• News
    • Research News
    • Faculty News
    • Alumni News
    • Student News
    • STEM News
  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
FAMU Forward
FAMU Forward

Tallahassee, Florida

May 15th, 2022
  • News
    • Research News
      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU To Host NOAA-Sponsored Science Conference

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

    • Faculty News
      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU CoPPS, IPH Receives $700K Grant to Increase Awareness and Participation of Minorities in COVID-19 Variant Clinical Research Trials

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Professor Secures $3.5M to Support Wellness of Florida’s First Responders

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

      FAMU Researchers Win NSSR Director Awards for STEM Scholars’ Success Article

      FAMU’s David H. Jackson Jr. Appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at NCCU

      FAMU’s David H. Jackson Jr. Appointed Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at NCCU

    • Alumni News
      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      FAMU Plaque Laying Ceremony Honors Rattlers in Arms Giving

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Disney Executive Sybil Crum Announced as FAMU Spring Commencement Speakers

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

      FAMU Alum Daria Willis Named Next President of Howard Community (Md.) College

      FAMU Summer Grad Awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship at USC

      FAMU Summer Grad Awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship at USC

    • Student News
      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      FAMU Student’s Sweet Design Lands in Target Stores Nationwide

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

      Twelve FAMU Students To Participate in Goldman Sachs Market Madness Program

      Two Agribusiness Graduate Students Awarded Florida Fertilizer Agrichemical Association Scholarships for Academic Excellence

      Two Agribusiness Graduate Students Awarded Florida Fertilizer Agrichemical Association Scholarships for Academic Excellence

      FAMU student receives Crossman Career Builder Scholarship

      FAMU student receives Crossman Career Builder Scholarship

    • STEM News
      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      Keysight Technologies Extends Commitment to FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
Home
News

Orange Blossom Classic Makes Triumphant Return

September 14th, 2021 Andrew Skerritt News
Orange Blossom Classic Makes Triumphant Return

FAMU President Larry Robinson, wife, Sharon Robinson, JSU President Thomas Hudson and wife, Phylandria.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) officials and alumni said the revival of the Orange Blossom Classic (OBC) was a success.
About 36,000 spectators converged on Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday, September 5 for the football game between FAMU and Jackson State University (JSU). It marked the first time in more than 40 years since the OBC was held. The events leading up to the game gave an economic boost to the Miami-Dade-Fort Lauderdale area, said Oliver G. Gilbert, III, vice chairman of the Miami Dade County Commission, who is credited with the return of the OBC.

“This weekend was amazing. FAMU showed that what we can do to a local economy is extraordinary,” said 1995 FAMU graduate Gilbert, moments after the game ended with a 7-6 JSU victory. “We didn’t win this year, but we will win next year, We got heads in beds, people in restaurants, and people buying stuff. We got that right now in Miami-Dade County.”   

Fundraising

Students were also major beneficiaries of the OBC. The FAMU National Alumni Association announced $21,000 in donations during its soiree. Donations included $10,000 from the Polk County Alumni Association, $5,000 from Southern Glazer Wines and Spirits and $5,000 from alumna Kim Godwin, ABC News president.

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation, speaks at the P3 Gala.

During the football game, the P3 Group Inc. presented a check for a $150,000 donation over three years to the FAMU Foundation Endowment.  The P3 Group, Inc. is the nation’s largest minority owned public-private partnership developer.

“I am very pleased,” said Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation. “People came not just looking to have a good time but looking to support the University and the students”

Miss FAMU Christelle Haygood Mister FAMU Kaleb Levarity 
King of Orange and Green Chazriq Clarke
 at the OBC Parade.

Symposium

The OBC events included a Careers in Sports & Entertainment Symposium featuring FAMU alumni such as movie producer Will Packer, Director Rob Hardy, Florida Sports Foundation CEO Angela Suggs, and JSU alumni Cortez Bryant, who manages artists such as Lil Wayne.

Rob Hardy, Cortez Bryant and Will Packer, following the Sports and Entertainment Careers Symposium at Hard Rock Stadium.

At the OBC Welcome & Kickoff Luncheon honorees included State Senator Shevrin Jones, Miami Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Bryant, Packer and Hardy, and Maia Chaka, the first Black woman to join an NF on the field officiating staff. Actress KJ Smith, a FAMU alumna, served as keynote speaker.

Among the other highlights were two sessions of the Legislative Issues Conference. At the Saturday morning session, participants spoke about how JSU and FAMU alumni in Florida and Mississippi can support each institution’s legislative priorities and make their voices heard. Both schools can benefit from pending federal legislation.

One priority for both FAMU and JSU is New Infrastructure Grant Technology and Education (IGNITE) for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The legislation is part of the $3.5 trillion infrastructure package and will provide support for deferred maintenance for HBCUs. JSU and FAMU are signatories of a September 7, 2021, letter to Congress supporting the legislation.

“The playing field is not level.  The infrastructure bill will directly help HBCUs improve our declining infrastructure,” said JSU President Thomas K. Hudson. “We can’t be contenders if underfunding of HBCUs continues.”

Earlier during the pandemic, HBCUs benefited from passage of the federal CARES Act, which allowed institutions, like FAMU, to clear students’ outstanding balances. FAMU also received more than $100 million in debt relief from construction of the 700-bed FAMU Towers and other on campus progress. HBCUs need to improve their advocacy to ensure they get the support they need to withstand economic crises.

“it’s not about us. It’s about the next generation we are cultivating,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “When the next coronavirus comes, we need to be better positioned.”

To see more photo highlights from the Orange Blossom Classic visit here.

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Previous article FAMU COVID-19 Testing Site Returns To 2507 Wahnish Way Location
Next article FAMU Secures $30M Federal Grant To Recruit and Train the Next Generation of Minority Scientists
Related Posts
FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Administration 

FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Administration 

May 12th, 2022
FAMU College of Law Judges Gallery Celebrates Alumni on the Bench

FAMU College of Law Judges Gallery Celebrates Alumni on the Bench

May 11th, 2022
Portion of FAMU’s Wahnish Way Closed Until Week of May 23

Portion of FAMU’s Wahnish Way Closed Until Week of May 23

May 10th, 2022
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by the FAMU Office of Communications.


Timeline
May 12th 3:37 PM
News

FAMU Names Gloria Walker New CFO/VP for Administration 

May 11th 3:23 PM
News

FAMU College of Law Judges Gallery Celebrates Alumni on the Bench

May 10th 9:59 PM
News

Portion of FAMU’s Wahnish Way Closed Until Week of May 23

May 10th 10:40 AM
News

FAMU Second HBCU Named Adobe Creative Campus 

May 10th 10:04 AM
News

FAMU Legendary Relay Team honored on Penn Relays Wall of Fame

Follow Us!
Tweets by @FAMU_1887
RSS FAMU Sports News
  • Rattlers go winless in series versus Jackson State
  • Rattlers go 0-2 in doubleheader against Jackson State
  • Rattlers prepare for final road series against Jackson State
  • Rattlers Season Came to an End in Gulfport
  • MJ Randolph One of Forty-Four Invited to NBA G League Elite Camp
A&M Magazine Digital Stories
FAMU Videos

💉 #CallTheShots with FAMU's Basketball Team 🏀

👨🏾‍🎓 Congratulations to the Spring 2022 Graduates 👩🏿‍🎓

Upcoming Events
Jul
8
Fri
all-day IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE P... @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
Jul 8 – Jul 9 all-day
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION @ Charles Winter Wood Theatre-Edmonds Stage
IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION   July 8 – 9, 2022 Charles Winter Wood Theatre | Edmonds Stage Share a delightful evening applauding the achievements of a group of talented young performers, culminating a[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
Calendar
September 2021
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Aug   Oct »
Archives
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our news site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us!
Got a Story?

We love hearing from our alumni.  Let us know what you’ve been up to since you left the hill! Contact us here today!

© Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2019. All rights reserved.
Powered by the FAMU Office of Communications