Alumni accomplishments honored at Torch Awards Gala

More than 400 gather to celebrate success of FIU graduates

By Deborah O’Neil MA ’09

This year’s Alumni Association Torch Awards Gala was a welcome homecoming for award winner Lani Kane-Hanan ’87, MS ’04, who hadn’t visited FIU’s main campus for more than 20 years. She was among 15 graduates invited back to campus to be honored with a Torch Award for professional achievement and distinction.

“I had a beautiful time,” said Kane-Hanan. “It was a good opportunity to meet so many distinguished alumni from FIU. I was just so impressed with the campus, the buildings. It’s really amazing.”

Some 400 people attended this year’s gala in the Graham Center Ballrooms. The proceeds of the event raised more than $50,000 for the new FIU Alumni Center.

“Our alumni center will serve as a home away from home for our alumni and friends and we hope we can count on your support to build it,” said FIU President Mark Rosenberg. Your support is crucial in helping us achieve our vision of FIU as a leading, student-centered urban public research university that is locally and globally engaged. “

Along with alumni, The Torch Awards also recognize an outstanding faculty member. This year’s Outstanding Faculty Award recipient was alumna and professor Kathleen Blais from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Professional Achievement Awards

Octavio Hernandez ’74

Vice chairman, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Century Bank

Lourdes Carreras-Balepogi ’00

Founder and president of Chispa Marketing

Elizabeth Miranda Hernandez ’80

City attorney, City of Coral Gables

Professor Kathleen K. Blais Ed.D., RN, BSN ’74, MS ’75

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Distinguished Alumni Awards

Annabel Beyra ’93, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

President and managing partner, Fusion Communications Inc.

Chad Moss ’94, College of Engineering and Computing

Senior vice president and project executive, Moss & Associates

Commander Patrick Denis ’93, College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Deputy director for Training and Education, Office of U.S. Surgeon General

Dorys R. Saxlehner ’98, College of Arts and Sciences

Vice President, SEC Institute

Dr. Sharon M. Lopez ’06, College of Education

Principal, Riverside Elementary Community School

Gloria Romero Roses ’92, College of Business Administration

Principal, Nexus_Consulting, LLC

Lani Kane-Hanan ’87, MS ’04, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Senior Vice President, Marriott Vacation Group International

Peggy A. Nolan ’90, MFA ’01, College of Architecture and The Arts

Audiovisual specialist, FIU

Timothy M. Ravich ’96, College of Law

Attorney, Clarke, Silvergate & Campbell, P.A.

Tina Vidal-Smith ’02, MIB ’04, Honors College

Vice president of business development, Pacer Corporation

Vanessa Mills LPN, BSN, MPH ’04, Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work

Executive director, Empower “U”, Inc.

Yioset De La Cruz ’99, Athletics

Mayor, City of Hialeah Gardens