Andre Hammel, chair of the Seventh Annual Young Alumni Giving Luncheon, described the fundraising event as a “win-win” for the university and alumni.
“Supporting events such as YAG strengthens the bond between alumni and the university while creating scholarships for current and future Rattlers,” said Hammel.
Hamel was the 2002-2003 Student Government Association president, and is an attorney in Largo, Md.
The luncheon will be held at The Governor’s Club today at 12:45. This year’s event will raise money for two Florida A&M scholarships.
Interested students were asked to submit essays. The first scholarship is for summer tuition (six credit hours) for a current FAMU freshman who demonstrates financial need. The second scholarship is for an exam prep course (LSAT, GMAT, MCAT or GRE) for a graduating FAMU senior.
Breyon Love, SGA president and event host, said the luncheon is also an opportunity for former and current students to network and connect with Rattlers alike.
“A lot of good people are coming back; many alumni who have been in the same position as I am,” Love said. “These events show the power of alumni.”
This year’s Young Alumni Giving Luncheon will feature speakers like Marvin Green, FAMU director of student activities; Tiffany Greene, sports reporter with Bright House Sports Network in Orlando; Derric Heck, architect and founder of I.Design, a design, programming and project management consulting firm; and Arian Reed, publisher of Fearless Magazine.
“It’s exciting that we have a young crowd giving back,” Green said. “Typically people think about an alum being out of school 15 to 20 years. This group actually understands the impact that giving at a young age is important and they are keeping that going.”
Past speakers for the event have included FAMU President James Ammons, NFL Attorney Joe Briggs, Film Producer Will Packer and Janelle Carter, former senior adviser and speechwriter for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Hammel said the committee is expecting approximately 150 alumni to attend the luncheon, including FAMU trustees and a few individuals who were named as one of the university’s “40 Alumni Under 40” during last year’s President’s Gala.