On Sept. 6, MDC celebrates 59 years of providing educational opportunity to more than 2 million students
Miami, Sept. 5, 2019 – A total of 50 Miami Dade College (MDC) students will be presented with the Eduardo J. Padrón Completion Scholarship to kick off I AM MDC Day on Friday, Sept 6, which celebrates the founding of the College in 1960 and raises funds for students. Miami Mayor Frances Suarez, City Manager Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez and Interim MDC President Dr. Rolando Montoya will meet the scholarship students at the I AM MDC Day Opening Ceremony being held at the Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.
The 50 scholarships come just over a month after the City of Miami announced a $50,000 gift as part of their Path to Prosperity Initiative to create a scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Padrón’s 50-year legacy at the College. The funds support students who are close to completing their degrees or certificate programs, enabling them to focus on their studies and reduce financial pressure to work full-time.
“We put the City’s early I AM MDC Day gift to work immediately, and it will be special for students to meet the city officials who made their scholarship possible,” said Mark Cole, vice president of advancement and executive director of Miami Dade College Foundation. “The ceremony will be the perfect start to an important day for MDC as we ask for the community’s support so more students have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
The I AM MDC Day Opening Ceremony and Celebration will also include remarks from MDC alumna and Regions Bank Miami-Dade Market Executive Chris Cruzpino, and a performance by American Idol star and New World School of the Arts alumnus Nate Promkul.
Now through Sept. 6 at all eight MDC campuses – and across Miami – alumni, staff, students, faculty and community partners will host various celebrations to galvanize support and school pride for I AM MDC Day. On the evening of Sept. 6, MDC’s National Landmark Freedom Tower will be illuminated in MDC blue and the community is invited to a night of baseball for MDC Night at Marlins Park. Ticket sales benefit MDC students.
On Wednesday, MDC Foundation launched a relief effort as part of the I AM MDC Day campaign to support students from the Bahamas who were affected by Hurricane Dorian.
I AM MDC Day encourages everyone to: wear blue on Sept. 6, wish MDC a happy birthday on social media using the official hashtag #IAMMDC, and make a gift online at www.mdc.edu/iammdc. All funds raised for I AM MDC Day directly benefit students at MDC. Organized by Miami Dade College Foundation, I AM MDC Day raised $67,000 in its first year. In three years, support has grown to more than $1 million and the College is energized to break new records this year.
If you’d like to give to MDC students, go to www.mdc.edu/iammdc.
MDC Foundation contact: Alyssa Zamora, MDC Foundation director of communications, 305-237-3331, azamora@mdc.edu.