History

(L to R): Nate Pilate (former NAA President), Don Jordan, Shirley Singletary, Veronica Pickett Johnson, Willie Hay, Torian Hazelton-Younge, Niles K. Brown II, and Michael Taylor. Date: May 15, 1993

(L to R): Nate Pilate (former NAA President), Don Jordan, Shirley Singletary, Veronica Pickett Johnson, Willie Hay, Torian Hazelton-Younge, Niles K. Brown II, and Michael Taylor. Date: May 15, 1993


It’s only fitting that the genesis of our chapter was based on representing FAMU at a college fair.  In 1990, a prominent church in Charlotte hosted a Black College Awareness Day. A couple of grads from the class of 1984 gladly accepted the opportunity to talk to prospective Rattlers at the event.  At one point during the day, a couple of grads from the late 80’s stopped by to show their support as well. That’s where our network began to expand. As our connections in Charlotte grew, we began meeting regularly to foster comradery amongst the group.  The more we met, the more we felt a need to get involved at the National level. By 1992, we began the process of applying to become an official chapter. On May 15, 1993, the Charlotte-Metro Chapter received its charter from the National Alumni Association.  

The following individuals were installed as the chapter’s initial slate of officers:

  • President: Don Jordan

  • Vice-President: Willie Hay

  • Secretary: Veronica Pickett Johnson

  • Treasurer: Torian Hazelton-Younge

  • Parliamentarian: Herschel Clark

  • Sergeant-At-Arms: Wayne Rankin

  • Chaplain: Shirley Singletary

Other energetic charter members included Niles K. Brown, II, Eugene Butler, Raleigh Bynum, Marilyn Carter Ingram, Nina Franklin, Alphonsa Goodman, Benita Hicks-Talton, Rhonda Lewis, Richard Lewis, Amy Taylor and Michael Taylor.

We eagerly began to formulate plans to establish a presence in the Charlotte community.  Over the years the chapter either planned, hosted or participated in various events/activities to raise awareness of FAMU and make the Charlotte-Metro chapter a respected entity in the area.  We were associated with: volunteerism in Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, voter registration drives, college fairs, marching in MLK Day parades, New Student Preview trips to FAMU, community service projects, hosting 2 NAA conventions, awarding annual scholarships for local students attending FAMU,  annual golf tournaments, sponsoring meals for needy families during the holidays, home buying seminars, Snakes ‘N Suds car washes, alumni cookouts/gatherings, FAMU Night at the Theatre, Snake Eyes newsletter and a host of other events/activities. Whatever we did, we showed up and showed out!

The dedication and commitment of our members has allowed us to execute the chapter’s plans to near perfection.  The tireless work is never done for any personal gain but for the love of FAMU. It is gratifying when the “blood, sweat and tears” is recognized and rewarded.  We have two (2) members that were blessed and honored to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award (Don Jordan 2015 and Dr. Layla McCall Stafford 2019).    

As it was on that day in May of 1993, our mission remains to strengthen the university and the NAA by recruiting the best and brightest students from the Charlotte area.