FAMU Rattlers Strike Cleveland Avenue Elementary For SWAG Friday Pep Rally

FAM-U! FAM-U! I love thee
I’ll fight and win what’er the battle be
The Orange and the Green thy Sons shall e’er defend
And loyal to thy voice of love attend
FAM-U! FAM-U! FAM-U! I love thee!

Alumni of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) sported their orange and green attire as the rattlers struck the campus of Cleveland Avenue Elementary for the first SWAG Friday of the school year!

“SWAG is an acronym that means See What Achievement Gets,” explained Dr. Anyee` D. Payne, Cleveland Avenue Elementary principal. “We want to expose our students to different colleges and universities, including degrees offered, college life and career pathways. I believe in the mantra that ‘you can’t be what you don’t see,’ so it is essential that we provide this opportunity for our scholars to see what is possible. As a STEM school, we wanted to kick it off with FAMU because of its focus on agriculture and mechanics.”

Each month, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School will highlight a college or university. Students will conduct research about the institution of higher learning, including courses of study offered and notable alumni. Students will then present their findings at the SWAG Friday pep rally.

On Sept. 27, students highlighted notable FAMU alumni, including film producer Will Packer, actress Anika Noni Rose, and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

The pep rally also included performances from South Atlanta High School’s drumline, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School’s drumline under the direction of music teacher Richard Harris, and brief introductions from APS’ own FAMU alumni, including former Miss FAMU Melissa St. Joy, who is an assistant principal at Heritage Academy.