qzOBjJK/s1600/309689_10150300154251884_16502236883_8527496_476312692_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELbjxXCt0wjDhrilf4JzNsrIEVDWyQYYKzyxT9-gR5V4hIWnu9K_bkZ-toGkGjiBlO4GgcbwV-fq5TnxhXjozeQPgziItRBOfzEvAtRCsbx6mhlIbOl3y5pfde_GoBkkujSoJ-qzOBjJK/s320/309689_10150300154251884_16502236883_8527496_476312692_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-10107572624744015702011-10-20T07:51:00.000-07:002011-10-20T07:51:07.553-07:00Editor-in-Chief of JET Magazine Mitzi Miller will Keynote Homecoming Convocationlorida A&M University (FAMU) will host its annual Homecoming
Convocation Friday, October 7 at 10:10 a.m. in Jake Gaither Gymnasium.
This year’s keynote speaker is Mitzi Miller, editor-in-chief of JET
magazine and FAMU alumna.<br />
<br />
Miller joined the Johnson
Publishing Company family as the editor-in-chief of JET magazine in May
2011. An award-winning journalist, Miller is the bestselling author of
five books, including the wildly popular Scholastic/Point 3-book teen
series, Hotlanta. She also has extensive television experience including
regular appearances on VH1’s humorous list shows, as well as ABC’s
top-rated morning show, Good Morning America, BET and The Food Network.<br />
<br />
Most recently, Miller served as editor-in-chief of the independent athletic lifestyle publication, SET Magazine.<br />
<br />
The
New York native worked at HONEY Magazine, where she started her career
in 2001 as an unpaid intern before quickly becoming the girl-around-town
columnist for the hip magazine’s monthly feature, “Road Trippin.”
Readers quickly grew addicted to her many quirky, fun-filled adventures.
Mitzi remained at HONEY for two years, during which she became the
entertainment editor, received an honorable mention from the National
Association of Black Journalists and ultimately became the face of HONEY
magazine.<br />
<br />
Miller is a skilled public speaker who speaks
regularly on several nationally syndicated radio shows including The
Warren Ballentine Show and has delivered the keynote address at various
conferences and seminars nationwide including the 2009 Young Women’s
Empowerment Summit at Long Island University; Mayor Daley’s 2009 Annual
Book Club Conference in Chicago; and Essence Magazine’s Image of Black
Women in Media Panel. She sits on the Board of Directors for the New
York City based non-profit organization, Hip Hop 4 Life.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_lCzMeTZxE4XJU4O_GWsfTRWj9HULl6OXksqKZFCACuTDY3RSH5CYr8JphZazQ8lfT3DsfDe9X_71K7MSU-ojLXXNrl-7yWx-T-CvTrqs8CLIgdsPmFuFX6wLuiHm6oVJwGDu8DilAR3/s1600/304520_10150294377591884_16502236883_8493466_230354689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_lCzMeTZxE4XJU4O_GWsfTRWj9HULl6OXksqKZFCACuTDY3RSH5CYr8JphZazQ8lfT3DsfDe9X_71K7MSU-ojLXXNrl-7yWx-T-CvTrqs8CLIgdsPmFuFX6wLuiHm6oVJwGDu8DilAR3/s320/304520_10150294377591884_16502236883_8493466_230354689_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
Miller currently resides in Chicago, IL.News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-2881045878897652712011-10-20T07:49:00.001-07:002011-10-20T07:49:51.010-07:00Lyceum Series to Present Gospel Music Group The Clark Sisters<span>The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Lyceum Series is proud to
present award-winning gospel singers, The Clark Sisters, Friday October
7, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium.</span><br />
<br />
<span>Tickets
are now available through ticketmaster.com and the FAMU box office for
$45, $30 and $20, depending on the location of the seats.</span><br />
<br />
<span>This
is the fourth time this year that all sisters will perform together.
Furthermore, this is only the second time the Clark Sisters have
performed on a college campus since their last performance at FAMU in
the 90s.</span><br />
<span>With a compelling, commanding fusion of
styles as diverse as blues, jazz, R&B and classical, the Clark
Sisters, which consists of sisters Jacky, Twinkie, Karen and Dorinda,
created a sound that was new, fresh and entirely their own.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
<span>On
Live – One Last Time, their newest release and first album together in
more than 12 years, is truly landmark work. The project is an epic
undertaking of unprecedented scope.</span><br />
<br />
<span> </span><br />
<span>With
virtually unlimited range, dazzling dynamics and multi-textured runs,
riffs, and scats that have long been hallmarks of their singular vocal
style, the Clark Sisters sound has given inspiration to countless
singers of today. With millions of album sales to their collective
credit, that select circle includes gospel, mainstream R&B and pop
stars.</span><br />
<br />
<span>The sisters, born between
1951 and 1960, all showed prodigious musical talent from early
childhood, and were raised under the careful musical and moral tutelage
of their pastor father and mother.</span><br />
<br />
<span>The
seeds for what would become Live – One Last Time were first planted by
Karen’s husband when he suggested the foursome reunite to give posterity
and the flocks of still-faithful Clark Sisters fans a taste of some new
“sisters” material, as well as new, live renditions of a large number
of Clark standards. </span><br />
<span>Live – One Last Time was
recorded in July 2006, before a sell-out crowd of 6,000 in Houston’s
George R. Brown Convention Center. </span><br />
<br />
<span>For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (850) 599-3413.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gPYkqrKCLsiqY4FZNoIBkfEB3pPkY9rHPXSqHQCTUoii6gXyN8E7vvVk_UgygCRCLxB9BHyzC4ip5TuNTqYfIKJHD0d3TU9xOtRH9Ns15nxH7Z2aiBkLeBDHuGhxr4-YiX56vl-LyPVu/s1600/299724_10150292171631884_16502236883_8482354_51529788_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gPYkqrKCLsiqY4FZNoIBkfEB3pPkY9rHPXSqHQCTUoii6gXyN8E7vvVk_UgygCRCLxB9BHyzC4ip5TuNTqYfIKJHD0d3TU9xOtRH9Ns15nxH7Z2aiBkLeBDHuGhxr4-YiX56vl-LyPVu/s320/299724_10150292171631884_16502236883_8482354_51529788_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-29323560520160026332011-10-20T07:47:00.000-07:002011-10-20T07:47:01.831-07:00Benjamin Davis is the CBS Harold Dow Visiting ProfessorBenjamin Davis, an award-winning broadcast journalist and digital
journalism professor, has been hired as the CBS Harold Dow Visiting
Professor at Florida A&M University (FAMU).<br />
<br />
Davis, a
two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner, has 30 years of
experience working for major broadcast companies such as ABC, CBS, Fox,
MSNBC.COM and National Public Radio. He also was an adjunct professor at
Rutgers University School of Journalism in New Jersey, where he gained
nine years of experience teaching courses in broadcast and digital
journalism. Davis is an entrepreneur who developed the Digital Media
Pyramid writing style and founded Mediafriendly.com, a company that
helps major media companies locate diversity experts. He also worked
with students at Rutgers to create www.itsonbad.com, a website geared to
16- to 25-year-olds.<br />
<br />
“I hope to live up to the expectations that Harold Dow would have wanted, which are pretty high,” said Davis.<br />
<br />
Dow
was a long-time CBS News correspondent who came to FAMU and spoke to
students as part of the Division of Journalism’s 35th anniversary in
2009. Dow died unexpectedly in August 2010. CBS officials announced
last year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor
as part of its diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow.<br />
<br />
Crystal
Johns, CBS news director of development and diversity, said, “We are
very happy to support a program that will be such a wonderful
recognition of all that Harold Dow embodied.”<br />
<br />
Davis will
be teaching broadcast news writing and broadcast announcing classes. He
also plans to “teach students about the digital media pyramid, which is a
model I created to replace the more than century-old inverted
pyramid...” <br />
<br />
A luncheon reception to honor Davis is
scheduled for Oct. 14 with the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic
Communication Board of Visitors (BOV) and faculty. <br />
<br />
The
CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor position will be funded for three
years by CBS, according to SJGC Dean James Hawkins, Ph.D.<br />
<br />
“This
professorship will strengthen the quality of our broadcast journalism
program, to another level,” Hawkins said. “Our students will be even
more competitive when they are ready to enter the world of work.”<br />
<br />
Hawkins
also thanked Kim Godwin - who is a senior producer for the CBS Evening
News, an SJGC alumna and BOV member for lobbying CBS for this
professorship.<br />
<br />
<em>The School of Journalism and Graphic
Communication was founded in 1982. Its Division of Journalism was the
first journalism program at a historically black university to be
nationally accredited by the ACEJMC. It offers four journalism
sequences: newspaper, magazine production, broadcast (radio and
television) and public relations.</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrNdUNmYwEJrWFD43AAwCA4BNcv6urz4veVtohWs4V9nPmJXITTdoidTFsBG6LiVbvKXFwe-6hPsR0YhUqZahaKw7c4UAQwz0lUN9mmfjHTB9N9uz-nejesu_n-ZpNXazi1Cr5T2GdDZr/s1600/300982_10150286169051884_16502236883_8442762_1459674711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrNdUNmYwEJrWFD43AAwCA4BNcv6urz4veVtohWs4V9nPmJXITTdoidTFsBG6LiVbvKXFwe-6hPsR0YhUqZahaKw7c4UAQwz0lUN9mmfjHTB9N9uz-nejesu_n-ZpNXazi1Cr5T2GdDZr/s320/300982_10150286169051884_16502236883_8442762_1459674711_n.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660707026015824394.post-60454919498232520342011-10-20T07:46:00.000-07:002011-10-20T07:46:05.273-07:00FAMU Kicks Off 125th Anniversary during the President GalaFlorida A&M University (FAMU) will kick off its yearlong 125-year
Anniversary Celebration during the President’s Gala on Friday, October
7, 2011. This year’s gala theme is “Marching for Excellence” and will
pay tribute to the life of William P. Foster, the “Dean of America’s
Band Directors,” and the incomparable Marching “100.” <br />
<br />
The
Marching “100,” a leader in marching bands, has appeared in films,
commercials, Super Bowls, the Grammys, numerous magazine and newspaper
articles and nationally televised performances. In 1985, the “100” was
the recipient of the Sudler Trophy, the Heisman Trophy for marching
bands, which is the highest honor a collegiate marching band can
receive. It is awarded to a college or university marching band, which
has demonstrated the highest of musical standards and innovative
marching routines and ideas. FAMU is the only historically black
college or university to receive that award.<br />
<br />
“As we
celebrate our 125 years of existence, we want to highlight all of the
icons of our brand including the Marching “100,” our great presidents,
Dr. Foster and others who helped FAMU to become a household name and
brand,” said Sharon Saunders, chief communications officer and chair of
the 125th Anniversary Celebration.<br />
<br />
Foster, who was also
called “The Law” and “The Maestro,” was the founder and creator of the
noted Marching “100.” He served as the band’s director from 1946 to his
retirement in 1998. He is credited with revolutionizing marching band
techniques and reshaping the world’s concept of the collegiate marching
band. Foster brought more than 30 new techniques to the band that have
now become standard operating procedure for high school and college
bands nationwide. <br />
<br />
In 1998, Foster retired after 52 years
of service to the university, the State of Florida, the nation and the
world. On August 28, 2010, the FAMU family and this nation mourned the
loss of Foster, who was 90-years old.<br />
<br />
During the 2011-2012
academic year, FAMU will host several anniversary events including a
community-wide picnic, a health symposium, an artist in bloom festival
and much more.<br />
<br />
“This is an exhilarating and monumental
milestone in Florida A&M University’s history,” said FAMU President
James H. Ammons “As we honor FAMU’s quasquicentennial and reflect on
the university’s achievements, I can not think of a better way to signal
the commemoration’s official launch than to honor a legend [William P.
Foster] who was a key figure in the life and history of FAMU.”<br />
<br />
Since
October 3, 1887, FAMU has grown from its initial 15 students and two
instructors to now educating more than 13,000 students. The University
now offers 53 bachelor’s degrees, 28 master’s degrees, three
professional degrees and 12 doctoral degrees. The three professional
degrees include the JD, PharmD, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy.<br />
<br />
FAMU
prominently resides atop the highest of Tallahassee’s seven hills and
is the only historically black university within the eleven-member State
University System of Florida.<br />
<br />
Gala tickets are $125 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.FAMU125.com or by calling (850) 599-3860.<br />
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<br />
“Our
hearts and prayers go out to Shannon’s family and members of the Lady
Rattlers Basketball Team,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “For
Shannon to be killed in the prime of her life is tragic and senseless.
She had so much promise as a student athlete. This is a great loss for
the university and our athletic program.”<br />
<br />
The FAMU
Student Government Association will have a vigil tonight at 8:30 p.m. at
the FAMU Eternal Flame to celebrate the life of Washington.<br />
<br />
According
to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), they responded to a report
of a stabbing at 3025 South Adams Street, Sunday, September 4, at
approximately 2:03 a.m. Officers located the victim, Washington, in the
apartment with a knife wound to her neck. The victim was initially
treated by TPD officers on the scene until EMS arrived. She was then
transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where she succumbed to her
injuries.<br />
<br />
A suspect, Starquineshia Palmer, 20, was
detained and transported to TPD where she was interviewed and
subsequently charged with first degree murder. Palmer was visiting
Washington for the weekend, noted TPD.<br />
<br />
Washington
was a standout basketball player at Illinois Valley Community College
(IVCC) earning All-American honors both seasons at IVCC. A native of
Sarasota, Fla., her success at IVCC earned her the distinction of having
a replica of her jersey to be honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of
Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. Washington transferred to FAMU and was
expected to play this fall as a shooting guard.<br />
<br />
“It
is truly a trying situation to lose a student-athlete that has come to
us to further her education and excel at her sport,” said LeDawn Gibson,
FAMU’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “As a coach, this is the kind of
incident you just<br />
hope you never have to deal with — the death of one of your players at such a young age.”<br />
<br />
“The
closeness of the students, coaches and staff at FAMU Athletics
resembles that of a family,” said Derek Horne, FAMU’s director of
Athletics. “Losing a family member is never easy. Our task now is to
make sure we learn from this, and make as much effort at preparing our
student athletes for all situations that may occur.”<br />
<br />
TPD Victim Advocates have been working with the FAMU Athletic Department, and the victim’s teammates.<br />News Rattlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586894305535196255noreply@blogger.com0