TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The State University System of Florida Board of Governors’ Foundation has awarded Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) $110,000 to help provide scholarship support to first-generation students.
The funds are the result of a generous $5 million donation to the System by the Helios Education Foundation, which specified that the investment earnings should go to scholarships supporting first-generation students.
“On behalf of the entire FAMU community, I would like to express our gratitude to the Board of Governors’ Foundation and the Helios Education Fund for investing in the futures of the students we historically serve, and for helping to provide access and opportunity to students who may have never had the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of going to college,” said President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D.
Each year, the Foundation distributes funds to Florida’s 12 State universities. Florida also has a program in which the State matches contributions, doubling the scholarship awards.
“As a result of these scholarships, nearly 25,000 people have obtained a university education – many of whom may not have had the opportunity to do so otherwise,” said Board of Governors’ Chair Mori Hosseini. “Thanks to the generous donation from Helios, the Board looks forward to continuing to fund this important cause for years to come.”
President Mangum encouraged the FAMU community to match the Foundation’s efforts.
“We look forward to receiving matching funds from the State and I encourage all FAMU supporters and stakeholders to join the Florida Board of Governors’ Foundation in investing in first-generation students by making a contribution earmarked for this cause to the FAMU Foundation,” she said.
Through the scholarships, the System has assisted more than 24,000 first-generation students in continuing their education. For the 2013-2014 school year, the scholarships helped 5,203 State University System students. Of those, 2,715 students were first-time recipients of the scholarships and 2,488 were students who had previously been awarded.
“Promoting access to higher education is an important priority for the Board of Governors,” said State University System Chancellor Marshall Criser III. “I’m proud of the talented students who are pursuing a higher education and positioning themselves for bright careers.”
About FAMU
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is one of the largest single-campus historically Black colleges or universities in the nation. The University blends a strong research focus on economic empowerment and community service.
The University was founded in 1887 as the State Normal School for Colored Students, Today, FAMU continues its mission to be a best-in-class, land-grant doctoral research University with a global reach that focuses on science, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics.
FAMU contributes to a strong workforce by providing a high-quality, affordable education to students from diverse backgrounds. The U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the nation’s top public historically Black college or university (HBCU) for 2015. FAMU was recognized in 2014 by U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best National Universities.” It is listed among The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” colleges.
FAMU is also one of the top universities for providing a high-quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database (2013).
For more information about FAMU, visit http://www.famu.edu.
About the SUS
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The System has 12 universities and more than 335,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the System’s coordination and operation. The Board appoints a chancellor, who serves as the system’s chief executive. For more information, visit www.flbog.edu.