Florida A&M no. 1 again in recruiting top black scholars

Jet, Feb 26, 1996

Florida A&M University (FAMU), a historically Black college in Tallahassee, has beaten out Harvard University for the second time in four years in the moment of National Achievement Scholars (NAS), the nation's top Black students.

According to figures released by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Florida A&M ranked No. 1 with 59 National Achievement Scholars compared to Harvard's 57 in the fall 1995 freshman class.

Trailing Harvard was Howard University, University of Oklahoma, Stanford University, University of Virginia and the University of Florida.

This is an outstanding accomplishment," said Everett Jackson, director of Sponsored Services for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "Through an outstanding recruitment effort the best Black students in the country are going to FAMU."

"Florida A&M University works very hard to recruit the best and the brightest students," said FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries. "These students come to FAMU because of our scholarship offerings, acaddmic programs and for the pathways to success that we have in place. We have told these students if they stay here and get good grades, we will send them to graduate school--all expenses paid. Many also have an opportunity to gain experience with corporate America through our internship programs. We are not only concerned about their undergraduate education, but their future."