The FAMU National Alumni Association (NAA), Broward Chapter, invites the community to attend its Third Annual Benjamin Lampkin, Jr. FAMU College of Law Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the renowned Tower Club of Ft. Lauderdale, located at 100 SE 3rd Ave, 28th Floor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Guest seating will begin at 12:30 p.m.
FAMUNAA Broward County Chapter is honored to welcome retired Broward County Circuit Court Judge Ilona Holmes as the guest speaker for the occasion. Judge Holmes’ distinguished career and lifelong dedication to public service make her an inspiration to all. Judge Holmes’ leadership and service has led her to serve in several capacities across a plethora of organizations.
Judge Holmes, a prominent member of the South Florida community, is originally from Philadelphia, PA but was raised in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She is an alumna of Deerfield Beach High School, Florida Atlantic University (B.A. in Political Science), and received her JD from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1982, Judge Holmes built a remarkable legal career, serving as a judge in the Criminal Division of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. She served as Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County and later as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Appointed to the Broward County Court in 1995 and the Circuit Court in 1998, Judge Holmes made history as the first Black judge to serve as an administrative judge in the Felony Criminal Division. She retired on December 31, 2018, as the longest-serving Black circuit judge in Broward County’s history. Beyond the bench, she has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, including the NAACP Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Unit, the Florida Supreme Court’s Publications Committee, and the Broward County Police and Criminal Justice Review Board. Judge Holmes is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The luncheon commemorates the legacy of Attorney Benjamin Lampkin, Jr., one of the original 57 graduates of the first FAMU College of Law. A passionate advocate for FAMU and its success, Attorney Lampkin’s contributions left an indelible mark on the prestigious Florida A & M University and the Broward County community. This event raises funds for scholarships in his name, supporting the next generation of legal scholars. WE are especially honored to raise awareness for the FAMU College of Law and foster support among its distinguished alumni and future FAMU legal scholars.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 12:30 p.m. (Guest seating begins)
Location: Tower Club of Ft. Lauderdale, 100 SE 3rd Ave, 28th Floor, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ticket Information: For more information or to reserve your ticket, please contact:
Rev. Dr. Pat Langston-Crusoe at (727) 271-4334 or Mrs. Millicent Thorpe at (954) 871-6727 . You can also visit us online at browardrattlers.org/donate or make checks payable to FAMU NAA Broward Chapter and mail to P.O. Box 9487, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310.
