NSU Horizons Spring 2018

15 NSU HORIZONS ment opportunities and stimulate the Florida economy. After being presented with this year’s award, Dr. K, as he is known, delivered a short and gracious speech. “God has given each one of us unique gifts. For me, that gift is the ability to create wealth. He gave me that ability so that I could use that wealth to positively impact the world.” It was followed by a standing ovation. WELCOMING NEW SHARK CIRCLE MEMBERS The Celebration of Excellence is also a time to recognize new members of the NSU Fellows Society Shark Circle. NSU’s elite Shark Circle comprises Fellows Society members (individuals, corporations, and trusts) whose cumulative giving to NSU reaches $1 million or more. Each member receives a limited edition maquette replica of the mako shark statue located in front of the Don Taft University Center. This year, NSU welcomed the following donors into the Shark Circle: Dr. Kiran C. Patel and Dr. Pallavi Patel; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Banks, Sr.; Mr. Martin R. and Mrs. Gail S. Press; Mr. Frank Buscaglia and the Sansom Foundation; and Mr. Michael Dezer. MORE REASON TO CELEBRATE This year’s celebration included some additional big news. Attendees were the first to learn about two new gifts to the university: a gift from the Patels for $25 million, and one from Ron and Kathy Assaf, who asked that the amount remain undisclosed. The Assafs were previous winners of the President’s Award for Excellence in Community Service. The two gifts helped push NSU’s Realizing Potential philanthropic campaign past its $250-million goal, three years early. (For details on the Realizing Potential campaign and how donations will be used, see page 8.) While this year’s Celebration of Excellence promised to be a great one from the start, few could’ve imagined that it would be such a memorable one. The buzz that began with the cocktail hour grew as the night went on. By the time closing remarks were made, guests could not contain their excitement. NSU is going to accomplish great things, yet again. ¨ NSU trustee Martin Press and his wife, Gail; Drs. Pallavi and Kiran C. Patel; Dr. George L. Hanbury II, NSU president; and Kenny Tate, NSU trustee, campaign leadership cabinet chair Award