Florida A&M University’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a welcome picnic at the campus recreation fields from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
Several members of the Tallahassee community were in attendance including returning and incoming students, parents, and faculty.
The welcome picnic was used to familiarize new students with different organizations on campus and provide them with an opportunity to make new connections that will benefit them on the Hill.
The event is usually formatted as a crab boil with various types of seafood including shrimp and crab legs. This year, however, the committee opted to try something different.
The theme of the picnic was backyard summer barbecue, changing the menu to hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and other summertime favorites.
SGA members, staff and other volunteers joined together to make the picnic a success.
FAMU Student Government Association President Tonnette Graham was one of many who helped organize the event for incoming freshmen.
“The royal court is here. The First-year Experience Program is here and we also had freshman from the summer B program ask how they can get involved,” said Graham. “The vendors were sponsored by Student Government Association. Everything is free.”
Candice Alford, a fourth-year political science student at FAMU from Jacksonville, Fla., said she learned about the event from social media and thought that was a clever way to advertise.
“I saw it on Instagram and I thought that was an effective way to get the community involved,” said Alford.
The various food vendors included: Irie Ice, Tasty Treats, Shekinah Café and Heavenly Catering. Coca-Cola also provided a beverage truck where volunteers distributed free waters, Gatorades and sodas.
Asalah Tramel, an incoming freshman from Orlando participating in the summer B program, had the opportunity to meet more of her future classmates at the picnic.
“I’ve met a lot of my classmates here thus far and some upperclassmen,” said Tramel. “This is a fun event. I am glad I participated in summer B.”
In keeping with the backyard Barbeque theme, Tallahassee disc jockey DJ Loose Kid provided music that encouraged those in attendance to dance and socialize with each other.