Vendors clear the streets, traffic dies down, trash covers the fields, and orange and green flags are soon to be removed. These are the after-effects of Florida A&M University’s homecoming as the school braces to get back to their regularly scheduled programming.
Mia Chatman, a member of SISTUHS Inc., has been participating in FAMU’s homecoming for multiple years. The pre-physical therapy student says she did not do too much this year but still managed to have a great time with her organization by helping clean her school.
“Homecoming is such a major time of year for FAMU because people come from all over and with such a large crowd so of course when it’s over there will be a major need for cleaning,” said Chatman. “Being in a community service organization, it’s somewhat an expectation to serve our community the best way we can, and I love giving back so naturally, I find joy in it.”
FAMU’s Homecoming brings in hundreds of alumni and guests from different areas throughout the nation for a week filled with different events catering to them, current students, and even the community according to FAMU’s Student Government Association.
For Evan and Rose Diaz, this was their very first homecoming just like many others.
The married couple came to support their daughter who is a FAMU student and says they enjoyed themselves so much that they will definitely be back for years to come.
“It was definitely an experience; it was very exciting and very hype… It was just awesome,” said Rose Diaz.
The Diaz’s attended the NPHC Greek Step Show and enjoyed the performances and the participating crowd.
“I like when I saw the step team come down and the alumni join with them, to me that was the best part of it all,” said Evan Diaz.
Whether or not someone is a Rattler does not mean they can’t participate or appreciate all of the festivities that take place for them.
Alumni came back to participate in events and reconnect with each other, but they raised money for students and the university as well.
The freshmen class of 1999 raised 190,599 this homecoming for their legacy fund. The scholarship is aimed to create scholarship opportunities to help students achieve more financial freedom during and after college.
Although homecoming 2019 has reached an end, many Rattlers are already anticipating and planning for next year’s.