FAMU CSA Gears Up to Host Annual Conference

Hundreds of Caribbean students from around the state and abroad will be flooding the campus of FAMU for the 41st Annual Florida Caribbean Student Association (FCSA) Conference.

The conference is a three-day event which consists of a pageant, cookout, sporting tournament and networking workshops.

This will be the third time that FAMU Caribbean Student Association (CSA) has hosted this conference in the last two decades; the last occurrences were in 1999 and in 2005.

Lidia Joseph, a senior political science student from Miami, Fla. who serves as president of FAMU CSA, stated what she expects to come from FAMU hosting this year’s conference.

 “I hope that everyone enjoys themselves and remembers who hosted this conference,” Joseph said. “This conference will give FAMU CSA so much exposure and for once we will be able to show everyone why we are number one!”

The conference is set to serve as a networking ground for college students.

During this weekend they will mingle amongst themselves as well as with major Caribbean companies and entities that attend conference such as, Grace Foods, VP Records and Caribbean Airlines.

Contrary to popular belief, CSA is open to more than just people from the Caribbean.

General body member Cara Hackett, a first year public relations student from Monticello, Fla., explained what she expects from the conference.

“As an American, my biggest hope for conference is to learn more about the Caribbean culture. I definitely expect the conference weekend to be full of fun, culture, networking, and new friends,” Hackett said.

It has also been a trend for the keynote speaker to be a famous and influential person in the Caribbean culture.

Last year’s conference host, Miami-Dade College, managed to attain Machel Montano; a soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. This year it is being rumored via the FCSA conference Instagram that social media comedian, Majah Hype, may be in attendance.

Kelly-Ann Henry, Conference Director and senior biology student from Fort Lauderdale Fla., is excited about the conference and expects a great turn out.

“There has been massive preparation for FAMU to host the 41st FCSA student leadership conference,” Henry said. “Students will be coming to FAMU from all over the state of Florida as well as other out of state institutions who have paid their funds to enjoy one of the best Caribbean college experiences ever. I would love for this event to be one of the best conferences ever in the history of FCSA.”

Registration for the 41st annual conference is available through their Twitter and Instagram accounts at @FCSACONF2015.