By Domonique Davis
Last week, businessman and long-time University supporter John Crossman helped kick-off the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend with a welcome and fundraising reception at the University Club of Orlando. During the reception, Crossman announced the establishment of the Crossman & Company Endowed Real Estate Scholarship at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University — the first endowed real estate scholarship at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
Crossman personally donated $25,000 to establish the scholarship and solicited other supporters to raise over $150,000 in additional donations. The scholarship will benefit FAMU law and business students who are interested in commercial real estate.
Sharing his late father’s passion for inclusiveness, higher education, and mentoring college students, Crossman, a member of the FAMU Foundation Board of Directors, hopes to provide exposure and opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in commercial real estate. He has helped to establish student real estate clubs at both FAMU and Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) in hopes of creating an official outlet for real estate programs at both universities.
Crossman is an executive board member for the University of Florida Bergstrom Center for Real Estate and the Florida State University Center for Real Estate Education. He is also the president of Crossman & Company, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the southeast.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Crossman & Company Endowed Real Estate Scholarship, please visit www.famu.edu/crossman.