Florida International University Alumni Association
# Florida International University Alumni Association

The Florida International University Alumni Association is an alumni organization for former students of Florida International University. It is governed by a 32-volunteer-member board of directors and currently has over 20,000 dues-paying members made up of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of FIU.

## Signature events

### Torch Awards Gala

Each year, the FIU Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni at the Annual Torch Awards Gala which was established on FIU's 25th anniversary. During the 14th Annual Gala, which took place on March 28, 2015, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the FIU Alumni Association broke a university record with over 800 guests in attendance and commemorated the university's 50th anniversary. The gala boasts an attendance of university leadership, high-level donors, alumni and friends of FIU.

The awards categories include:

* Alumnus/a of the Year Award presented to an outstanding alumnus/a who has been a dedicated contributor to their field, alma mater and community
* Chuck Perry Young Alumni Visionary Award presented to an alumnus/a who has made great strides in the early stages of his/her career
* Community Leadership Award presented to an alumnus/a who has demonstrated exemplary service and civic involvement in his/her community
* Outstanding Faculty Award presented to a faculty member who has made a lasting impression on the lives of FIU alumni
* Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize alumni who have brought honor and distinction to the university through their notable record of service and achievement in a particular discipline, organization or cause

### FIU Scholarship Fishing Tournament & Block Party

The Florida International University Scholarship Fishing Tournament is a one-day, offshore tournament featuring fishing for Dolphin. The university's Alumni Association organizes this event and the NET proceeds go towards a scholarship program for students of the university. In addition to recognizing Alumni Association scholarship recipients, the Dock Party is open to the public and features unlimited drinks and food sponsored by local restaurants, music and activities for kids. The Student Alumni Association hosts a PAW Wall at the event which features a wall of numbered Paws, which correspond to different prizes. Guests can contribute a donation to select a paw, which will win them a mystery prize guaranteed to be valued higher than the cost of the paw. The funds raised by the surprise raffle wall go directly to the student scholarship fund.

The prize categories include:

* Most Aggregate Dolphin Weight
* 2nd Place Most Aggregate Dolphin Weight
* Largest Dolphin
* 2nd Place Largest Dolphin
* Largest Junior
* 2nd Place Largest Junior
* Largest Ladies Dolphin
* Largest Fun Fish

### Other annual events

The Alumni Association also hosts smaller scale annual events to provide their alumni base with a variety of networking options. These range from receptions and meetings to luxury tailgates and reunions.

* Annual Meeting and Cocktail Reception

An exclusive members-only reception that provides networking opportunities with fellow alumni and university leadership. During this event, an induction ceremony takes place for any new members of the Alumni Association Board of Director.

* Panther Alumni Week & Closing Reception

A week of service during which alumni are invited to return to campus as guest speakers to inspire students at the start of their academic career. The Alumni Association also hosts a reception at the end of the week for the participating alumni to enjoy food, beverages and listen to an update on FIU from the university's president, Mark B. Rosenberg.

* Roar Lounge

An exclusive, air-conditioned luxury tailgate that allows guests to escape from the masses and enjoy food, beverages, music and networking prior to select football games.

* Silver Pride Reunion

The event honors those who graduated 25 years and prior and invites them back for a reunion weekend where they can reconnect with their fellow panthers and enjoy a variety of activities, including an induction ceremony, dinner, football game and campus tour.

* Worlds Ahead Tour

The Alumni Association travels to cities with large pockets of alumni and hosts an intimate cocktail reception to show them what is on the next horizon for FIU and let them now how they can become involved in the university's future growth.

## Notable alumni

FIU currently has over 250,000 alumni around the world in more than 30 countries. In conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations, the Division of External Affairs publishes a quarterly news and alumni magazine, "FIU Magazine". FIU Magazine is distributed free of charge to all FIU alumni, faculty and donors.

* Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Class of 1975 & 1986 U.S. Representative
* Andy García Actor
* Dennis Lehane Class of 2001 Novelist & Screenwriter
* Carlos Arroyo Class of 2001 NBA basketball player
* Manny Diaz Class of 1977 41st Mayor of Miami
* Aimee Carrero Class of 2008 Actress
* Barbara Lagoa Class of 1989 United States Circuit Judge
* Carlos Alvarado-Larroucau Class of 2000 Writer and poet
* Danny Danon Class of 1996 17th Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
* Elsa Murano Class of 1981 23rd President of Texas A&M University
* Kirill Reznik Class of 1995 Maryland House of Delegates
* Cecilia Altonaga Class of 1983 U.S. District Court Judge
* Mike Lowell Class of 1997 MLB baseball player
* Raja Bell Class of 1999 NBA basketball player
* Carlos Álvarez Class of 1974 6th Mayor of Miami-Dade County
* Andrea Nagy Class of 1995 WNBA basketball player
* Ian Richards Class of 1999 County Court Judge of Florida's 17th Judicial Circuit
* Elizabeth Pérez Class of 2004 Emmy-winning television journalist and presenter
* Francis Suarez Class of 2001 43rd and current Mayor of Miami
* Richard Blanco Class of 1991 2013 Inaugural Poet and award-winning author
* T. Y. Hilton Class of 2012 NFL football player
* Bertha Vazquez Class of 1999 Science teacher and director of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science
