NSU will award the university’s highest honors in a Celebration of Excellence ceremony on Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Don Taft University Arena. Awards will be issued in the categories of: alumni, community, faculty, staff and student.
According to President Hanbury, the awards “define what it means to be an outstanding citizen and member of the NSU community.” This year’s five award recipients were nominated by their colleagues and professors.
The awards encourage ongoing efforts, dedication, and demonstration to NSU’s commitment in the community, one of the core values in President Hanbury’s Vision 2020 program that establishes benchmarks for the advancement of NSU.
Guy Harvey, a leading marine biologist, painter and conservationist and founder of the Guy Harvey Foundation, is a member of the South Florida community who exemplifies these qualities, according to Hanbury.
“I can’t think of someone more deserving of the Excellence in Community Service Award than Guy Harvey, a man who tirelessly gives back to this community and the global community in so many ways.” said Hanbury.
The alumni award recipient is T. David Long, president of the Miller Electric Company in Jacksonville. Long is also a member of the Dreams Come True Foundation and the National Leukemia Society.
The student of the year award will go to Walter Upshaw, M.B.A student at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Upshaw is the Student Government Association president of the Tampa student educational center and has been involved with Relay for Life. Elaine Wallace, the Executive Associate Dean of the NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, is the aculty award recipient. She has founded and participated in numerous medical missions across the globe, and created NSU’s Medical Outreach trip to Ecuador. Each of these trips serves up to two thousand people in need of medical attention.
Staff award winner Susan Kabot, director of Clinical Programs at the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, calls this an exciting time.
“I have spent my entire professional career trying to make things better for individuals with autism and their families,” said Kabot. “I think this is really recognition of that work, and the work that has involved so many in this field at this university.”
Since 1997, the Celebration of Excellence has brought together NSU students, alumni, community leaders and industry pioneers who have made significant contributions to their studies, their research and professions, and the community. Previous winners of these awards have included Wayne and Marti Huizenga, William and Norma Goodwin, and Don Taft.
For Susan Kabot, her work with autistic children is an award within itself.
“Under my leadership, the Baldwin School developed into a nationally recognized program for young children with autism,” she said. “We have educated thousands of young children in Broward County that have autism.”
Seats for the Celebration of Excellence, which will include a cocktail hour, awards ceremony and dinner reception, may be reserved for $95 each by calling 954-262-2116, or by visiting https://www.nova.edu/webforms/specialevents/coe/
