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FSU Day at the Capitol

Alyssa Parker

Every year the Florida capitol is covered in Garnet and Gold as Florida State University celebrates its academic successes for FSU Day at the capitol. This year FSU celebrated being ranked number 18 in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Colleges 2020’.

This year, the event showcased several of the university’s colleges and academic departments, featuring displays and information tables set up on the first three floors of the capitol on Wednesday afternoon.

During an outdoor pep rally, President John Thrasher and Head Football Coach Mike Norvell highlighted several FSU alumni serving in the Legislature, followed by performances by the FSU cheerleaders, members of the Flying High Circus and a pep band from the College of Music.

Thrasher and the FSU Student Government Association are co-hosting a reception, “Seminole Evening,” Tuesday, on the 22nd floor of the Capitol where members of the FSU Student Government Association will recognize legislators.

A Tuesday evening reception featured President John Trasher, Senate President Bill Galvano, CFO and Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis, Senator Oscar Braynon, Representative Bill Montford, and Representative Holly Rashein.

Senator Braynon and Representative Montford both were awarded FSU bricks to be places around FSU’s Wescott fountain with their name and year they graduated FSU.

“FSU is a place of opportunity and growth, my parents told me I would go to FSU and I would get my degree and be successful, I am proud to say that my parents were right,” said Senator Bill Montford.

Before making his speech at the reception, Jimmy Patronis walked in front of the podium and flashed his belt.

“Do you see this belt? It is made of gator,” Patronis boasted, as he shared his love for the university and how he is proud to be an alumnus of Florida State University.

Senate President Bill Galvano, an alumnus of the University of Florida, wondered aloud why FSU would allow him to speak, then admitted his son is a junior at FSU and he is proud of the university.

During the pep rally, Patronis thanked Thrasher for his leadership, “To be able to do this for the University we all admire, I just look around and I don’t know if I have ever seen such a big crowd at FSU Day.”