Huizengas and Distinguished Alumni Honored at Celebration of Excellence

Broward’s most distinguished citizens gathered on January 27, 2005, to honor those who have pledged to make the community better for all who live in it. Nova Southeastern University’s annual Celebration of Excellence is a premier event held at Davie’s Signature Grand and has all the ceremony of televised award shows. At this year’s celebration, the President’s Community Award was presented to Marti and Wayne Huizenga for the impact their generosity has had on our community. The Community Award is NSU’s highest honor.

If there is a single name in South Florida that is synonymous with success, it is Huizenga. Most know the stories of Wayne Huizenga’s success. He is the only man known to have built three Fortune 500 companies from nearly nothing to enormous value and wealth. The entrepreneurial account of his starting off at age 25 with one truck and building the international conglomerate, Waste Management, is legendary. What is even more remarkable is he’s been able to balance business with citizenship and giving back to the community.

At Nova Southeastern University, he has had an ongoing philanthropic impact, lending his name, resources, and connections to the continued success and growth of the business school. In December 2003, the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship moved into its permanent home in the $37 million, state-of-the-art Carl DeSantis Building on NSU’s main campus. The move was an important step for the school and a testament to the generous support of community leaders and donors such as H. Wayne Huizenga and his family.

Randolph A. Pohlman, Ph.D., dean of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship said, “Wayne is certainly one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, but when you get to know him personally, you see that he is also one of the nicest, most generous, and fun people you will ever meet.”

In addition to the presentation of the President’s Community Award, outstanding alumni from the university’s 15 academic centers, colleges, and schools were also recognized and honored with Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards. Receiving one of these awards is the highest honor an individual can get from NSU’s Alumni Association.

To be considered for this prestigious award, an alumnus or alumna must have an outstanding record of distinction and accomplishment in his or her field. He or she must show leadership and service to community and society at large. The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards are presented by the deans of each school.

Penny Bernath, CDA, 1990, and Dean Wendy Masi Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies	Sherrilene Classer, Ph.D., 2002, and Dean Richard E. Davis College of Allied Health and Nursing
Judith L. Gartner, DMD., 2001, and Dean Robert Uchin College of Dental Medicine	Amos E. Holt, Ph.D., 1994 and Dean Edward Lieblein Graduate School of Computer and Information Science
Fanya Jabouin-Monnay, M.S., 1997, and Dean Honggang Yang Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences	Gregory Jon James, D.O., M.P.H., FACOFP, 1998, and Dean Anthony J. Silvagni College of Osteopathic Medicine
Douglas M. McIntosh, J.D., 1981, and Dean Joseph D. Harbaugh Shepard Broad Law Center	David Z. McMahon, M.S., 1998, and Dean Richard Dodge Oceanographic Center
John O'Brien, Pharm.D., 2001, and Dean Andres Maiave College of Pharmacy	Matthew Pearl, 1993, and Director of Upper School Pete Sanders University School
Janet S. St. Lawrence, Ph.D., 1980, and Interim Dean Karen Grosby Center for Psychological Studies	Brenda Calhoun Snipes, Ed.D., 1998, and Dean H. Wells Singleton Fischler School of Education and Human Services
John M. Spalding, O.D., FAAO, 1997, and Dean David Loshin College of Optometry	William S. Spears, D.B.A., 2004, and Dean Randolph A. Pohlman H.Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Lorne Shane Stitsky, D.O., B.S., 1994, Dean Don Rosenblum Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences

2005 Award Winners - 2003 Award Winners - 2000 Award Winners - 1999 Award Winners
1998 Award Winners - Past Winners '85 to '97