FIU honors distinguished alumni at 9th Annual Torch Awards Gala

          MIAMI — FIU will pay tribute to distinguished alumni and members of the FIU community at its 9^th annual Torch Awards Gala on Saturday, March 6, 2010.
          The Torch Awards are held in memory of Senator Ernest R. Graham, the forward-thinking champion, who helped create FIU 44 years ago. Recipients of the award are recognized for the positive impact they make on their profession, the community and the university.
          “The alumni and faculty who are selected represent FIU’s finest – they are our torchbearers,” said FIU Alumni Association President Jose Perez de Corcho.
          The Torch Awards Gala is the highlight social event for the FIU Alumni Association and the university. The event will be held at the Graham Center Ballroom on FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 SW 8^th St, Miami. A cocktail reception will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. 
          The ceremony will include a performance by FIU alumnus Ted Miller ’92 and FIU student Vicky Lopez.
          Miller is an accomplished singer-songwriter who graduated from FIU with a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing. Miller recently performed in a dinner concert for the American Gold Star Mothers National Banquet in Washington D.C. and has been invited to perform in front of an audience of more than 250,000 this upcoming Memorial Day in Washington. Miller has participated in several hundred benefit events and charity concerts over the years, many of which have included charitable events for children and veterans. He recorded his debut album with the London Symphony Orchestra at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London and was honored in 2001 by the U.S. Congress for his recording of a “Tribute to America.”
          “In a few short years this event has become a tradition among our alumni, faculty and staff” said Senior Vice President for External Relations Sandra Gonzalez-Levy. “As in years past, it will be an evening of pride for Blue and Gold.”
          Previous winners of the Torch Awards include: Carlos Migoya ’74, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen ’75, Adolfo Henriques ’76, Manny Diaz ’77, Manny Garcia ’90, Michael Lowell ’97, Regynald G. Washington ’74, Christine Kling ’88, Danny Pino ‘96, and Dr. Stephanie A. Burns ’77.

          This year the FIU Alumni Association will honor the following individuals:

• Distinguished Alumni Award
  Annabel Beyra ‘93, President and Managing Partner, Fusion Communications, Inc. School of Journalism and Mass Communications
  Chad Moss ‘94, Senior Vice President and Project Executive, Moss & Associates, College of Engineering & Computing
  Commander Patrick M. Denis ‘93, Deputy Director for Training and Education, Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  Dorys R. Saxlehner ‘98, Vice President, SEC Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
  Sharon M. Lopez ‘06, Principal, Riverside Elementary Community School, College of Education
  Gloria Romero Roses, Principal, Nexus_Consulting, LLC., ‘92, College of Business
  Lani Kane-Hanan ‘87, 2004, Senior Vice President, Marriott Vacation Group International, College of Hospitality & Tourism Management
  Yioset De La Cruz ’99, Mayor, City of Hialeah Gardens, Athletics
  Peggy A. Nolan ‘90, MFA ‘01, Audiovisual Specialist, FIU, School of Architecture & The Arts
  Timothy Ravich ‘96, Attorney, Silvergate & Campbell, P.A., College of Law
  Tina Vidal-Smith ‘02 MIB ‘04, College of Business, Vice President of Business Development, Pacer Corporation, Honors College
  Vanessa Mills MPH ‘04, Executive Director, Empower “U”, Inc., Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
• Charles E. Perry Young Alumni Visionary Award
  Lourdes Carreras-Balepogi ’00, Founder and President, Chispa Marketing
• Community Leadership Award
  Elizabeth Miranda Hernandez    ’80, City Attorney, City of Coral Gables
• Outstanding Faculty Award
  Kathleen K. Blais ’74, MS ’75, Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences 
• Outstanding Achievement Award
  Octavio Hernandez ’74, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Century Bank

          Tickets are $250 per person.  Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  The Torch Awards are sponsored in part by presenting sponsor Wachovia Bank and supporting sponsors Suffolk Construction, GEICO, Esserman International, Preferred Care Partners, The Miami Herald, Oceania Cruises, Herff Jones, and University Credit Union.

          For more information, e-mail Elena Balsinde at ebalsind@fiu.edu.  

 Media Contact:  Jean-Paul Renaud at 305-348-2716.

-FIU-

 About FIU:
Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 12 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.