American High School JROTC sponsored a three-day college tour of five major Florida Universities. In late January, 39 Army JROTC cadets began the journey, departing American’s campus at 4 a.m. in route to Daytona’s Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black college founded in 1904 by the late Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
Cadets spent the morning touring Bethune before traveling to Orlando’s University of Central Florida (UCF). UCF offers 212 degree programs and is popular for students studying optics, modeling and simulation, engineering, computer science and business. The 1,400-acre campus is home to 60,000 students.
As day one ended, the cadets leapfrogged across the state to Tallahassee where the following day they toured Florida State University (FSU), and Florida A&M University, whose campuses are separated by just five city blocks.
Cadets received detailed presentations highlighting each school's history, admission standards, key deadlines, costs, and programs of study. As a special treat, cadets visited the famed Doak Campbell Stadium, home to the 2013 BCS National Football Champs, the fighting 'Noles of Florida State.
Cadets also toured FSU's Senior ROTC building. Cited for bravery, the Army cadets of FSU received a Battle Streamer during the Civil War for helping defend the state capitol against the Union Army. Tallahassee is the only southern capitol east of the Mississippi the union army was unable to capture.
Before returning home, the entourage toured the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. On its present site, classes began in 1906 with just 102 students. Today, UF is a robust 2,000 acre campus with more than 900 buildings and 50,000 students. Initially established as an all male school, UF officially opened its doors to women in 1947, and is currently home to 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes.
To our sponsors, administrators, parents, and teachers, the cadets of American High School Army JROTC are forever indebted to you for the support in this worthwhile endeavor.