PRESIDENT PADRÓN TO RECEIVE TOP HONOR
Miami Herald, The (FL) PRESIDENT PADRÓN TO RECEIVE TOP HONOR Miami Dade College President Eduardo J. Padrón has been tapped for the 2008 Poder-Boston Consulting Group's "Excellence in Education Award" honoring his four decades of work and advocacy in higher education. "As an administrator in higher education, Dr. Padrón has been relentless in providing opportunities for young people in this country. For decades, he's been a tireless advocate for the underserved, and an innovative and effective leader," said Isaac Lee, chairman of Poder, a national business magazine with a global circulation. Previous award recipients include former Chile President Ricardo Lagos, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn and Panama Canal Authority CEO Alberto Aleman Zubieta. HISTORIAN HONORED The Miami Woman's Club presented MDC professor Paul George with its first "Historian of the Year" during the club's anniversary membership meeting and luncheon on Jan. 8. A renowned scholar and Neighbors columnist, George also serves as historian with the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and is editor of of its scholarly journal Tequesta and is an advisor to its South Florida History magazine. He has written eight books and more than 100 articles and book reviews. A native Miamian, George graduated from Miami High School and earned a doctoral degree from Florida State University. "I am delighted to see Dr. George receive this prestigious award, which he truly deserves," said Wolfson Campus President Rolando Montoya. "He is an outstanding scholar who has had a significant impact on and involvement with MDC students and the community." George also is president of the Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archive and is a member of the county's Preservation Board. He has curated several historical exhibitions at the Historical Association of Southern Florida and at the Jewish Museum of Florida and he leads 35 history tours of Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. BIG READ GRANT The Florida Center for the Literary Arts at MDC will receive a grant for $20,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to host the Big Read program which helps promote literacy by encouraging the community to read one of 16 classic novels from January to June. During the first half of the year, the center will lead a campaign to urge residents to read Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. It will be the third time the college will be participating in the program. "We're very honored to be involved with the Big Read for the third year in a row," said center Director Alina Interián. "Our hope is that this particular selection will give readers of all ages the opportunity to appreciate Hurston's contribution to American literature of the 20th Century. Cities and towns participating in the program also receive readers guides and teachers guides for each novel, audio guides that also can be used for radio programming, promotional materials, an online organizers guide and access to a Big Read website. Each local program will include events such as book discussions, film screenings and library and museum exhibits aimed at readers. Material for this column was provided by the Miami Dade College media relations department. Eduardo J. Padrón Paul George Copyright (c) 2008 The Miami Herald |