Radio personality makes scholarships available

Scholarships from the Tom Joyner Foundation will be available to any full-time student as early as this fall.

Since Florida A&M University was chosen as the Tom Joyner Foundation HBCU of the month of January in 2008, Florida A&M University has raised over $1.2 million to go towards scholarships.

The foundation provides financial assistance to students who attend a Historically Black College and University. Application requirements have not been set, but scholarships will be available to any full-time student as early as this fall.

The scholarships provided by the Tom Joyner Foundation to FAMU will range from $1,500 to $2,500, according to Adriene Wright, director of development at FAMU.

The foundation provides the single parent, Tom Joyner, and Home Depot scholarships for students who have maintained a 2.5 grade point average and will receive $1500. The Hercules Scholarship and the Brothas on the Move scholarship offers $2500 to male students that demonstrate civic leadership skills with a 3.0 grade point average.

FAMU worked very closely with the local and regional members of the FAMU National Alumni Association.

President James Ammons said to be the school that kicks off the 10-year anniversary gives FAMU an opportunity to enhance fundraising efforts.

FAMU’s ultimate goal was to raise at least $1.5 million by Dec. 31, 2008, according to a press release.

Wright said of the funds raised, 69 percent came from FAMU alumni participation. Around 19 percent of them were first-time contributors.

Out of the 10 years the Tom Joyner Foundation has been helping HBCU’s raise funds,

FAMU was the first and only school to reach and surpass the million-dollar mark.

“Because we reached the million dollar mark, we have received so much publicity,” said Wright said. 

To help increase the visibility of the university President Ammons was featured on the Tom Joyner show on Dec. 8, 2008.

Wright said the extra publicity has also helped FAMU recruiting efforts.

“In February, we had 11 (high school) students receive all expense paid -trip here to the university as part of the HBCU college tour day.” Wright said.

Out of the 11 students that visited, two of them returned to attend FAMU this past fall as full-time students.