NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2009

around campus The name says it all. For the past 11 years, the Nova Southeastern University com- munity has come together each January to recognize achievements, honor distinguished community activists, and award notable alum- ni on one night: the Celebration of Excellence. The celebration, hosted by Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., NSU president, includes the presentation of the university’s highest honor, the President’s Community Award, which is bestowed on individuals whose leadership and support provide the foundation for continued growth of the university. At this year’s event, held on January 22 at the Signature Grand in Davie, Lorraine Thomas was awarded the President’s Community Award for her generosity in helping children. Thomas and her late husband, Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s International, established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992 to increase adoptions of children waiting in foster care systems throughout North America. Dave and Lorraine Thomas have been benefactors of the Children’s Home Society of Florida and helped build a temporary home for children in Fort Lauderdale. The I. Lorraine Thomas Emergency Home also serves as a Children’s Home Society emergency shelter for children removed from their home as a result of abuse and neglect. “If we had it, we’d share it,” said Thomas of her and her hus- band’s philanthropy. “Once you start making money, you have to learn to give back a little. I’m very fortunate, so if I can spread a little fortune around, it’s just the thing.” A resident of Broward County for more than 25 years, Lorraine Thomas has also been a longtime supporter of NSU. She received the Humanitarian of the Year award from NSU’s Center for Psy- chological Studies in 2002. In 2003, she gave a gift of $500,000 to the university’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entre- preneurship and lent her name to the R. David Thomas and I. Lorraine Thomas Dean’s Office Suite in the Carl DeSantis Building, which is home to the Huizenga School. Thomas has also benefited NSU students through the Lorraine Thomas Endowed Scholarship at the Center for Psychological Studies and the Lorraine Thomas Business Student Scholarship. “She has been involved in many areas here at the university, mainly with things that people don’t see, such as scholarships for students in the fields of psychology and business,” Ferrero said. “It’s a continuing legacy and a continuing gift.” This year’s Celebration of Excellence also honored Distinguished Alumni Award winners from the university’s various schools, colleges, and centers. These annual awards are given by the deans of each of NSU’s colleges and centers. 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees Included n Jeffrey Albert, D.M.D., 2004 College of Dental Medicine A dentist with the Palm Beach County Health Department’s dental division, Albert is considered a leader in providing lower income individuals with necessary dental services. n Somy Ali, B.S., 2002 Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences Ali is a human rights advocate and documentary filmmaker dedicated to serving women and children across the globe. n Matt Dane Baker, D.H.Sc., 2007 College of Allied Health and Nursing Baker is the dean of the School of Science and Health at Philadel- phia University, as well as a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. n Nikolas Camejo, M.S., 1984 Oceanographic Center As president of E3nnovations, a sustainable economic development group, Camejo is instrumental in developing and implementing projects using energy-efficient, sustainable technologies that use renewable energy sources. n Mary Charbonneau, O.D., 1999 College of Optometry An optometrist and humanitarian who has completed missions to provide eye care to the needy people of Central and South America, Charbonneau is the president for Northeast Florida Optometric Society. n Joan M. Cook, Ph.D., 1999 Center for Psychological Studies An assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, Cook is an internationally recognized expert on trauma among geriatric populations. n Tyler Cymet, D.O., 1988 College of Osteopathic Medicine As the associate vice president for medical education for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Cymet is part of an organization responsible for setting new policies and advancing the state of osteopathic medical education. Excellence on Display at Annual Celebration 14 horizons This year, NSU honored 17 distinguished alumni.