Former FIU employees return to campus, help during Welcome Week


More than a dozen retired members of the blue-and-gold family accepted an invitation from HR and participated in numerous events helping out incoming freshmen and welcoming back Golden Panthers to the university.

By Martin Haro

We have all been there: As freshmen (and even as returning students) on a college campus, we had myriad questions only the most seasoned individuals could answer.

As FIU kicked off the beginning of the 2009 Fall Semester last week, more than 39,000 Golden Panthers, including nearly 2,000 freshmen, had an advantage helping them navigate the first week of school as 14 former FIU employees returned to campus to volunteer during Welcome Week.

Some, like John Radencich Jr., who worked as a library cataloguer for 33 years, and Janice Sandiford, who taught higher education in the College of Education for three decades, manned the “Just Ask Me” tables in the Graham Center at Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

Others, like former BBC Vice Provost Raul Moncarz and Elisa Moncarz, a retired School of Hospitality and Tourism Management professor, welcomed students to Biscayne Bay Campus at the Freshman Luau at Panther Square.

All relished the opportunity to come back to FIU to give back and assist the new pack of Golden Panthers find success in and around our campuses. The volunteers did so at the invitation from Human Resources.

“It’s great to participate in Welcome Week,” said Elisa Moncarz. “It is really nice to be back on a campus that I love so much.”

Among the members of the FIU family who gladly came back home to lend a helping hand during Welcome Week were Janice De Carlo Pastore, Anne Goodrich, Arthur Herriot, Teresita Marill, Carmen Mendez, Bennie Osborne, Willie Perez, Rafael Santana, Katherine Schauers and Sylvia Smith.

The retirees participated in many events spread over both campuses, including the Move-In event Aug. 21-23 and the Knock-Knock event a few days later, during which they checked on the students to make sure they settled in nicely.

“This was the first time we reached out to our retirees to ask them to participate in Welcome Week. What surprised me the most was the reception and elation we received. It was exciting,” said Human Resources Vice President Jaffus Hardrick. “We look forward to engaging our retirees in future events at FIU.”