Community Events Highlight FAMU’s Rich Legacy and Impact
Known for her role as Anne Northup in the Academy Award-winning film “12 Years a Slave,” actress and screenwriter Kelsey Scott will return to her alma mater, Florida A&M University (FAMU), Friday, Oct. 21 to serve as the Homecoming Convocation speaker at 10:10 a.m. in Gaither Gymnasium.
Boasting a long career in both television and theatre, Scott has appeared on hit shows such as “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She received a degree in broadcast journalism from the FAMU School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. Fellow journalism grad and CBS News Senior Producer and Executive Director of Development and Diversity Kim Godwin will preside over the event.
Scott began her screenwriting career when former Rainforest Films partners and FAMU alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer tapped her to pen the Sony Pictures thriller “Motives.”
Scott will reunite with Packer this week, as he returns to FAMU to serve as the grand marshal of the annual Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 22. The parade begins at 8:30 a.m., at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way. It continues north on Wahnish Way to Gamble Street and continues east onto Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., then south onto Osceola Street.
Homecoming committee chair Carmen Cummings-Martin said the Homecoming Parade is just one example of how FAMU will celebrate its rich legacy and traditions. She noted that festivals celebrating alumni and students will be held at each college and school from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 21.
“Homecoming is such an exciting time because it allows Rattlers from far and near to unite to celebrate the unrivaled experiences that Florida A&M University has provided,” said Cummings-Martin. “Homecoming also allows us to share the great things that are happening on our campus every day with our community friends and supporters.”
This week, there are several events designed to inspire and empower attendees, such as the annual Entrepreneurial Summit on Thursday, Oct. 20. The summit will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. It features successful alumni such as Cheryl Harris, senior vice president of sourcing and procurement solutions at Allstate Insurance Company; Nick Nelson, chief marketing officer of Liquid Soul Media; and Ed Benson, president of Ticket Annex.
On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 20, the FAMU National Alumni Association will unveil a history book that outlines the impact of the organization over the years at 6:30 p.m. in the Black Archives.
In honor of the Marching “100’s” 70th anniversary, a reception celebrating a new exhibit featuring the band and its founder William P. Foster will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Foster-Tanner Fine Arts Gallery at 6:15 p.m. On Friday, Oct. 21, a fundraiser and anniversary celebration for the “100” will be held at 6 p.m., in the Foster-Tanner Band Rehearsal Hall, capping off a special band festival that begins at 3 p.m. in the Lawson Center.
Also happening at the Black Archives on Friday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m., is a special roundtable with student leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss policies and issues that impact higher education.
On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., just before the Homecoming game at Bragg Stadium, the entire community is invited to participate in a massive tailgating experience, titled “The Strike Zone.” The experience will be held at the Football Practice Field and features free events presented by BET, the FAMU NAA, Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. and Greek, community, and campus organizations.
For more information about this week’s events, visit: www.homecomingonthehill.com.