Fischler School Honors Miami-Dade Educators, Community Leaders, Chancellor Ferrero at Cervantes Awards

More than two dozen Miami-Dade County students and educators were recently honored at the 13th Annual Cervantes Awards for Outstanding Hispanic Education, hosted by NSU’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services and its Hispanic Advisory Board.

The annual award ceremony recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the education of Hispanic students in Miami-Dade County. During the Oct. 27 ceremony, NSU’s Education Provost and University Dean H. Wells Singleton, Ph.D., and Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho presented Cervantes Awards to more than 20 distinguished educators and community leaders from across Miami-Dade County.

Additionally, two NSU students pursuing an undergraduate degree in education were recognized as the recipients of the 2010 Hispanic Heritage Scholarship. The scholarships are valued at $10,000 and were presented to students Maria Dolores Febus and Genesis Montpellier. Prizes were also presented to students who competed in the Cervantes Outstanding Essay Contest in September.

NSU Chancellor, Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., was the evening’s keynote speaker and the honoree who received the prestigious Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award. Ferrero was honored for his tireless commitment to students, as evidenced by NSU’s outstanding record as first in the nation for number of doctorate degrees and first professional degrees – such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry and law – awarded to Hispanics. Under Ferrero’s direction, NSU has also ranked third in the number of master’s degrees awarded to Hispanics nationally.

Because of its large Hispanic student enrollment, NSU has also been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, NSU has been awarded four separate Title V grants from the Department of Education. These grants are designed to increase retention rates and graduation rates of Hispanic students, and through these grants, Ferrero has overseen programs and initiatives to help countless students complete their studies, earn a degree, and start their careers or advance in their current careers.

That evening, Ferrero also received recognition from NSU distance students, and special proclamations from the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida.

The Cervantes Awards were organized by members of the Fischler School’s Hispanic Advisory Board, which include: Rosa Mari Álvarez, Melina E. Castillo-Monroy, Pedro Mena, Isabel G. Méndez, Benito Díaz, Joe I. Rasco, Marjorie C. Figueira, Lorenzo J. Rodríguez, César A. Guerrero, Lourdes C. Rovira, Ambassador Carmenza Jaramillo, Gil Ruberté, Maggie Alemán Manrara, Carmen B. Marinelli, Eduardo Quiros and Nereida I. Santa-Cruz. The chair of the advisory board is Armando R. Rodriguez.

For more information, please contact Armando Rodriguez at 954-262-3459.