Charles E. Perry Visionary Award
VICTORIA GITMAN, '96, Visual Arts & Humanities, Artist, Hallandale, Florida
– Graduated summa cum laude from FIU Honors College. Shortly after graduating she had her first gallery exhibit at the Praxis International Art in Mexico and then at Elite Fine Art in Miami. Her recent New York solo debut at the Fischbach Gallery featured her newest series, “On Display”, painted portraits of jewels that look as if they could be lifted off the canvas and worn.
DENNIS LEHANE, ‘01, Arts & Sciences, Author, Brighton, Massachusetts
– Less than a year after his completion of coursework in the mid 1990’s, he published his first novel, “A Drink Before the War”, which won the coveted Shamus Award for Best Novel. He has published five more novels; his last, “Mystic River”, reached the New York Times Best Seller list in Spring 2001. Publishers Weekly calls him, “The hippest heir of Hammett and Chandler” and Kirkus says, “If you haven’t discovered this gifted newcomer yet, you’d better hurry.
DANIEL SUAREZ, ‘94, Business, Former CEO of Senior Networks, Miami, Florida
– Suarez and his classmate Eric Robinson used the mock business plan that they had created for the MBA program at FIU to launch a $50 million computer network company called “Senior Networks”. In its first year, 1998, Senior Networks billed $800,000 on a part-time basis, and last year it soared to almost 5 times that amount
Community Leadership Award
HELEN LOVELY, ‘79, Education, President of Comprehensive Health Education, Miami, Florida
– Over a span of 20 years, she has nurtured and been a mentor to Nurse’s Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. She is the Founder & CEO of the National Council Licensure Examination Review & Comprehensive Health Education since 1983. In her own words she “thrives on helping the poor and immigrants succeed through education because they see opportunity, want it and will work at succeeding”. In recognition for both national & worldwide contributions to her field she has been inducted into “Who’s Who of American Women” 1987, “Who’s Who in American Nursing” 1990 & “International Who’s Who of Professionals” 2000. She has been on the Harvard Medical Survey Research Team since 1976.
DONALD TURNBAUGH, ‘80, Criminal Justice, BOT Member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Palm Harbor, Florida
– Spearheaded efforts of a Community Partnership, the Mental Health Coalition, to provide a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement Officers course in how to deal with persons with mental illness in crisis. His leadership has earned him recognition from diverse community segments comprised of advocates, law enforcement, mental health providers and the news media. Through his efforts, the CIT program has been established in all the major metropolitan areas of Florida with over 1,000 officers trained.
JUAN ZAPATA, ‘94, Business, Chairman of C.A.S.A. (Colombian American Service Association), Miami, Florida
– Founder and Chairman of C.A.S.A., a volunteer community organization serving the Hispanic population and more specifically, the Latin American community. Since 1994 he has dedicated his time to C.A.S.A., which has helped over 25,000 families with volunteer program services that include legal counseling, immigration advocacy and counseling, referrals and emergency
crisis intervention. In 1996, he was elected to the West Kendall Community Council in which he served as Chairman and was recognized as a strong advocate for good urban planning. He has been honored with several community awards such as the 1997 Public Service Award. He was a participant in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Leadership Miami 1996 Class. He participates in various community activities, which include coaching youth soccer. His civic activities include serving on the Miami-Dade Equal Opportunity Board, the Miami-Dade County Planning Advisory Board and the West Kendall Community Municipal Advisory Committee. This past year he received the Hispanic Heritage Festival, Union Planter’s Bank Young Hispanic Leadership Award for distinguished professional accomplishments and community service.
FIU Service Award
ANTONIO L. ARGIZ, ‘74, Business, CPA, Coral Gables, Florida
– President & CEO of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Co., one of the largest Florida based and among the top 80 accounting and consulting firms in the country. He is a former Chairman of the State of Florida’s Board of Accountancy, Chairman of the United Way Miami Dade’s 2002 Campaign, President of the Miami City Club, Member of the Orange Bowl Committee, Past Chairman of FIU’s Council of 100, Vice-Chair of Miami Dade Community College Foundation and served as a commissioner on Florida’s Constitutional Revision Commission during the last revision of Florida’s Constitution ‘97-98. He presently serves on the Executive Committee of the Beacon Council. He is a two-time Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Alumnus, a graduate of FIU College of Business and a former FIU baseball athlete.
GAYLE BAINBRIDGE, ‘75, Arts & Sciences, VP of USI Florida Kolisch Insurance, Miami, Florida
– Since joining the Alumni Association, she has worked tirelessly in just about every aspect of the association, including active recruitment of new members. She is a “can-do” person who never says no when requested to participate in an activity. She is a member of the President’s Alumni Circle and President Elect of the Alumni Association. In addition, she also serves as a mentor
for the Women’s Center.
BETTY PERRY, ‘74, Nursing, Owner of BC Golf, Ltd., Rockwall, Texas
– Wife of Charles E. Perry, the first President of FIU, Mrs. Perry’s vision, dedication and hard work contributed to the founding of the arts at FIU. A major donor who has funded the Betty Laird Perry Student Art Gallery in the new museum, she very generously purchases annual awards for three Visual Arts students. Mrs. Perry is also a major contributor to the Charles E. Perry Graduate Scholarship. She completed her M.S., College of Public & Urban Affairs, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia in 1985.
Outstanding Achievement Award
TYRONE NABBIE, ‘84, Hospitality Management, President of Levy Restaurants, Danfine Corp.,
MCO Enterprises, Windermere, Florida
– Became an entrepreneur when he entered into a joint venture with the Levy Restaurant, a Chicago based corporation, and became the Managing Partner responsible for the food service operation of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando (2nd largest convention center in the US). President of the DanFine Corp. that manages the Floribbean food court and lounge
at the Orlando International Airport and President of the MCO Enterprises operator of the Coco Oasis food court and lounge at the Orlando International Airport. He is on the Board of the Health Facilities Authority, Metropolitan Urban League, Ronald McDonald House, House of Hope, Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida, Inner City Games and the Center of Independent Technologies and Education.
SCOTT BRENNER, ‘81, Business, President of Brenner Real Estate Group, Boca Raton, Florida
– Founding principal and co-chairman of Brenner RE Group, one of Florida’s largest and comprehensive RE companies. He is also a licensed attorney, RE Broker and mortgage broker. The South Florida Business Journal included the Brenner RE Group among its lists of the top commercial real estate firms. Elected to the Board of Directors of the Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce and nominated as a candidate for the Excalibur Awards sponsored by the Sun-Sentinel. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Jerome Bain RE Institute at FIU and was a major donor to the Institute.
STEVE TELLO, ‘79, Journalism & Mass Communication, Senior VP for Fox Sports News, Los Angeles, California
– Steve Tello has had a distinguished career first as a television producer and now executive. While attending FIU, Tello was News Operations Manager for WPLG-TV Channel 10 here in Miami. In 1979 Tello was asked to join ABC NEWS where he worked as a field producer and ultimately Senior Producer for Peter Jennings and World News Tonight, while based in London. Tello was with ABC for 13 years. In 1992 he turned to the management ranks and became President of Speer Communications and headed up the production and broadcast divisions for the company. In 1997 he joined Newscorp sports cable network, Fox Sports Net and is currently Senior Vice President for the News division. He has won many awards for his contribution to his industry, including his Precedent-setting efforts to open state courts to television coverage around the country. Tello served as a adjunct to the School of Mass Communications at FIU, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Journalism school at the University of Montana.
Outstanding Faculty Award
DR. STEPHEN M. FJELLMAN, Associate Dean of Honors College/Professor of Sociology & Anthropology, Miami, Florida
– One of the two inaugural faculty members in the Honors Program, which began in 1990. He has exhibited a sincere interest and genuine concern for each of his students. He is responsible for developing the Honors Program in Italy, which the majority of students have said has been the intellectual highlight of his/her undergraduate career.
JACK PARKER, Professor of Environmental Studies & Chemistry, Miami, Florida
– A Founding Professor of Environmental Science and Chemistry, he was the Director of the Environmental Studies Program for almost two decades. He inspires his students while at the same time being a demanding teacher. He has also taught the importance of caring for the environment in the classroom. For the last decade he has integrated his environmental research with service learning by having students participate in a variety of environmental community projects with Habitat for Humanity, Christmas in April-Miami and the Children’s Rainforest.
JOHN STACK, Political Science, Miami, Florida
– Holds a joint appointment as Professor of Political Science and Law. Joining the FIU faculty in September 1976, four years after the University opened its doors, John Stack has been fully engaged with FIU ever since. He has taught thousands of students over the years and is a prolific author whose work is nationally recognized. He chaired the Department of Political Science
for a decade and currently serves as a director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Studies. He worked tirelessly with alumni, students, faculty and administrators in helping to establish the College of Law. His commitment to FIU has been unwavering.
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