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MIAMI,
Fla. (April 25, 2003) – More than 3,200 students will
receive their degrees from Florida International University on
Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29 during the spring commencement
ceremonies. Since opening its doors nearly 30 years ago, FIU
has awarded more than 100,000 degrees.
FIU’s four commencement ceremonies will highlight several
South Florida leaders who will receive honorary doctorates and
service awards in recognition of their dedication to the community
and FIU. In addition, posthumous degrees will be awarded to Patrick
Guerra (bachelor’s in political science) and David Poinsett
(master’s in accounting), who passed away in separate accidents
last year. Family members of each will accept their degrees.
Special guests at each of the ceremonies
include:
Horacio Aguirre. Aguirre is the owner,
publisher and editor of Diario Las Americas, the oldest daily
Spanish-Language newspaper
in South Florida. Since its inception
on the fourth of July of 1953, the newspaper has served as symbol of freedom
and democracy for exiles. With its editorials, the newspaper has given exiles
a voice in the quest to re-establish a democracy in their homelands. For the
past fifty years and with the help of his children, Diario Las Americas has
become a local successful enterprise. Aguirre will receive a
Presidential Gold Medallion
for his contribution to the community on Monday, April 28 during the 3 p.m.
ceremony.
Eva Hernandez. The belief that children
are our greatest natural resource led Eva Hernandez to become
the 2004 Miami-Dade Teacher
of the Year. After Hernandez
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graduated from FIU with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education,
she went on to teach kindergarten at Miami Gardens Elementary
in Opa Locka. While
at Miami
Gardens, Hernandez gained strategies that have helped her shape the lives of
many students.
Currently, Hernandez is teaching kindergarten at the very school where she
was once a pupil, Mae M. Walters. As an alumna, Hernandez will receive a Distinguished
Service Medallion for her invaluable service to the community on Monday, April
28 during the 3 p.m. ceremony.
Ruben Jose King-Shaw, Jr. Since graduating
from FIU, Shaw has spent the majority of his career in the field
of health care management. While working for several
major health insurance carriers, Shaw was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush as the
secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. In July 2001,
Shaw was
appointed by the Bush administration as a senior advisor to the Secretary
of the Treasury for health Insurance Initiatives. Besides leading
the policy development
and implementation of the Bush administration’s Health Coverage Tax Credit
Initiatives, Shaw helps to direct many of the president’s key health
care proposals. Shaw will receive a Distinguished Service Medallion for Alumni
for
his invaluable service to the nation on Tuesday, April 29 during the 10 a.m.
ceremony.
Kirk Landon. As a successful businessman and philanthropist, Landon stands
as an honorable example for anyone. During his 47 years as the chairman and
CEO
of American Bankers Insurance Group, Landon discovered that the true value
of a company had much to do with loyalty, motivation and training of its
employees. At FIU, Mr. Landon paid tribute to his days as a Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity
brother
at Georgia Tech by becoming the largest benefactor to the FIJI fraternity
house construction project, which was completed in 2000. With his successful
business
ventures coupled with his admirable record of giving back to the community
has earned him notable recognition. Landon will receive a Distinguished Service
Medallion
for community service on Tuesday, April 29 during the 3 p.m. ceremony.
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All commencement exercises will be held at FIUÅfs Golden
Panther Arena, University Park, Southwest Eighth Street and 112
Avenue. The schedule of the ceremonies is as follows:
Monday, April 28, 10 a.m. - College of Arts and Sciences
Monday, April 28, 3 p.m.- School of Journalism & Mass Communication,
College of Engineering, College of Education
Tuesday, April 29, 10 a.m.- School of Architecture, School of
Hospitality Management, College of Health & Urban Affairs
Tuesday, April 29, 3 p.m.- College of Business Administration
For more information, call 305-348-3666 or visit the web site
http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/commencement/
Family and friends who cannot attend the ceremony, can view the
celebration on the web at www.fiu.edu/webcast/live.ram
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