No one knows that better than Tatum- Fedrick. As vice president of university advancement, and executive director of the FAMU Foundation, she has sat on the university's homecoming committee for 20 years, and chaired it for the last three. Before moving into advancement, she worked in student affairs and coached college cheerleading. She is also a two-time FAMU alumna, so she knows FAMU homecoming from all sides and perspectives. BUILDING THE ORANGE BRICK ROAD OF FAMU HOMECOMING Tatum-Fedrick compares building homecoming to planning a wedding — except instead of one day, she and the committee are planning for a week-long event. FAMU's homecoming committee is a mix of faculty, staff and students, each with a different idea of what the week should look like. “I think we’ve done an excellent job this year of merging the two worlds,” Tatum-Fedrick said about the student and alumni homecoming experience. “There’s a shared responsibility on whom homecoming is for. We ask ourselves ‘how do we put on a great homecoming that is welcoming to alumni and also allows the students to have fun?’ We are making sure both worlds are combined. The hardest part
is finding the right fit for the week, in the right amount of time.”
joked Tatum-Fedrick.
Nonetheless, the university is revered for is signature events and engagement opportunities tailored for students and alumni. Signature and new activities this year include: • Convocation, a high-energy program allowing students, alumni, faculty and staff to share space under one roof in its Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center; • Church service, a faith-based event inviting attendees to wear their Sunday-best orange and green combinations and pray in a successful homecoming week;
Once upon a time, it was the football game that fueled any univeristy's homecoming excitement. This year's homecoming game may inspire as it will be the first under the new head football coach and FAMU, alumnus Quinn Gray Sr. Nonetheless, back in the old days, some campuses were lucky enough to have a pep squad on deck to maintain excitement during lulls in a game. As time progressed, some campuses held a homecoming court, a small parade or a dance. Then, college student interest in homecoming grew. Means to travel became more accessible, allowing alumni to leave their hometowns to return to campus en masse. Institutions responded, garnering financial support from partnerships and alumni. Budgets increased, and so did the homecoming experience. For FAMU, performances by the Venom Pom Squad, FAMU Elite Dance Squad, and the Marching 100, in addition to the panhellenic and housing step shows entered the homecoming chat – and a theme to round it all out and make it pop.
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Concert, an R&B, hip-hop and rap performance featuring artists Summer Walker, T.I., Gunna and Belly Gang Kushington; Alumni donor luncheon, the university's first time celebrating sponsors, donors and individual alumni contributors; FAMU Under 40 Awards, a gala recognizing Rattlers who exemplify the institution's legacy of leadership, innovation and service;
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"We can't spend all of our resources, because we have to live after that,"
HBCU TIMES FALL ISSUE 2026 | 2 1
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