Rattlers' strike by giving back during annual gala

Two Alachua County high school students joined the Rattler family and were awarded scholarships to help them on their road to graduating college at the annual Alachua County chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association Scholarship Gala.

The two recipients awarded the $1,000 scholarships were Tyra Peterson of Buchholz High School and Nia Bradley of Gainesville High School during the gala held Saturday at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center in southeast Gainesville. Bradley and Peterson will begin their collegiate academic pursuits in the fall at FAMU inTallahassee.

The scholarship recipients were selected from 31 applicants by a chapter committee that is chaired by Gussie Campbell.

"We are all striving and striking for excellence," Campbell said.

Bradley said she is planning on majoring in psychology with hopes of becoming a child psychiatrist.

"Thank you for awarding me the scholarship," Bradley said. "My dream is to be a child psychiatrist so I will be majoring in psychology in the fall. I am proud to be a part of the Rattler Nation and follow in the footsteps of my parents."

Peterson said she will be majoring in business administration to help her enhance the skills she needs to build her own business, and she thanked the chapter for awarding her the scholarship.

James Campbell Jr. welcomed the audience, and Samuel Byrd introduced the audience to the presider over the gala, the Rev. John Brown, pastor of Saint Paul AME Church in Windsor, who also gave the opening prayer.

"We thank you for Rattlers everywhere," Brown said. "Thank you to those who came from near and far to be a part of this gala."

After the opening prayer by Brown, there was a liturgical dance by Cynthia Mingo and the Rev. Lisa Darling, and greetings from Roma Rollins.

"Thank you for helping students achieve their collegiate goal," Rollins said. "May God continue to bless us and our beloved Florida A&M University."

Brown congratulated the two recipients after they received their certificates of achievement.

"The scholarship was well deserved," Brown said. "A lot of hard work was put in and the work is only going to get harder. Make sure to go on and make your mother and father proud."

Kristy Goldwire, the chapter's corresponding secretary, recognized political candidates running for office, the event's sponsors and visiting alumni chapters.

Boderick Johnson, president of the chapter, introduced FAMU's head football coach Willie Simmons, who was the keynote speaker.

Simmons, a native of Quincy located just outside of Tallahassee, was named the 18th full-time head football coach in the history of the university on December 12, 2017, and is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Rattlers' football program.

"Controlling the Controls" was the subject of Simmons' speech, which he said was meant to inspire the audience to take accountability for their actions to become the greatest versions of themselves that they can be.

The major subtopics of his speech were faith, fundamentals, sacrifice, fight, finish, fun, fast and family.

"The same qualities you use on the field, you can use in the classroom to be the greatest and the brightest," Simmons said. "Successful people have successful habits. What you do daily helps you to prepare for the critical moments."

Simmons said it is important to have the perseverance to accomplish one's mission.

"The race is not given to the swift but to those who endure to the end," Simmons said. "You have to love what you do and have the passion for it. The people who have a passion for what they do everyday are successful."

Simmons said that working as a team will get you further in life than working alone.

"Find a group of people that share a common interest and goal to help you stay true to your principles and foundations and to be held accountable," Simmons said.

He ended his speech with remarks directed to the to scholarship recipients.

"Even after you leave, you will be ushered in through life by other Rattlers," Simmons said. "When times get tough, lean back on your foundation."

Gerald W. Mingo, a lifetime member of the FAMU National Alumni Association, presented $3,000 to the FAMU Athletics Department on behalf of the local chapter of the alumni association.

Johnson then presented a plaque to Simmons and thanked him for his hard work and achievements.

"Thank you for pouring into these young men," Simmons said. "They work every day to make you proud."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Local FAMU alumni awards scholarships to new Rattlers and give to athletic department