And the Award Goes To…

by Tonya Cherry · Published March 10, 2021 · Updated June 30, 2021

UPDATE: As of July 1, 2021, Michael Cadore has taken on the new role of Associate Dean of Enrollment Initiatives and Engagement.

Did you know that each year the EFSC Foundation and Alumni Association presents the Distinguished Alumni Award to an alumnus who has made notable achievements in their career field, committed to distinguished philanthropic or public service activity, or participated in considerable civic activities? Now you do! And guess what? You don’t need to be a Nobel Prize winner or a celebrity to receive the award!

All joking aside, Eastern Florida State College (formerly Brevard Community College and Brevard Junior College) has many famous alumni, such as pro golfer Paul Azinger, the NFL’s Jamel Dean, comedian Darrell Hammond, and retired San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, to name a few. But most of our Distinguished Alumni are still right here in our own backyard!

Recent Distinguished Alumni Award recipients include:

Michael Cadore, EFSC Cocoa Campus Associate Provost
Ashley McGrath, Quality Analyst at JLodge, a Cognosante Company
Michael Stephens, Security Manager for the Orlando Utilities Commission
Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff
Bruce Haupt, Government Policy Expert
Sam Pak, Founder and CEO of Appliance Direct

Each fall, EFSC puts out a call for nominations for the award. Using this form and criteria, it’s possible to nominate others (or even yourself) for the award. To be considered an alumnus, you only have to have completed one class at the college! An alumni advisory board then reviews all of the nominations and chooses the recipient for the year — and sometimes there is more than one.

Recipients are typically presented with their awards at the annual Titan Scholarship Reception, where they are also asked to give a keynote speech talking about their history with the college and their subsequent achievements. It’s always inspiring to hear these “grad made good” stories, and oftentimes, it provides exactly the kind of motivation others need to go out and achieve their own goals.

I hope one day we’ll receive a nomination with your name on it and get to hear your story. Until then, keep plugging along — and definitely consider submitting a nomination for next year’s award!

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Tonya Cherry

Tonya is the Executive Director of Operations at the EFSC Foundation. She is a dedicated team member working to build futures and transform lives. She is married with two sons, who are now in college. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, and other outdoor activities.