Florida A&M University News April 25, 2015 FAMU President Elmira Mangum Receives Distinguished Educator of the Year Award During Kick-off Reception for Boston HBCU Legacy Weekend Celebration The Boston Area Church League, Inc., presented Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., with its 2015 Distinguished Educator of the Year Award during the kick-off reception for the first-ever Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Legacy Weekend Celebration in Boston on April 23. The Boston Red Sox is sponsoring the weekend, which focuses on strengthening the awareness of the role of HBCUs in providing access and opportunity to a high-quality education to low-wealth students, and promoting social and economic mobility in underserved communities. The celebration is co-sponsored by the Boston Area Church League, Inc. FAMU along with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) are the selected participants for the inaugural celebration. Tom Kershaw, vice president of the Boston Area Church League, Inc., presented the award to Mangum "in recognition of her integrity, vision, and steadfast leadership in making Florida A&M University one of the nation's premier learning institutions." The award follows a string of accomplishments and accolades the University has received for academic excellence and social awareness during Mangum's first year at the helm of FAMU. U.S News & World Report lists FAMU as the top public HBCU in the nation for 2015. The Social Mobility Index lists FAMU as the No. 3 institution in the nation for promoting the social and economic mobility of its students. Teach For America named FAMU among the top 20 contributing colleges and universities in the nation. The University's Wind Symphony made a historic performance at Carnegie Hall in March and was recently invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in 2016. Commenting on her receipt of the award, Mangum said, "I accept the award on behalf of the students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and supporters of FAMU. It is the dedication and commitment of these individuals that enable me to continue the University's 127-legacy of academic excellence and community service." In addition to Thursday night's reception, the HBCU Legacy Weekend Celebration includes a doubleheader between the two universities on April 24 at the Boston Red Sox Minor League Baseball affiliate park McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I., and the first game in Fenway Park history between two HBCU teams on April 25. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.