The honorable Douglas Russell, Jr. and FAMU inspire agriculture students
By Edrena Brown
The historic Blanche Ely High School (BEHS), Pompano Beach, Fla., where the distinguished Dr. Karlton O. Johnson, serves as principal, was elected as the 2016 “Principal of the Year” of Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest district in the State of Florida.
Recently held at BEHS was a ceremony of planting of an “Orange Tree and displaying a plague in commemoration of “Earth Day.” The purpose of this special community event was demonstrating the importance of protecting the environment and being good stewards of agriculture, as expressed by the honorable Douglas Russell, Jr., countywide elected public official, who assisted in planting the tree along with Dr. Robert W. Taylor, Dean of Land Programs at FAMU. Russell is an alumnus of Blanche Ely High School, who presently serves as one of the Board of Supervisors for Broward Soil and Water Conservation District.
Student Government Association members and Agriculture students were excited about this outstanding event, participating hands on in this agricultural and environmental experience.
In attendance also was Florida A&M University’s recruiter for the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Taquesha Freeman; Buffie Phillips, Brace Advisor for BEHS; Dr. Rocie Smith Clark, assistant principal; and Cherie Toller, assistance principal. After the planting of the tree FAMU Alumni and community leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony for the distinguished Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., during the Board of Governors and Trustees, State University Systems session at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla.
