Miami, April 19, 2017 – Miami Dade College’s Foundation raised a record $2.1 million to benefit student scholarships during its sold out 2017 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, April 18, making it the most successful event in its 15-year history.
The event also saw its highest attendance and sponsorship to date— with more than 1,000 attendees and a record 98 sponsoring organizations. The funds raised by MDC Foundation will be used for scholarships for current and future students.
MDC’s President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón announced the record-breaking results of the fundraiser during Tuesday night’s ceremony at the Hilton Miami Downtown. Hall of Fame sponsorships totaled $1.1 million. During the event, Dr. Padrón announced two surprise donations – bringing the grand total to $2.1 million. The Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation donated $1 million, and Florida Blue donated $100,000 – all to benefit students.
This year’s top benefactors to the MDC Alumni Hall of Fame include RICOH Inc, Grupo Mezerhane, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra (MBAF), OHL-Arellano, Leon Medical Centers, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and The Lennar Foundation. The full sponsor list can be found online at www.mdc.edu/halloffame.
The MDC Alumni Hall of Fame is MDC Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. Each year, Miami Dade College celebrates the accomplishments of successful alumni from a wide range of careers. The 2017 inductee class is no exception, with distinguished leaders who have impacted their fields and have positively represented MDC in their community. Past inductees include actor Andy Garcia, publisher Jerry Powers, retired journalist Tony Segreto, prominent attorney Cesar Alvarez, music industry mogul Emilio Estefan, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, and star athlete and former Dolphin receiver Nat Moore, to name a few.
For more information about the MDC Alumni Hall of Fame, and to make a donation, visit www.mdc.edu/halloffame.
Following is a complete list of this year’s honorees:
Banking Fernando L. Crespo, Senior Vice President, SunTrust Bank Inc.
Construction Eric Montes de Oca, Vice President and Partner, Grycon LLC
Education Daniel Marcos Mateo, Principal, BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 High School
Engineering Carlos A. Penin, P.E., President, C.A.P. Government Inc.
Entrepreneurship Joe Arriola, Chairman of the Public Health Trust, Jackson Health System
Finance Yolanda R. Nader, CEO/CFO, Dosal Tobacco Corp.
Health Care Aurelio M. Fernandez, III, President and CEO, Memorial Healthcare System
Hospitality & Tourism David Healy, Vice President and General Manager, The Graham Companies/Graham Hospitality
Journalism – Print Rick Jervis, National Correspondent, USA TODAY
Law José I. Astigarraga, Shareholder, Astigarraga Davis
Nonprofit Rosa Maria Plasencia, President and CEO, Amigos for Kids
Performing Arts – Dance Lloyd Knight, Principal Dancer, Martha Graham Dance Company.
Psychology Judith Migoya, Psy.D., Psychologist and Co-Owner, Pediatric Psychology Associates
Public Relations Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Vice President of Community Affairs, NBCU Telemundo Enterprises
Visual Arts Sinuhé Vega Negrin, Visual Artist, Sinuhé Vega Negrin Studio
MDC Foundation contact: Alyssa Zamora, director of communications and digital engagement, 305-237-3331, azamora@mdc.edu.