Orlando hotelier Harris Rosen, a charter member of the UCF Board of Trustees and the chief benefactor of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, is the Orlando Sentinel’s 2011 Central Floridian of the Year.
The Sentinel honored Rosen for his “achievements as one of Central Florida’s most successful and visionary businessmen and one of its most generous philanthropists. He has created thousands of jobs, given millions to a long list of good causes and devoted much of his personal energy to them.”
Rosen and his wife, Trisha, donated $18 million to establish the beautiful Rosen College campus that opened near International Drive in 2004. He also has contributed generously to scholarships for Rosen students.
One of the other finalists for the Central Floridian of the Year award was Rick Walsh, a charter member and former chair of the UCF Board of Trustees. UCF President John C. Hitt won the award in 2005, and College of Medicine Dean Dr. Deborah German was honored in 2008.