6th Annual Torch Awards burn bright

Top Row (left to right): David M.Callejo Perez ’93, Ed.D ’00; Richard J. Gannotta ’91; Bennett A. Bramson ’83, MPA ’87; James F. O’Brien ’92; Philip S.Goldfarb ’79; and Cecilia M. Altonaga ’83. Bottom Row (left to right): Nicholas G. Bustle MIB ’88; Professor David W. Lee; Anitere Flores ’97; Monte E. Kane MS ’82; Ivette M. Lirio ’96, MS ’00; Gonzalo A. Acevedo ’91; Penny Parham MS ’97; and Jason Scott Hamilton ’89, MS ’93.

FIU celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of 18 alumni and faculty members on March 31 at the 6th Annual Torch Awards Gala, held in the Graham Center Ballrooms at University Park. The evening was an overwhelming success with more than 400 community and business leaders, FIU faculty/staff and alumni from around the country in attendance.

The Torch Awards are bestowed annually by the FIU Alumni Association to recognize outstanding alumni and faculty who positively impact their profession and their community.

One of the many highlights of the evening was a special performance by Andy Señor, Jr. For more than two years, Señor, an alumnus of the School of Theatre, Dance and Speech, played the role of Angel in the Broadway production of Rent. He writes and performs his own music and is currently working on his first album. Señor came back to his alma mater to open the second part of the show and shined in a fabulous performance. He was the perfect end to a spectacular evening coming back for a finale; his acoustic rhythm and sincere passion moved the crowd.

FIU is grateful to presenting sponsor Wachovia for its continued support of the event. Additional sponsors for the evening include The Miami Herald; Bacardi; GEICO; Preferred Care Partners; Nelnet, Afrodita’s Garden at FIU; Banco Popular; Appelrouth Farah & Company; Community Leadership Award Recipient - Bennett Bramson, Family & Friends; Carnival Cruise Lines; Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, Inc.; Kluger Peretz Kaplin & Berlin, Kane & Company.

Cynthia Dienstag, P.A. ’83, chair of the 6th Annual Torch Awards, and the committee honored the following recipients at this year’s gala:

Distinguished Alumni Award:

Gonzalo A. Acevedo ’91, College of Arts and Sciences
Senior Vice President and Manager for HSBC Private Bank

Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga ’83, College of Law
Federal Judge, U.S. District Court, Miami, Fla.

Nicholas G. Bustle MIB ’88, College of Business Administration
City President of Miami and Private Wealth Management Line of Business
Manager for South Florida, Sun Trust Bank South Florida Region, Miami, Fla.

Rep. Anitere Flores ’97, Honors College
Florida State Representative, District 114, Miami, Fla.

Robin Fraser ’89, Athletics
Retired U.S. National Team and Major League Soccer Player and Director of Coaching for the Arizona Futbol Club

Richard J. Gannotta ’91, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Chief Operating Officer, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Raleigh, North Carolina

Philip S.Goldfarb ’79, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
President and Chief Operating Officer, Turnberry Associates, Miami, Fla.

Ivette M. Lirio ’96, MS ’00, College of Education
Teacher, Barbara Goleman Senior High, Miami, Fla.

James F. O’Brien ’92, College of Engineering and Computing
Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley

Dawn Ostroff ’80, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
President of Entertainment, The CW Network, Los Angeles, Calif.

Penny Parham MS ’97, Stempel School of Public Health
Administrative Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Food and Nutrition, Miami, Fla.

Danny Pino ’96, College of Architecture and the Arts
Actor, TV’s Cold Case, Los Angeles, Calif.

Charles E. Perry Visionary Award:

David M. Callejo Perez ’93, Ed.D ’00
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Theory and Practice, West Virginia University

FIU Service Award:

Jason Scott Hamilton ’89, MS ‘93
Associate Director, Florida International University’s Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program

Community Leadership Award:

Bennett A. Bramson ’83, MPA ‘87
Founder, DevelopMentors, Inc., Snowmass, Colo.

Outstanding FIU Faculty Award:

David W. Lee
FIU College of Arts & Sciences, Professor of Biological Sciences

Outstanding Career Achievement Award:

Monte E. Kane MS ‘82
Principal, Kane & Company, Miami, Fla.

Posthumous Outstanding Achievement Award:

Maria Amelia Orth ’78, MS ‘81
Former Principal, Gratigny Elementary, Miami, Fla.

Alumni meet in Beverly Hills

Left to right: Alumnus Andy Garcia, Danny Pino ’96 and College of Architecture and the Arts Dean Juan Bueno.

Nearly 100 alumni, friends and guests joined the FIU Alumni Association and Chivas for an exclusive Southern California reception at The Chivas Studio in Beverly Hills on March 24.

The evening was filled with special guests: Actor and director alumnus Andy Garcia presented his friend and colleague Danny Pino '96, lead actor in CBS’ Cold Case, the Distinguished Alumni Torch Award for the College of Architecture and the Arts. Alumna Sandra Rodriguez Barron, MFA '03 performed an exciting reading from her novel The Heiress of Water.

Complimentary Chivas cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, raffle prizes and the latest university update were provided for all to enjoy. It was a memorable night for all who attended.

If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in helping us develop a Greater L.A. Area Alumni Chapter, contact Cecilia Min ’95, ’99 at ceciliawu74@hotmail.com.

YUPA! Launch Event a Success

The Young Urban Professional Alumni (YUPA!), a group created to engage alumni who are under 39 years of age, launched its 2007 series of events on the Renaissance Yacht.

The three-hour cruise had more than 100 attendees and included dinner, live music and a comedy show by FIU alumnus Yamil Piedra ‘03.

YUPA! continues to plan unique and creative events targeted to the FIU young alumni population including Casino Night, YUPA! Stomp on South Beach and Cigars and Cars.

To become involved with YUPA!, contact Sean Kramer at 305-348-2238 or kramers@fiu.edu.

Alumni updates

Frank Martin recently was introduced as the successor to men's basketball coach Bob Huggins, a move that Kansas State hopes will bring a quick end to an embarrassing situation, The Associated Press reported.

"As we stepped back for roughly 24 hours to look at all the options...we felt like the best decision for us and the one that made the most sense was to make Frank Martin our head basketball coach," said athletic director Tim Weiser.

An assistant to Huggins, Martin was handed the job after Huggins abruptly quit early in April to take the coaching job at his alma mater, West Virginia.

Brad Eldred is currently on the active roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as a first baseman and outfielder. In his first game of the 2007 season he hit a home run in the Pirates 4-2 victory over the Cincinatti Reds. He hit over .300 for the Pirates in spring training.

Eldred played at FIU for four years.

Steven G. Marton ‘78 has been hired as Group President of Office Products, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Joe Galli at Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. In this position, Marton will lead the company's $1.7 billion global office products business, which includes such well-known brands as Sharpie, Paper Mate, Parker, Waterman, EXPO, uni-ball and Rolodex.

Marton joins Newell Rubbermaid from Colgate Palmolive where he most recently was president and chief operating officer of Hill's Pet Nutrition, a more than $1 billion global pet nutrition business. In his 12 years at Colgate, he held various executive positions in several divisions, including Hill's Pet Nutrition and Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. Through these positions Marton revitalized brands, launched new products, streamlined operations and developed new channels of distribution.

Get your Panther Gear

Alumni Association members, it is time to “Feel the Pride.”

You can now find a great variety of styles and sizes of Panther Gear at multiple locations throughout South Florida and online, including the Publix located across from University Park, Aventura Mall (Champs and Lids stores); Broward Mall, Dolphin Mall and Sawgrass Mills (Lids store); and Miami International Mall (Champs store).

If you are an online buyer, Lids.com, the No. 1 destination for online hats featuring all teams, all styles and all brands, recently added two new FIU Golden Panthers hats to its collection.

You can find the new items, which come in navy and white, by clicking here.

Send in your Class Notes

Help build a strong community of FIU Alumni by sharing your good news with your fellow Golden Panthers by filling out an online Class Notes form. You may also send us your information by fax to 305-348-3636 (Attn: Class Notes).

Send us information on your recent career appointments, awards, hires, promotions, births and marriages.

Electronic photos may be submitted to alumni@fiu.edu in .JPEG or BITMAP formats to appear next to your entry as well. Remember to indicate in the e-mail with which class note the photo should appear, along with the full names and class years of all the individuals who appear in the photo.

Snap and share in Panther Sites

FIU Alumni, remember to demonstrate your Panther Pride when you travel as you snap a picture of yourself and your family and friends wearing an FIU cap or T-shirt, waving an FIU flag or reading a copy of FIU Magazine – you may be chosen to appear in the Panther Sites section of the award-winning publication.

To be considered, send your high resolution (300 dpi) pictures with a complete description to alumni@fiu.edu.