Title: FAMU Day

Summary: Recognizing Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's contributions as an outstanding institution of higher education and designating April 9, 2025, as "FAMU Day" in Florida, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, the university is composed of undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and professional degree programs, colleges, and schools, including the Colleges of Agriculture and Food Sciences; Education; Engineering; Law; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Science and Technology; and Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities; and the Schools of Allied Health Sciences; Architecture and Engineering Technology; Business and Industry; the Environment; Graduate Studies and Research; Journalism and Graphic Communication; and Nursing, and WHEREAS, under the dedicated leadership of FAMU Interim President Timothy Beard, Ph.D., along with the FAMU Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students, FAMU rose in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025  Top 100  National Public Universities rankings from No. just a year ago to No. 81, is ranked 20th on the Social Mobility Index, remains the No. ranked public HBCU for the sixth consecutive year, and is ranked 3rd among all public and private HBCUs in the country, and WHEREAS, with more than 9,300 students enrolled for the 2024-2025 academic year, FAMU experienced a record number of applications, exceeding 24,300 in a single year with nearly 21,000 first-time-in-college applicants, and WHEREAS, FAMU supports student success through increased funding and initiatives, garnering proven results in graduation rates and degree productivity, awarding more than 2,100 degrees during the 2023-2024 academic year, and WHEREAS, the dynamic FAMU Marching  100  was named  Band of the Year  by ESPN in the 2024 HBCU National Championship, a symbol of artistic achievement and community pride, inspiring the next generation, and was honored by the Leon County Commission for the award, and WHEREAS, this year, retired and acclaimed FAMU Marching  100  director Dr. Julian E. White was the second African American director to be inducted into the National Band Association s Hall of Fame, with the first being FAMU Marching  100  founder Dr. William P. Foster, and WHEREAS, with National Collegiate Athletic Association programs, FAMU Athletics had a stellar year of wins in sports, including the FAMU Women s Volleyball Team winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship; Sara Rakim winning the SWAC Women s Tennis Fall Tournament and participating in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Fall Tournament; the assistant coach of the FAMU Women s Volleyball Team, Gokhan Yilmaz, being named the SWAC Coach of the Year; FAMU football quarterback Daniel Richardson being named the SWAC  Newcomer of the Year ; and the FAMU Men s Basketball Team, under the leadership of Coach Patrick Crarey II, securing its first-ever SWAC Tournament win, and WHEREAS, FAMU is dedicated to maintaining its commitment in honoring FAMU s most treasured and esteemed alumni, including renaming city streets after legendary football coach Rudy Hubbard, esteemed educators and community pillars Dr. Carolyn Ryals and E. Lillian Spencer, and an on-campus city street after iconic and legendary tennis athlete, Althea Gibson, who, in 1980, was among the first women inducted into the International Women s Sports Hall of Fame, solidifying her legacy in sports history, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: That, in recognition of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University s contributions as an outstanding institution of higher education, April 9, 2025, is designated as  FAMU Day  in Florida. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Dr. Timothy Beard, Interim President of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.