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KEANmag
The Kean Alumni, Miami Chapter, celebrated its first
official kick-off event at the Cubaocho Museum and
Performing Arts Center on Friday, June 10, 2016.
Guests enjoyed paella and sangria while being lead
on a private tour of the museum’s art collection.
The Kean University Alumni Association was also
presented with a plaque from the City of Miami by
Mayor Tomas Regalado. The chapter’s co-chairs and
host committee included: Carol Blumenfeld (’03),
Michele Centeno (’91), and Gus Garcia (’80). A second
Florida chapter, the Broward/Palm Beach Chapter of
Kean Alumni, has also recently been formed, and a
networking event is currently being planned for the
fall of 2016, led by chair Michele Centeno (’91).
Kean on the Road
Miami 2016
alumni news
“Someone in this very room is going to change the
world, and they may not even know it yet.” This was
an excerpt from the 2015-16 Scholarship Recognition
Ceremony keynote address, given by junior global
business major and recipient of the Marjorie Perry ’74
Business Scholarship recipient, Jonathan Fernandez. At
the reception, Jonathan went on to tell a remarkable
story about overcoming many obstacles and
challenges in his hometown of Perth Amboy, New
Jersey, on his way to becoming the recipient of a Kean
University Foundation Scholarship.
While Fernandez’ personal story was unique, the theme
of finding a way to achieve success and the “American
Dream” through diligence and determination was
one shared by more than 700 other Foundation
Scholarship recipients, loved ones, and, in many cases,
their donors, who were all in attendance at the dessert
reception in March of 2016. As has been the case for
Scholarship
Recognition
Ceremony
the past several years, the Scholarship Recognition Ceremony was held in Harwood Arena,
which also happens to be named after another generous scholarship benefactor and late
friend of Kean University, Lowell Harwood.
The event paid tribute to more than 350 scholarship recipients, who received certificates
while being allotted the opportunity to express gratitude and connect with their respective
donors in-person. All of those in attendance enjoyed refreshments and some sweet treats, as
well as a program which culminated with the presentation of honor cords to all graduating
scholarship recipients.
Kean University Foundation Board Chair and scholarship donor, Steve Fastook, looks forward
to the ceremony each year. “This is such a great day celebrating everything that makes Kean
University so special,” said Fastook. “My wife Patty and I just love meeting our amazing
scholarship recipients and getting to learn all about their hopes, dreams and ambitions. It
means so much to know that we were able to play a role in helping them achieve their success.”
