MDC Celebrates Alumni Hall of FameThe 20th anniversary of the annual event celebrates MDC alumni leaders across the nation

Hall of Fame inductees on stage with President Pumariega

MDC celebrated a new class of community leaders at its 20th Anniversary MDC Alumni Hall of Fame gala on Thursday, Oct. 20, at MDC’s National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. 

The annual event recognizes outstanding MDC alumni who are civic and business leaders in the community and across the nation, while raising vital funds to support student scholarships for the next generation of trailblazers. Since 2003, more than 380 alumni have been inducted, representing various industries from health care and public service to communications, music and engineering, to name a few. The MDC Hall of Fame is the signature fundraising event of the Miami Dade College Foundation.

“As a proud MDC alumna and past Hall of Fame inductee, it is an honor to welcome a new group of alumni during this milestone anniversary,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “We look forward to another successful year of securing community resources, which will help us continue to fulfill our mission and commitment to ensuring student success and accelerating academic excellence and innovation in our community.

The 2022 MDC Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:

AVIATION

Israfel Carratala

Pilot

Spirit Airlines

BANKING

Maria Mas Blet

Senior Vice President

Wells Fargo Private Bank

BUSINESS

Marile Lopez

Chief Financial Officer

Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm, LLC

EDUCATION

Aillette A. Rodriguez-Diaz

District Director, School Choice & Parental Options

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Olga Granda

Director

Olga Granda ~ Fine Art & Antiques

HEALTH CARE

Esther Colliflower

Co-founder and Former Vice Chair of the Board

VITAS Healthcare (Formerly Hospice of Miami)

LAW

Marcell Felipe

President

Marcell Felipe Attorneys, Cuban Museum, IDEAs for Cuba

PUBLIC SAFETY – POLICE

Delrish L. Moss

Captain of Police

Florida International University Police

PUBLIC SERVICE

Chairwoman Christine King

Commissioner

City of Miami

TECHNOLOGY

Margaret Brisbane

Chief Information Officer / Director

Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department

About the Miami Dade College Foundation

Founded in 1965, Miami Dade College Foundation raises essential private funds to support scholarships, academic programs, and support services so MDC students have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. MDC Foundation also supports world-class arts and cultural programming at MDC that enriches the community. In 2020-2021, MDC Foundation distributed $14.4 million to benefit the students and programs of MDC. Known as Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences that prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce. Miami Dade College is the largest degree-granting institution in the nation. The college’s eight campuses offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways, including several baccalaureate degrees in biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, and others. For more information about the MDC Alumni Hall of Fame, please visit www.mdc.edu/halloffame.