As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, Florida A&M students in one class are preparing for the Tallahassee’s Got Talent show, a fundraiser designed to help the Rickards High School band participate in a parade in Washington D.C.
This event is the second and final charitable affair for this academic school year hosted by the Sports and Recreation Facility Management class taught by professor Melissa Noland. The event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Perry Paige Auditorium.
Earlier this year her class was responsible for the event FAMUnity, which was a street ball basketball tournament, held in February with all of the proceeds benefiting civic organization Big Bend of Tallahassee.
“It seems as though traditional community service is dying. In this class we are trying to create innovative ways to promote community service,” Noland said.
The students of this class have chosen to host the talent show under the name LEI Promotions in relationship to the course prefix of their class.
The purpose of this event is to highlight the talents of individuals as well as help raise money for the Rickards High School Band to perform in Washington D.C.
“We just want people to come out, have fun and support… we wanted to help people who needed money as opposed to people who have money,” said senior broadcast journalism student Jimmie Thomas, 24, from Tallahassee. “It’s only right that we give back to the community at hand.”
The show will feature three students from the Rickards High School band who will begin the evening with a percussion set. It will also include special performances by local artist Tanza as well as several local poets and the Black on Black Rhyme poetry troupe.
Cornelius Watkins, 22, an elementary education student from Tampa, was in charge of booking and scheduling performers. He said people can anticipate a lot from this event.
“They can expect a variety of talents, from dancing to singing,” Watkins said. “Whoever comes out, we’re going to have something they like.”
The Sports and Recreation Facility Management class has not been active for several years.
“This is the first year they have brought back this class in the academic books,” Noland said.
This is Noland’s first year being a full-time professor at Florida A&M University. Her class is responsible for creating, managing and publicizing events that would benefit the community and FAMU students.
Noland said she places an emphasis on management, preparation and marketing skills for events and facilities in the course.
“This class is not geared toward a specific major, instead it is for all disciplines. I think the students are enjoying this class and all it has to offer,” Noland said.