Astronaut Nicole Stott, comedian Daniel Tosh and Julie Colombino, whose internationally recognized charity is helping to rebuild earthquake-ravaged Haiti, will be honored Friday, Oct. 28, at the UCF Alumni Association’s annual Black & Gold Gala.
The Alumni Association also will recognize former Denny’s president and CEO Nelson Marchioli (’72) with its Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest annual award given by the Alumni Association, for his lifetime of professional achievement.
The Black & Gold Gala honors alumni for their professional achievements and dedication to serving the community.
Stott (’92), the first UCF graduate to fly aboard the space shuttle and live on the International Space Station, will receive a Professional Achievement Award from the College of Engineering & Computer Science.
Tosh (’96), the well-known comedian and host of Comedy Central’s Tosh.O, will receive the Michelle Akers Award for the global recognition that he brings to UCF.
Colombino (’08) earned the Community Service Award for creating REBUILD Globally, a nonprofit organization that creates jobs for Haitians making sandals from tires in an effort to help Haitians develop self-sustaining skills.
Karl Hodges (’82) will receive the Service to UCF Award for his service on several UCF boards and committees. Melissa Blette, an International Business major, won the Distinguished Student Award.
The recipients of other Professional Achievement Awards given by individual colleges were:
William J. Sheaffer (’75): College of Arts and Humanities, Orlando defense attorney and expert analyst for WFTV-Channel 9
Seth Jonas (’01): Burnett Honors College, research staff member, Science & Technology Policy Institute
Stan Horton (’73): College of Business Administration, president and CEO, Boardline Pipeline Partners
Gregg A. Buckingham (’02): College of Education, deputy director, Education & External Relations, NASA
Lawrence G. Walters (’85): College of Health & Public Affairs, founder, Walters Law Group
Dr. James McClelland (’95): College of Medicine, infectious disease specialist
David R. Hanke, (’81): College of Nursing, vice president of global accounts, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Yvette Gordon-Kanouff, (’88 and ’93): College of Sciences, president, SeaChange International
Tom Vogel (’89): Rosen College of Hospitality Management, president & CEO, Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc.
For more information about the UCF Alumni Association, call 800-330-2586 or visit www.ucfalumni.com.