College celebrates 65 years with weeklong festivities and transformational support for students
MIAMI, FL (Sept. 10, 2025) – Miami Dade College (MDC) marked its 65th anniversary in a big way with its annual “I AM MDC” celebration, a weeklong slate of events highlighting community generosity and student success. Across all eight campuses, students, faculty, staff, and alumni came together for spirited festivities that culminated with the Miami Marlins on Sept. 6. Through corporate giving, organizational support and generous individual donors, “I AM MDC” raised $1.1 million and counting for programmatic support and student success services.
“Miami Dade College stands as a pillar of hope, opportunity and innovation in our community,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. “We are proud of our 2.5 million alumni and their impact in South Florida and beyond. As we celebrated 65 years of transforming lives through education, it was inspiring to see everyone come together to honor that mission and help raise more than $1 million to shape futures and create new opportunities for our students.”
One of the highlights of this year’s giving campaign was a $600,000 donation from Santander Bank, on Wednesday, Sept. 3. This multi-year commitment will fund tuition scholarships for MDC’s Honors College, Presidential Scholars, Rising Scholars, and American Dream Scholarships, in addition to providing student emergency aid support, creating new experiential programs in entrepreneurship, and leadership development.
“Santander is deeply committed to education as a pathway to opportunity,” said Leah Daly, head of corporate social responsibility & sustainability at Santander US. “We are proud to partner with Miami Dade College to support students in achieving their academic goals and to help create a stronger, more resilient South Florida.”
Other community partners also stepped up to support MDC during “I AM MDC:”
- The Supreme Twins Foundation presented a $60,000 gift at Kendall Campus for the Kendall Learning Academy, inspired by twin sisters Nathaly and Nicolee, who were both born with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Nathaly is currently enrolled in ACCESS, which provides academic and career pathways for students with unique abilities.
- $25,000 was gifted by Foundation Board Chair, Jorge Plasencia and his Brother, Manny, to establish the Gilda Machado Plasencia Scholars in Nursing, an endowed nursing scholarship in memory of his late Mother, Gilda, who worked in the medical field early in life and believed deeply that nurses are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry
- The City of Doral presented a $25,000 contribution to their scholarship endowment at the West Campus.
- VITAS Healthcare sponsored two Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to complete their degrees at MDC’s Medical Campus.
“I AM MDC’ is about more than celebrating our history; it’s about honoring the generosity and resilience that will shape the next 65 years,” said MDC Foundation CEO Nelson Hincapie. “This year’s incredible outpouring of support, led by Santander’s transformational gift, is proof of the power of community to open doors of opportunity for our students.”
Since 2016, “I AM MDC” has served as a powerful reminder of MDC’s enduring mission: to open doors of opportunity, champion economic mobility, and transform lives through education. Funds raised during the campaign directly support scholarships, student success programs, and initiatives that fuel the aspirations of more than 125,000 MDC students.
Each year, “I AM MDC” is celebrated the week of September 6 to mark the date the College first opened its doors. In 65 years, MDC has grown from a single campus to the largest and most diverse institution of higher education in the nation, with more than 2.5 million alumni. From its first graduating class of 200 students in 1962 to more than 15,000 this past spring, the college’s impact has continued to multiply over the decades. The annual celebration reflects this history while rallying support for the next generation of students whose lives will be shaped by the College.
Donations can still be made securely online at mdc.edu/IAMMDC.
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About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the most diverse institution in the nation, with students from 167 countries and 63 languages represented. Its eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 pathways, including associate and bachelor’s degrees, certifications, and apprenticeships. MDC is home to nationally recognized programs and centers, such as the Miami Culinary Institute, The Idea Center, AI Centers, and New World School of the Arts. The College’s rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, Freedom Tower, Live Arts Miami, Koubek Center, and MOAD. Since its founding in 1960, MDC has welcomed more than 2.5 million students. Approximately 125,000 students are currently enrolled. Visit mdc.edu to learn more.
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 2023-2024, MDC Foundation distributed nearly $25 million to benefits 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. MDC is the nation’s most diverse institution of higher education with an enrollment of more than 125,000 students and more than two million alumni. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees, and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. For more information visit mdcfoundation.com.