Miami, April 5, 2018 – Miami Dade College Foundation raised more than $2 million for the second year in a row at its sold out 2018 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, April 3, also breaking records for highest sponsorship and attendance. The funds raised will be used for scholarships for current and future Miami Dade College students.
MDC’s President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón announced the record-breaking results during Tuesday night’s ceremony at the Hilton Miami Downtown. More than 1,000 guests attended the event and 109 individuals and organizations from the community were sponsors, including one of the College’s greatest benefactors The Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation. Other top sponsors include OHL-Arellano, City National Bank, Lennar Foundation, Leon Medical Centers, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. The full sponsor list and additional information can be found at www.mdc.edu/halloffame.
The MDC Alumni Hall of Fame is MDC Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, which also celebrates the accomplishments of distinguished alumni who are impacting their field and the community. The 2018 inductee class is no exception, with esteemed leaders that that span a variety of industries, from music and broadcasting to banking and public safety. To date, more than 350 alumni have been inducted.
2018 MDC Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees:
Accounting Luis E. Diaz, Managing Partner, Sharff, Wittmer, Kurtz, Jackson & Diaz, P.A.
Architecture Caridad Hidalgo-Gato, Principal, KVH Architects, P.A.
Banking Carlos R. Fernandez-Guzman, President and CEO, Pacific National Bank
Education Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor, Florida College System
Engineering Ignacio Ares, P.E., Principal Engineer, Florida Power & Light Company
Journalism-Broadcast Donny Hudson, Vice President/General Manager, Spanish Broadcasting System
Law Marilyn Blanco-Reyes, Vice President, Legal & Regulatory/Government Affairs FedEx Express Latin America/Caribbean Division
Marketing Michelle Martinez Reyes, Chief Marketing Officer, Greenspoon Marder
Medicine Geden Franck, M.D., M.S., Sports Medicine Fellow, University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute
Music Harry Wayne Casey, KC & The Sunshine Band
Psychology Samantha Carella, Psy.D, ABPP, Psychologist/Co-Owner, Pediatric Psychology Associates
Public Safety-Police Jorge R. Colina, Chief of Police, Miami Police Department
Public Service Peter Antonacci, Secretary of Commerce/CEO, Enterprise Florida, Inc.
Real Estate Luis Machado, CEO, Renegade Investments, Inc.
MDC Foundation contact: Alyssa Zamora, director of communications and digital engagement, 305-237-3331, azamora@mdc.edu.