South Florida

Metro Marketing Director Named

Joseph Nardelli has been appointed Metro Marketing Director for all Florida DeVry University campuses. Before joining DeVry University, Nardelli served as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, where he initiated several local and national marketing campaigns. Nardelli is a member of several professional organizations such as the Public Relations Society of American and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as Vice President of Collegiate Relations for the American Marketing Association, and as the College Liaison Chair of the Orlando Advertising Federation.

Entrepreneurship Forum

DeVry University South Florida recently hosted a young entrepreneurship forum that explored and the challenges and benefits of developing start-up businesses. Held in conjunction with Broward County Schools, the 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship Symposium was specifically targeted at young entrepreneurs currently attending the school district’s Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship. The event featured presentations from several experts in the field on such fundamental aspects of entrepreneurship as creating a complete business plan and establishing necessary finances. Attendees were also eligible to enter a Business Plan contest to have DeVry University faculty review an original entrepreneurship idea.

Guest speakers included Michael Carn, President and CEO of the Metro Broward Economic Development Center, and a representative from RBC Centura Bank, who discussed financing a start-up business.

Miramar President Appears on Radio Paz

Julio Torres, president of DeVry Miramar recently appeared on Radio Paz, the Spanish sister station, of the 24 hour Catholic radio station Radio Peace. Torres discussed the partnership with Migente.com, a social networking site for Latinos, and the essay contest sponsored by DeVry with Migente. Torres stressed that the essay contest is part of DeVry's overall goal of reaching out to the Latino community, its family and students, and offer them the support and options they need to make a college degree a reality.

DeVry Draws Attention to Domestic Abuse Awareness Month

DeVry Miramar called attention to Domestic Abuse Awareness Month in October through three events, including the Women in Distress Safe Walk, participation in the Verizon Wireless Hopeline and a dating abuse presentation.

Students, faculty and staff from DeVry participated in the Women in Distress Safe Walk which raised funds to be used to support the various programs and services provided for victims of domestic violence by Women In Distress, Broward County.

DeVry personnel and students donated used cell phones to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine Project, a month-long collection of used cell phones that will be reprogrammed and given to victims of Domestic abuse. This project is in conjunction with Safe Space Foundation, a shelter organization for victims.

A lunch seminar took place with a presenter from Women in Distress who spoke about prevention of Domestic and Dating Abuse.

PMI Meeting Held

PMI South Florida Chapter Marketing & Development Board Members met at the Fort Lauderdale DeVry University Center (DVUC) to plan outreach program activities. The group was welcomed by Dean Antoinette Cuppari, and students from the Fort Lauderdale DVUC, who are studying Project Management at Keller Graduate School (KGSM). The Fort Lauderdale Project Management Club will be advised by Gregory Kemmer, Graduate Admission Representative at the Fort Lauderdale Center. Gregory is also serving as a Director of Outreach and Board Member for South Florida Chapter PMI. "Our project management club was formed because our classroom learning experience stresses a case studies and hands-on approach to learning. We have heard terrific things about PMI and are please to be involved", says Dionisio Osorio, Co-Founder of the Project Management Cub in Fort Lauderdale. DeVry University and KGSM are a Global Registered Educational Provider (R.E.P.) for PMI.

Mission Mayhem at DeVry South Florida

DeVry's South Florida campus recently hosted Mission Mayhem, a FIRST robotics competition held in conjunction Broward County Schools Magnet Programs. The event boasted more than 15 teams competing for bragging rights and a trophy. The event gives school teams from Coco Beach to Clearwater the opportunity to perfect their strategies and techniques for the next year's US FIRST regional Championships.

Verizon Executive Keynoter at Commencement

DeVry University welcomed Marquett Smith, President of Verizon Wireless, Upstate New York Region, who delivered a keynote address at the school's annual graduation for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Mr. Smith reflected on his career as the first African American to hold the position of Verizon Wireless regional president. In his role, Mr. Smith is responsible for managing sales, marketing, and customer service departments, in addition to directing the overall expansion of company market share. Mr. Smith previously served as Vice President of Customer Service Operations at the company's corporate headquarters in New Jersey, as well as Director of Store Sales and Operations.

In addition to the ceremony on Saturday, the university also hosted a reception for guest speakers and staff. Guests for the festivities also included students' friends and family members, DeVry University staff and factually, and several Consular Generals from countries represented by international graduates.

Scholarship Awards Dinner

DeVry University Miramar recently welcomed local high school student scholarship winners to a dinner and ceremony in recognition of their accomplishments. President Torres was present to address the students, and an address was also given by a former scholarship winner and current DeVry graduating senior. DeVry University Miramar nominated nearly 60 high school students for scholarships for the 2007-2008 school year.

New Director of Community Relations

Keisha Smith was appointed Director of Community Relations for DeVry University's Miramar campus. As Director of Community Relations, Smith is responsible for generating strategic partnerships with businesses and educational organizations as well as civic and community associations to expand recruitment and academic programming opportunities for the University's three South Florida locations.

Smith is a 2006 MBA graduate of DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management and holds a B.S. in Communications: Public Relations and Marketing from Florida International University. A native of Jamaica, Smith spent most of her childhood in Clarendon, Jamaica and is currently very involved in the Caribbean community in South Florida, volunteering for such organizations as Heart Menders Association, Kiwanis Club and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce.

Banco Popular to Offer Dream Scholarships

DeVry University's South Florida campus is teaming up with Banco Popular to help turns dreams into reality. A joint scholarship program will offer students at four area high schools and 30 adult students the opportunity to win individual Dream Scholarships worth up to $9,000 each towards a DeVry education.

Twelve students each from the following high schools will be eligible to win scholarships: Barbara Goleman High School, Hialeah Miami Lakes High School, Boynton Beach High school and Everglades High School.

Adult scholarships will be open to residents of the tri-county area who qualify and meet the admission requirements for a degree program at the University's local campus. For complete scholarship rules and deadlines, visit www.devry.edu/bancopopular.

FIRST Robotics Florida Regional Event

Orlando President Steve Brown and Miramar President Julio Torres represented DeVry University at the invitation-only Sponsors Luncheon event where they met with the keynote speaker, Florida's Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp. DeVry University was recognized for providing Educational Scholarship Awards.

After the luncheon, Julio Torres was interviewed by a reporter from WTMO Telemundo Orlando TV 40. Jim Kennedy, director of Kennedy Space Center was also a speaker at the event attended by top executives from Lockheed Martin, Motorola, Siemens, Walt Disney World Company, SAAB and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

High school students from Florida, seven other states and Puerto Rico participated in the competition Dr. Eddie Wachter, Dean of Academic Affairs for DeVry University in Orlando served as a regional judge for the competition.

High Student Overcomes Tragedy to Pursue Dream

For Nathaniel Pace, Jr., it meant so much more than just a computer. After overcoming a year full of tragedy and pain, a year in which he faced the deaths of both his father and grandfather, Nathaniel and his family saw the award as a symbol of his ability to overcome adversity in order to keep his academic goals intact.

Nathanial, a senior at Miramar High School, was one of several students selected to receive a laptop as a part of the DeVry University South Florida High School Partnership Program that aims to highlight students who might not otherwise be recognized. This President's Achievement Award seeks to reward students who have maintained consistent attendance to those, like Nathaniel, who have achieved academically in the face of obstacles. Through its partnership with select high schools in Dade and Broward County, DeVry works with faculty to nominate recipients. Under the program, DeVry University donated 18 computers this year to deserving seniors at its' partner institutions.

Although his grief was at times overwhelming, Nathaniel's mother, Paula Lois Pace, recalls her son's determination to persevere, "Nathaniel bravely remained committed to his schooling throughout all the sadness, maintaining his grades and planning for college."

DeVry University South Florida President Julio C. Torres agrees: "Nathaniel is a very courageous young man, who has persevered in the midst of some very challenging times - precisely the type of person we want to recognize with our DeVry Achievement Award. I'm hopeful that our laptop will make all the difference in him realizing his dreams."

Faculty attend Academy Day at Miami Central Senior High

Ed Hill and Bob O'Connell, faculty members in the Computer Information Systems department at DeVry University Miramar, recently attended the first Academy of Information Technology Academy Day at Miami Central Senior High. The faculty members were invited to participate with other information technology professionals in a panel discussion entitled, "Who is an IT Professional?"

The panel fielded several questions submitted by students, many of whom were members of the Academy of Information Technology and Women in Technology. Over 100 students attended the panel discussion.

The event also included demonstrations and educational competitions. Representatives from DeVry were also in attendance to answer questions about the university. Both Miami Central Senior High and DeVry University hope to organize a similar event for next year.

Ft. Myers High School Student Getting Head Start

Getting a head start is what the DeVry University Passport2College program is all about, but few students can match the head start that Robert Helin, a student at North Ft. Myers High School, is getting. Robert has to wake up pretty early to make the three-hour drive from his home in Ft. Myers to the DeVry University Miramar campus for the 9 a.m. start of his class.

Many local high school students take advantage of this unique opportunity to earn college credits through enrollment in the Passport2College program, which offers a wide selection of no cost business, technology, and health-related courses taught by DeVry University professors.

Robert, a student at North Ft. Myers High School, became immediately interested in the program after speaking with a college advisor at a Ft. Myers college expo. Considering a career in Information Systems or Computer Engineering, Robert realized that any early progress he could gain in a complex and multifaceted academic career would be valuable.

"I recognized immediately the advantages of taking a college-level course while still in high school. Not only is the class offered at no cost, but it is also likely to be required toward any major that I choose." "I also knew it would give me the chance to become familiar with a college campus and provide me with a general sense of university life," he said. "I have to say that I am very impressed and delighted with the experiences I have had with my professor, Carol Comarcho. Her teaching style is one where she will pose a problem and encourage students to discuss and debate to arrive at a solution." The program has also motivated Robert to pursue scholarship and grant opportunities more actively.

"Faces of the World" Lecture and Exhibit

"Faces of the World," an exhibit of masks representing the diverse cultures of Asia, North America, Oceania and Africa, took place at DeVry University South Florida Library on the Miramar campus.

The exhibition, including 23 masks and a tapestry, is being held in conjunction with National Library Week 2007 under the theme "Come Together @ DeVry's Library." The exhibition also features a lecture by Dr. Donna L. Goldstein, a respected corporate psychologist and executive coach. Dr. Goldstein is the Managing Director of Development Associates International, a consulting and training group that helps organizations improve morale, productivity and teamwork.

Project Management Students Put Classroom Lessons to a Test

DeVry's Miramar Campus Student Commons area was transformed into a lively Las Vegas-style casino, complete with blackjack and poker tables, roulette and slot machines, thanks to the work of project management students who created Casino Night.

All DeVry students are required to take Project Management classes which are designed to teach students how to be part of a team, manage a project, and see it to a successful conclusion.

According Professor R.G. Ghattas, faculty advisor for the DeVry Project Management Club, students in this introductory class are not necessarily studying to become project managers, but they are expected to learn to function successfully as part of a team.

In organizing Casino Night, Professor Ghattas explained that students did everything from controlling and managing budgets to setting up accounting systems and hiring outside vendors. Part of what students learn, says Professor Ghattas, is how to have a successful outcome, despite obstacles that might arise, whether real, or part of a class exercise.

"I try to throw them a few curves, for example, change team members around or suddenly reduce their budget, so that they learn how to adapt quickly and make adjustments accordingly," said Professor Ghattas.

March Madness Takes Over DeVry Miramar

DeVry University staff and faculty challenged local firefighters and employees of companies such as Royal Caribbean and Lucent Technologies in a basketball tournament on the DeVry campus. The event also included music, food and entertainment, featuring appearances by members of the Miami Heat Dancers.

Academy of Information Technology at DeVry Miramar

DeVry University's Miramar campus and the Microsoft Corporation hosted a one-day Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) symposium for Miami-Dade County public high schools including students from Miami Central, American, Miami Beach and Braddock G. Holmes High Schools.

Miramar Campus Hosts ASPIRA of Florida

From the Spanish verb aspirar or "to aspire," ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. is a community based, not-for-profit organization devoted to the mission of, "developing a better educated, more community conscious and committed Puerto Rican, Latino and other minority youth" by empowering its youth in the pursuit of educational excellence through leadership development programs.

The ASPIRA Association works with over 50,000 youth and their families each year to provide support and resources for Latino youth to remain in school and become future leaders in their communities.

To this end, the ASPIRA organization hosted a conference for approximately 200 Latino youth at DeVry University's Miramar campus in early April featuring keynote speaker Latino journalist/TV anchor Guillermo Descalzi, from Spanish Channel 41, America TeeVee.

DeVry University Offers College Course Credit to High School Students through Summer Program

High School students eager to get a head start on their college education will have the opportunity to earn college credits through enrollment in DeVry University's Passport2College program. The school offers a wide selection of business, technology, and health-related courses taught by DeVry University professors to eligible students entering their junior or senior year in 2006 or 2007. There is no tuition cost.

Presentations included hands-on workshops on robotics and XNA Game studio as well as panel discussions led by professionals in the field who provided students with a real world perspective on careers and opportunities available in the field of technology and financing a college education.