Torch Awards Recipients Burn Bright
The 6th Annual Torch Awards Gala comes home to FIU to celebrate alumni accomplishments.

By Martin Haro ’05

Nearly 450 alumni, family and friends came together in March to attend the 6th Annual Torch Awards Gala at University Park.

The signature event of the FIU Alumni Association, the Torch Awards recognize the positive actions of university alumni in their profession, community and university. The event was staged on campus this year in the Graham Center Ballroom.

“I am glad to host this event at University Park because I imagine many of our alumni have not seen the campus for years, said President Modesto A. Maidique. “I hope you will be impressed by the changes and tremendous growth that is happening here.”

Indeed, many of the guests, such as honorees Ivette M. Lirio ’96, MS ’00, and Nicholas G. Bustle MIB ’88, could not help but marvel at the beauty of the campus – and reminisce about the time they spent at FIU.

“Look at it; it’s beautiful,” Lirio said. “It’s exciting to be back and look back and meet the other recipients and remember together. It’s nice.”

This year’s celebration featured a special performance by Andy Señor, Jr., an FIU alumnus of the Theatre Department and former co-star in the hit Broadway play “Rent.” The awards this year honored a longtime and award-winning Miami-Dade teacher, the president of entertainment of a national television network and the chief operating officer of a North Carolina hospital, among others. Each received a hand-blown glass sculpture of a flame to symbolize their success.

“It’s very thoughtful, “said David M. Callejo Perez ’93 Ed.D. ’00. “It’s really something to be invited back to be honored by your alma mater. It means a lot. It means you’re doing something right.”

Callejo, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice at West Virginia University, received the Charles E. Perry Award at the ceremony, which is given to the alumnus/a who has made great strides in the early stages of his/her career. He received the award from Betty Perry ‘74, wife of FIU’s late founding president Charles E. Perry.

“This is a fantastic event and I am thrilled to be here,” Perry said. “I enjoy presenting this award, in honor of my husband, and I hope to continue to do so for many years.”

Jason Scott Hamilton ’89, MS ’93, associate director of the university’s Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, was awarded the FIU Service Award.

“I’m very proud to be a Golden Panther and a lifetime member of the Alumni Association,” he said. “I met my wife at FIU, so FIU has been good to me. I’m appreciative of the award and I hope I can use it to show my students in psychology and the McNair program the importance of giving back and helping our community grow.”

Chair of the Torch Committee was Cynthia Dienstag, Esq. ’83. Presenting sponsor was Wachovia Bank and supporting sponsors were The Miami Herald, Bacardi, GEICO, Preferred Care Partners, Afrodita’s Garden at FIU, Appelrouth, Farah & Co, Banco Popular, Turnberry Associates, Kane & Co., P.A., and Bennett A, Bramson & Family.

The animated crowd –dressed to the nines for the occasion – had a fun time dancing to live music. Also worthy of celebration was the fact that in the last year, Alumni Association membership passed the 12,000 mark.

“From my vantage point, I see the relationship between this university and our alumni growing stronger every day,” said Bill Draughon, associate vice president of Alumni Relations. “Your financial support of FIU, your contributions of time and lessons learned and your extraordinary response to our alumni programs has helped propel us to new heights.