By Tom James
Marjorie McGee
Director of Student Life, College of Central Florida
Back in 2018, Marjorie McGee pealed back the coconut (if you will) on her fun times as part of the Jimmy Buffett-inspired Parrot Head lifestyle. True statement: No one group typifies the tropical headspace quite like Parrot Heads do! But we also learned about all the ways these colorful customers give back locally.
“We are community servants and protectors of the environment who like to party with a purpose,” Marjorie told us at the time, while highlighting a number of community cleanup projects and blood drives the Parrot Heads would spearhead. And that ethos still holds true today, as Marjorie shared.
“When we say ‘party with a purpose’, we mean it,” she says. “We have become very involved with the Walk to End Alzheimers in the past few years, raising funds as well as participating in typical Parrot Head fashion in the walk itself. Lots of crazy hats!”
In addition, the PH crew has participated in the 5K Run for the Springs and the club continues to do a road clean-ups on Southwest 60th Avenue (Airport Road) four times a year.
“We’ve also begun doing quarterly donations to local organizations,” Marjorie explains. “Back in September, we presented a check for $1,000 to the FIDO program run through Marion County Animal Services. This is near and dear to my heart, as my husband Mike and I are the proud owners of Josey Wales, a FIDO-trained dog that we adopted in 2022.”
Lastly, the group has partnered with the Hawk’s Nest, a local venue for house concerts. Parrot Heads from all over enjoy these concerts, which are hosted by the club’s current president and his wife. This year, the club turns 29!
Apart from her Parrot Head fun, Marjorie also received a very prestigious honor this year. She was inducted into the FCSAA (Florida College System Activities Association) Hall of Fame, which is comprised of administrators, coaches, advisors, officials, students, and other nominees that have contributed a minimum of ten years to FCSAA or one of its member institutions. Marjorie made a positive impact upon the students of CF as an educator, mentor, and maternal figure in their lives.
“What is most significant about winning this is being nominated by my peers across the state,” says Marjorie, who was one of a very small group nominated out of the 28 state colleges in the system. “It was amazing that I was also presented this award in Ocala, allowing for Mike, several of my former students, and my college administration to be present for the induction. It still feels like a bit of a dream, that I am in a ‘Hall of Fame’ for doing something that I love so much.”
