Alumni News
Alumni Honored at Hall of Fame Gala
There is no greater testament to the value of a higher education institution than the success of its alumni. Each year in spring, Miami Dade College celebrates the fruits of nearly 50 years of labor by inducting a group of men and women into its Alumni Hall of Fame. This year, 23 individuals at the height of their careers – and who have given selflessly to improve our community – were feted at the Sixth Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Gala. Close to 900 guests joined the celebration at Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom. The event raised nearly $1 million for the Alumni Student Scholarship Fund, representing a prime source of scholarship funding and support for our students.
Sponsors included AT&T, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Leon Medical Centers and Perry Ellis International, among many others.
2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
Accounting: Tanya M. Ferreiro, Principal, Kaufman Rossin and Company, P.A.
Architecture: Luis Revuelta, Principal, Revuelta, Vega, Leon, P.A.
Banking: Octavio Hernández, President and CEO, U.S. Century Bank
Business: Mario Murgado, President and CEO, Brickell Motors
Education: Dr. Gerardo M. González, University Dean, Indiana University School of Education
Engineering: Rafael Robayna, President and CEO, Robayna and Associates Inc.
Entrepreneurship: Anastasios Kyriakides, President and CEO, Interlink Global Corp.
Health Care: Ana Mederos, CEO, Palmetto General Hospital
Journalism/Broadcast: Helga Silva, Vice President of News, Univision Television Group, Channel 23
Journalism/Print: Dave Wilson, Managing Editor, News, The Miami Herald
Law: Carlos A. Lacasa, Vice President and General Counsel, MD MedicareChoice Inc.
Leadership: Barney T. Bishop III, President and CEO, Associated Industries of Florida
Marketing: Zevin Auerbach, Creative Partner, Zimmerman Advertising
Medicine: Dr. Steven Vanni, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery and Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Nonprofit: Liliam M. López, President and CEO, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Nursing: Sandra Hyatt, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Doctors Hospital
Public Safety/Fire: David C. James, Fire-Rescue Chief, Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department
Public Safety/Police: Carlos Noriega, Chief of Police, Miami Beach
Sports: Bucky Dent, Owner of Bucky Dent’s Baseball School and former MLB player and manager
Technology: Luis Páez, Chief Information Officer, Perry Ellis International
Transportation: Roger Madan, President, Air Marine Forwarding Co.
Urban Development: Hank Klein, Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield
Visual Arts: Luis Gispert, Mixed-Media Artist
— Staff Report