Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Friday, April 23, 2010
Alumni Hall of Fame raises $1.7 million for student scholarships
Miami Dade College honored some of our most outstanding alumni at last night's Eighth Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Awards Gala. More than 800 guests joined the celebration at the Hilton in downtown Miami; among them 28 of the nation's premier public servants, artists and business leaders.
The 2010 Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees are:
ACCOUNTING
Jorge H. Jordan, CPA
Partner
Jordan and Company, C.P.A
ARCHITECTURE
Bernard Zyscovich
President and Managing Partner
Zyscovich Architects
BANKING
Israel Velasco
South Florida Region Executive
Banco Popular North America
BUSINESS
Eloise Gonzalez
Founder and President
Commercial Interior Contractors, Corp.
COMMUNICATIONS
Alfredo J. Balsera
Balsera Communications Group
Founder and Managing Partner
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
Armando Jacomino
President,
Latin American Region, Burger King
EDUCATION
Douglas P. Rodriguez
Principal,
Miami Central High School
ENGINEERING
Robert T. Carballo, P.E.
President and CEO
C3TS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Yamin Meneses
Co-owner and Co-founder
FITSOURCE Fitness Club for Women
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Pedro Ignacio “Peter” Isern
Vice President, Investments
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
HEALTH CARE
Nelson Lazo
Chief Executive Officer
Doctors Hospital
HOSPITALITY
Andy Ingraham
President & CEO,
National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, Inc.
JOURNALISM – BROADCAST
Marybel Rodríguez
News Reporter & Anchor
WFOR
JOURNALISM – PRINT
Peter A. Webley
Publisher
Caribbean Today News Magazine
LAW
Michael Kosnitzky
Partner
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP
LITERARY ARTS
Johnny Diaz
Author and Journalist
Boston Globe
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Alex Agurcia
President and Founder
Omni Direct, Inc.
MEDICINE
Onelia G. Lage, MD
Associate Professor/Clinical Pediatrics Director,
Adolescent Medical Education and Community Health
Miller School of Medicine
University of Miami
NON-PROFIT SECTOR
Larry King, Jr.
President
Larry King Cardiac Foundation
NURSING
Beverlin Allen
Chief Nursing Officer
Sister Emmanuel Hospital for Continuing Care
ENTERTAINMENT
Jencarlos Canela
Singer and Actor
Union Music Records
PUBLIC SAFETY – FIRE
Maurice Kemp
Chief of Fire-Rescue
City of Miami
PUBLIC SAFETY – POLICE
Susan Benton
Sheriff
Highlands County, Fla.
SPORTS
Orlando Palmeiro
Outfielder
Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Astros (Retired)
TECHNOLOGY
Jaime A. Borras
Chief Operating Officer
GenerationOne
TRANSPORTATION
Alfred Lurigados
Director of Engineering
Miami-Dade Expressway Authority
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Jose Hevia
President and CEO
Flagler Development Group
VISUAL ARTS
Bert Rodriguez
Artist
I am pleased to report that the event raised a record $1.7 million for the Alumni Student Scholarship Fund, representing a prime source of scholarship funding and support for our students.
I would like to thank all of the Hall of Fame attendees and our sponsors, in particular AT&T, Manuel Chavez Sr., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Leon Medical Centers, GEICO Direct, Perry Ellis International and the Miami Herald Media Company, for their generous contributions. A very special thank you to all of the 2010 Hall of Fame luminaries for their commitment to the community and to The Hall of Fame Planning Committee, the MDC Foundation and volunteers who made this year's ceremony so memorable.
Thank you.
Eduardo