North Carolina A&T State University Marching Band members got the news of a lifetime on April 27 when they learned the band has been selected to perform in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®.

The Blue & Gold Marching Machine was selected to be one of 11 marching ensembles in the 2012 parade out of more than 150 applicants nationwide. Their entertainment, musical ability, marching and performance skills took them to the top of the list and won them a slot in the legendary parade that will see them step into the line of march Thursday, November 22, 2012.

Every year, at the sound of "Let's Have a Parade!," the event steps off to the musical beat of the nation's best marching bands. The highly coveted marching band slots in the line-up of giant balloons, floats, clowns and performance groups, can only be filled by the best of the best each year. With more than 3.5 million live spectators and a nationwide audience of more than 50 million viewers, the Macy's Parade is the ultimate entertainment stage for elite performers.

"We are thrilled that the North Carolina A&T Marching Band will be joining the Macy's Parade family in 2012. We were blown away by their exceptional entertainment, musical and marching skills," said Wesley Whatley, associate creative director of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "They are a world-class talent and we look forward to their New York City debut in front of millions of spectators next year."

"The North Carolina A&T State University family is extremely proud that Macy's has selected our award-winning band to participate in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., who also said the students who participate in the Blue and Gold Marching Machine are some of the brightest and most talented musicians in the country.

"Under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Ruff, they work diligently to continue the band's great legacy. We would like to thank Macy's for affording our students the opportunity to showcase their many talents," Martin added.

Kenneth Ruff commented, "There have been many memorable moments during my tenure as director of bands at N.C. A&T State University – from the thrill of victory at competitions to the satisfaction of seeing band members graduate and go on to become productive members in their professions, and some even leading their own band programs. Being selected to participate in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is truly an exciting opportunity. ... We are so very proud to become a part of that tradition and will give the performance of a life time. We thank the Macy's Parade Selection Committee for this awesome invitation and appreciate the continued support of the University and the Greensboro community."

The Macy's Parade takes more than a year to plan, with bands chosen over 18 months before their Parade step-off. Each band application is thoroughly reviewed by the Macy's Parade Band Committee, which yearly looks for bands that not only have great musical and marching ability, but also will bring an incredible energy and excitement to their performance on the national stage provided by the Parade's immense television audience.

For more than 80 years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season.

Effective June 1, North Carolina A&T State University will implement a centralized academic advisingsystem for all new freshmen.

Centralized academic advising is designed to improve student success, promote academic, social and intellectual growth of students and to empower students to be active learners who are responsible for their undergraduate studies.

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) will serve as the centralized academic advising unit, providing comprehensive academic counseling, monitoring and support, and UNST 100 instruction to all new freshmen. CAE, along with the Centralized Academic Advising program, will be located on the third floor of the new academic classroom building adjacent to Proctor Hall.

"Even though the Center for Academic Excellence will serve as the primary advising unit for all new freshmen, students will continue to be engaged in their academic departments through a series of programs, meetings with faculty advisors, and other structured activities," said Linda T. Adams, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Several information sessions were held earlier this week to discuss the details and logistics of the program including how students will continue to be engaged in their academic departments and the advising process for new student orientation.

Tracey D. Ford, director of the Center for Academic Excellence, is responsible for the Centralized Academic Advising initiative and can be reached at (336) 334-7855 x 54240 or tdford@ncat.edu.

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