For Avery Kenly, Florida A&M University wasn’t just a college choice—it was destiny shaped by music. As a high school band student, he dreamed of playing with the world-renowned Marching “100.” When it came time to pick a university, there was only one place that felt right.
“FAMU has the best band in the country,” Avery recalls with pride. But his decision was about more than music. He chose to major in Business Administration, inspired by his mother, before ultimately transferring his passion toward education. His years at FAMU were nothing short of transformative.
“FAMU is magical,” Avery says. “It’s a melting pot of Black excellence. You’re surrounded by people who look like you, but who each have different talents and desires. It nurtured who I was becoming.”
At FAMU, Avery immersed himself in campus life, becoming a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, NAACP, and Phi Beta Lambda. The skills and discipline he learned—both in the classroom and the marching band—shaped his professional path. Today, he serves as a Coordinator Supervisor for Professional Learning at Clayton County Public Schools, a role that combines his love for education, mentorship, and leadership.
The values he carried from FAMU have never left him. “Hard work, commitment, dedication, consistency—that’s what I learned,” Avery explains. “And in the band, we lived by a motto that I still hold on to: the highest quality of character, achievement in academics, attainment in leadership, perfection of musicianship, and dedication to service.”
A Daughter’s Path to the Same Hill
Despite her family’s deep HBCU ties—her grandmother a Clark Atlanta graduate, her grandfather a Johnson C. Smith alum, and her mother a FAMUan—Morgan Kenly didn’t initially plan to follow in her father’s footsteps. But with encouragement from both her father and grandfather, she gave FAMU serious consideration.
“The ultimate decision was hers,” Avery says. “We wanted her to lean into her desires and chart her own path. But when she chose FAMU, we were proud.”
Now a senior psychology major, Morgan is making her own mark on the university. She is active in Tau Beta Sigma, serves as Assistant Piccolo Section Leader, Band Secretary, and Stroll Master—balancing academics and leadership while upholding the same traditions her father once did.
Watching her step into her own leadership has been a full-circle moment for Avery. “She wanted to be in the band and contribute in her own way,” he says. “Seeing her grow at FAMU—it’s amazing. I’m so proud.”
Then and Now: The Changing FAMU Experience
While both father and daughter share the experience of being part of the Marching “100,” their time at FAMU reflects different eras. Avery remembers registration and logistics being simpler; Morgan navigates a more competitive admissions process, with many of her peers pursuing STEM fields.
Still, the heartbeat of FAMU—the family-oriented culture, the tradition of excellence, and the pride of the band—remains the same.
“FAMU has always been about connections,” Avery reflects. “Professors, staff, classmates—they’ll always look out for you. That’s something I’ve told Morgan, and it’s something she’s seeing for herself.”
Building a Household of Legacy
The Kenly household represents HBCU legacy in its truest form. With ties to multiple historically Black institutions, theirs is a family that understands the power of education, tradition, and cultural pride.
Avery sees his daughter’s FAMU experience as an extension of the values passed down through generations. “The hues and shades of our people make the Black community so diverse,” he says. “But HBCUs bring that diversity together into one powerful experience. That’s what Morgan is living now.”
Morgan, who once doubted whether FAMU was the right fit, has embraced her journey fully. “She enjoys FAMU way more than she initially thought she would,” Avery says. “And that’s the beauty of legacy—sometimes you don’t understand it until you’re living it.”
Advice for the Next Generation
As he reflects on his own journey and his daughter’s path, Avery has a simple message for today’s FAMU students:
“Enjoy every single moment.”
For the Kenlys, FAMU is more than a university. It’s a family tradition, a cultural touchstone, and a place where legacy continues to march forward—one generation at a time.
