To celebrate high-achieving students on the hill, the Florida A&M University Foundation’s Office of University Advancement held a pizza party Friday for all current scholarship recipients. The event took place from 3-4 p.m. in the Rattlers’ Den.
With over 200 recipients, the FAMU Foundation awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to students for this academic year. Scholarships were upwards of $500 and available for all FAMU students.
First year health science student, Gabby Leahr, said she’s very appreciative of her scholarship because it chipped away at her out-of-state costs.
“My scholarship money went straight to tuition because I’m from Georgia so my tuition costs are pretty large,” Leahr said. “In high school my mom made me create a spreadsheet with a list of different scholarships and that’s been helping a lot in the long run because I didn’t qualify for an out-of-state fee waiver.”
The FAMU Foundation scholarship portal opens during the spring semester and despite the number of scholarships available, many students do not apply. Due to this, in some instances, students who do not meet the criteria for a scholarship may receive an award. Scholarship requirements range from major to GPA and there are some that are specifically created for students who are from a specific area in the United States.
Third-year pre vet major Toyesha Simpson says she enjoyed the event because it was different from typical scholarship ceremonies.
“I liked the interaction and getting to know everyone. Normally other events like this are long and boring,” Simpson said. “I think everyone should apply for scholarships, if they have time to hang out with their friends, they should have time to look for free money.”
During the event, recipients had a chance to write a thank-you letter to their donors as well as network with each other. Although not everyone was present, the room was filled with lots of laughter and joy. Social media coordinator at the Office of University Advancement, Christina Compere-Minor, says in the spring, students should continue to apply for scholarships.
“There are so many scholarships available, depending on the criteria is what people are eligible for,” Compre-Minor said. “There’s a scholarship for everyone. Students should really focus on their academics to make sure they stand out.”
The scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year will open during the spring semester. Students are advised to keep an eye on their FAMU email and apply for scholarships as soon as they become available.