Miami, Sept. 15, 2022 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will celebrate a new class of community leaders at its 20th Anniversary MDC Alumni Hall of Fame gala at 6 p.m. 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.
WHAT: 20th Anniversary MDC Alumni Hall of Fame Inducts 10 New Leaders
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College, 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
MDC Foundation Contact: Dr. Stephanie Zapata, Director of Communication and Digital Engagement 305-237-3240, szapata1@mdc.edu.