Keynote Speaker, Dennis Kimbro Describes the Uniqueness of a FAMU Graduate
From: FAMU Public Relations
Press Release August 13, 2008
Posted: 11:04p.m .est, August 13, 2008

 

Keynote speaker, Dennis P. Kimbro delivering his address to FAMU graduates.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — More than 450 anxious Rattlers marched into the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, Friday, August 8, 2008, to celebrate the transition from student to alumni. Some had been waiting for that day for quite some time.

 

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since I was in the third grade,” said Whitney Reed, a public relations graduate from Sarasota, Fla., and former Miss Orange and Green. “The first time I came to a FAMU graduation, I was in the third grade. That’s when I knew I wanted to come to FAMU. Now that I’m actually graduating, I just feel thankful to have attended the best university in the world.”

 

Among the graduates were Kristle Chantise Henry, of the School of Business and Industry (SBI), who graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and Candice Jones, daughter of Mary Mosley, mother of four; all of which attended and graduated from FAMU. Mosley was presented the President’s Award posthumously. Her daughter Patty Mosley accepted on her behalf.

 

The vibrant smiles and cheers of joy that resonated from within the walls of the Civic Center slowly turned to attentive stares, as Student Government Association (SGA) President, Andrew Collins, greeted the future alums and guests.

 

After greetings by Collins and a selection from the band, President James H. Ammons, introduced the keynote speaker.

 

Dennis P. Kimbro, Ph.D., acclaimed author and professor, stood quickly and spoke strongly about the importance of “dreaming big dreams” and “dedicating your life to learning.” He explained the edge over the competition that FAMU graduates possess.

 

“You are unique. From this day forth if you want to succeed all you have to do is show up,” Kimbro said. “You have to look the part, act the part, think the part, and you’ll get the part. Show up with a plan.”

 

The Civic Center erupted with applause roared in response to Kimbro’s address, and the audience cheered as Ammons honored him with the President’s Award.

 

Following Kimbro’s address, Cynthia Hughes Harris, FAMU provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the presentation of the deans, and Ammons later joined her for, perhaps the most anticipated moment of the evening, the conferring of the degrees.

 

In addition to the graduates, three students who were commissioned as U.S. Army officers, took the oath of office, and were sworn in by Major Jeffery Williams, professor of military science.

 

After FAMU National Alumni Association President, Alvin Bryant, properly welcomed the graduates to alumni status with the senior transcendent ceremony, Ammons closed the program with his own words of advice.

 

“Each of you in the graduating class has been given the tools to achieve an existence that neither my generation nor any that preceded it could have even remotely imagined as we began our life's work,” he said. “Never forget that the class of 2008 has the ability to shape history. Your success in life, and the success of our country, is going to depend on the integrity and strength of character that you and your classmates will continue to develop and demonstrate over the years ahead.”