Florida Memorial University facts for kids
A Promise, A Future
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Former names
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Florida Baptist Institute (1879–1892) Florida Baptist Academy (1892–1896) Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (1896–1950) Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College (1950–1963) Florida Memorial College (1963–2006) |
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| Motto | Leadership, Character, Service |
| Type | Private historically black college |
| Established | 1879 |
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Religious affiliation
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American Baptist Churches USA |
| Endowment | $9.76 million |
| President | Jaffus Hardrick |
| Students | 1,800 |
| Location |
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U.S.
25°55′06″N 80°16′14″W / 25.9182°N 80.2705°W |
| Campus | Urban, 44 acres (18 ha) |
| Colors | Blue & Orange |
| Nickname | Lions |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – The Sun |
Florida Memorial University is a private university in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is a historically black college (HBCU). This means it was founded to educate Black students, especially during a time when they faced discrimination. The university is part of the United Negro College Fund. It has historical ties to Baptists but focuses on broader Christianity.
Contents
History of Florida Memorial University
Florida Memorial University started in 1879 as the Florida Baptist Institute. It was located in Live Oak, Florida. This makes it one of the oldest schools in the state. The American Baptist Home Mission Society soon supported the school. The first full school year began in 1880.
J. L. A. Fish was the first president. But, problems arose due to racial tensions. In April 1892, shots were fired at one of the school buildings. The president, Matthew Gilbert, and other staff left Live Oak. They moved to Jacksonville. There, they started the Florida Baptist Academy in the basement of Bethel Baptist Church. Classes began in May 1892. Sarah Ann Blocker was the main teacher. The school in Live Oak kept going, even after this split.
Nathan W. Collier, who was president of Florida Baptist Institute, and Sarah Ann Blocker from Florida Baptist Academy, joined their schools. They formed the Florida Normal and Technical Institute in 1896. Collier led the college from 1896 to 1941. Blocker was the Dean of Women and vice-president from 1896 to 1944.
In 1900, brothers James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson wrote "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing." J. Rosamond Johnson was a faculty member at the school. This song is also known as the "Negro National Anthem."
In 1918, the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute moved to St. Augustine. It was on a large piece of land. This land was once a plantation where people were forced to work. In 1941, the schools from Live Oak and St. Augustine officially joined together. They changed from a junior college to a four-year liberal arts college. The first four-year class graduated in 1945. Famous author Zora Neale Hurston taught at the school in 1942.
The school's name changed in 1950 to Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College. In 1963, it changed again to Florida Memorial College. The college was worried about race-related violence in St. Augustine. This was happening during the civil rights movement. So, in 1965, the college bought land in what was then rural Dade County.
In 1968, the college moved to its current location in Miami. By 1972, the first class graduated from the Miami campus. Florida Memorial College celebrated its 100th birthday in 1979. It then started many building projects on its 44-acre campus.
In 1993, Albert E. Smith became the tenth president. This started another time of growth for the college. On July 3, 2006, Karl S. Wright became the eleventh president. Roslyn Clark Artis was named interim president in 2013. She became the 13th president in 2014. This made her the first female president in the school's 138-year history. In 2017, she left to become the first female president of Benedict College.
The university was in an unincorporated area called Opa-locka North. Then, Miami Gardens became a city on May 13, 2003. In 2006, Florida Memorial College changed its name to Florida Memorial University. This showed that it was offering more graduate programs.
What Students Learn
Florida Memorial University is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This means it meets high standards for education. The university offers 41 different programs for undergraduate degrees. It also has four programs for graduate degrees. These are offered through its eight academic divisions and six academic schools.
The business programs are approved by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. The social work program is approved by the Council on Social Work Education. The Music Department is approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The university has an honors program. This program has been around for 10 years. It is made to challenge students to do their very best.
Florida Memorial University also has programs for younger students. These are called pre-college programs. They help over 700 young people through the Lion's Pre-College Experience Institute. These programs focus on doing well in school and thinking about higher education. They also teach about physical fitness, staying in school, religion, managing money, starting a business, and growing as a person.
The Nathan W. Collier Library
The university's library is named after Nathan White Collier. He was the third president of Florida Baptist Academy for 45 years. Collier worked very hard to raise money and get land for the school. He also helped more students enroll and brought in great teachers. He wanted to offer education and training for Black teachers in Florida.
The Collier library has 120,000 books. It has areas for computers and different study rooms. The library also has special collections. These include the Rev. I. C. Mickins Theological and Sermonic Research collection. It also has the Dr. Laban Connor Black Collection. The library is also home to the Trayvon Martin Foundation. This foundation helps families who have lost a child to gun violence.
Sports at Florida Memorial
The sports teams at Florida Memorial University are called the Lions. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mostly play in the Sun Conference. This conference used to be called the Florida Sun Conference.
Florida Memorial has 13 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, flag football, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball. Cheerleading is a co-ed sport.
Football History
The university had a football team from 1946 to 1958. They played as the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute. Their record during those years was 41 wins, 25 losses, and six ties. The football program started again in 2020, after 62 years. The "new" Lions got their first win on October 23, 2021. They beat Union College 41–17.
Famous People Who Attended
| Name | Class year | Notability | |
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| Barrington Irving, Jr. | In 2007, he became the first and youngest Black pilot to fly solo around the world. | ||
| Harry T. Moore | He was an educator and civil rights activist. He led the NAACP in Brevard County and Florida. He was assassinated on Christmas night in 1951. | ||
| Freddie Lee Peterkin | A soul and Gospel singer, also known as Freddie Lee. | ||
| Grisha Heyliger-Marten | A politician from Saint Maarten. |
See also
- Collier-Blocker Junior College
