Richard Blanco, Darlene M. Boytell-Perez and Frank Vilar among honorees at 15th annual FIU Torch Awards


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Business and community leaders including inaugural poet Richard Blanco, philanthropist Darlene M. Boytell-Perez and OHL-Arellano President Frank Vilar will be honored at FIU’s 15th annual Torch Awards Gala on March 19.

The award is the highest honor conferred by FIU to a graduate, and the recipients join an elite group of FIU torchbearers – leaders who exemplify the best of the university and serve as an inspiration to all. The event will take place at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel located at 4441 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach, Fla.

“For the past 15 years we have been privileged to recognize FIU’s most outstanding alumni and faculty. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, we have supported both the First Generation Scholarship and Alumni Center Building Funds,” said Duane Wiles, executive director of the FIU Alumni Association. “We can’t wait to celebrate once again the accomplishments of this year’s recipients, and I invite the South Florida community to join us and show their support for this year’s honorees.”

Monique Abbadie, an FIU student known for her involvement on Season 4 of NBC’s The Voice, will provide the evening’s musical performance.

This year’s honorees are:
Alumna of the Year

  • Darlene M. Boytell-Pérez, ARNP ’89, MSN ’96
    Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Gastro Health
    Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Charles E. Perry Young Alumni Visionary Award

  • Charles Alexandre Kenmogne Kamhoua, Ph.D. ’11
    Research Electronics Engineer, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
    College of Engineering & Computing

Community Leadership Award presented by the FIU Center for Leadership

  • Marile Lopez ’91
    Chief Financial Officer, Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm
    College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Outstanding Faculty Award presented by the NeuroScience Centers of Florida Foundation

  • Ranu Jung, Ph.D.
    Interim Dean, FIU College of Engineering & Computing

Distinguished Alumni Awards

  • Gail Appelrouth ’77
    Guardian ad Litem, Miami-Dade County Juvenile Dependency Court, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
    Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
  • Richard Blanco ’91, MFA ’97
    Poet, Author & Civil Engineer
    College of Arts, Sciences & Education, School of Environment, Arts & Society
  • Bruce A. Blum ’82
    Co-Founder & President, GB Lodging, Inc.
    Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
  • Stephen P. Burns ’78
    Vice President & Leadership Advisor, B.E. Smith, Inc.
    Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  • Jonathan G. Cameron ’07
    Co-Founder & CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CameronDowning
    The Honors College
  • Omar K. Carrion ’07
    Awarded Posthumously
    Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs
  • Diana Farmer-Gonzalez ’96
    Principal & Managing Director, Gensler
    College of Architecture + The Arts
  • Yolanda R. Nader ’79, MBA ’86
    Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Dosal Tobacco Corporation
    College of Business
  • Stacey J. Oddman, M.D. ’94
    Former Chief of Family Medicine, Holy Cross Hospital
    College of Arts, Sciences & Education, School of Integrated Science & Humanity
  • Alfredo Richard, M.S. ’94
    Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
    School of Journalism & Mass Communication
  • Cindy Russo, M.S. ’78
    Former Head Coach, FIU Women’s Basketball
    Athletics
  • Frank Vilar ’91
    President, OHL-Arellano
    College of Engineering & Computing

The event aims to set a record in funds raised for the First Generation Scholarship Fund and Alumni Center Building Fund. For more information on the Torch Awards, visit torchawards.fiu.edu.