GASTON ARELLANO, CLASS OF 2006
RECEIVED THE HIGHEST HONOR AT BARRY UNIVERSITY

Gaston was the recipient of two very important awards at Barry University (Excellence in Leadership and President's Outstanding Senior Award) With President Sr. Linda Bevilacqua). Gaston will graduate in May from Barry University and will continue to work at Barry while pursuing his Master's Degree in Organizational Learning and Leadership.
 

FOR HIS FULL STORY PLEASE CLICK HERE

ERIC TAGGART CLASS OF 2007
WON THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI'S
"SCARES N' SCORES" FILM FESTIVAL

Eric wrote, produced, cast, and directed a 13 minute horror movie titled “SMILE”. 

The competition consisted of three steps. The first step was to write and submit a script to the contest. The second step was that eight of the submitted scripts were chosen and those eight students were given a two week deadline from pre to post production to complete the film. Once Eric was done with post production, the third step was to collaborate with a UM composer to create a score for the movie.

In addition to his “Best Movie” award, Eric's film also won the award for “Best Villain”. As a result of these wins, Eric’s film will be entered into the general

Eric wants to thank ILS because his foundation in film and video came as a three year member of Immaculatta La Salle’s Television Production Classes. The film will be available for general public viewing following the International Film Festival this spring.

After a nationwide search, the Public Health Trust voted unanimously Friday to pick a veteran Miami hospital administrator, Eneida Roldan, as the new chief executive of the Jackson Health System.

She will become the first woman and first Hispanic to lead the tax-supported system, which generates more than $1 billion in revenue from four hospitals, 10 primary care centers and other facilities, as well as a half-penny sales tax.

With growing numbers of uninsured and pressures to reduce reimbursement rates for the Medicaid program that serves the poor, Roldan acknowledges she will face severe challenges of running a public hospital during a recession.

''With my connections to this community, I think I can bring together the whole group of stakeholders for a common cause,'' she told The Miami Herald in a telephone interview Friday evening.

She plans to talk to physicians, union leaders, employees and local government leaders to support Jackson's efforts. ``This cannot be done by one person.''

Angel Medina, vice chair of the Public Health Trust, said the board was impressed with her ''experience and the understanding of the community,'' which will be necessary in facing the financial challenges ahead. ``It's a difficult time right now.''

Roldan, a physician who trained at Jackson, joined the system in 2008 as senior vice president. Since the departure of the previous CEO, Marvin O'Quinn, at the end of last year, she has served as chief operating officer, interim president and interim chief compliance officer.

Before joining Jackson, Roldan was CEO of the 146-bed Metropolitan Hospital of Miami and its predecessor, Pan American Hospital. She was selected to head Pan American in 2006 and led it out of a two-year stint in bankruptcy court.

Raised in Miami, she attended the University of Miami and the Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and fellowship training in pediatric pathology at Jackson. She also has a master's in public health from the University of South Florida and a master's in business administration from the University of Tennessee.

Mayor Alvarez oversees the day-to-day operations of Miami-Dade County government which employs more than 30,000 employees and operates with a budget of $7 billion dollars.   The Mayor is responsible for the management of all administrative departments within the County, following a decision made by voters in January 23, 2007, to change the way Miami-Dade County government was run.

His priorities include keeping the County's two largest economic engines - the Airport and Seaport - competitive; stimulating the economy by championing public infrastructure projects, including a Marlins Baseball Stadium and a Port Tunnel; and, holding the Urban Development Boundary to prevent urban sprawl.  Mayor Alvarez has also been an advocate for senior citizens and individuals suffering from mental illness.

James ("Jim") Sheehan from ILS Class of 1970 is currently the Medicaid Inspector General, Department of Health.  He was the Former assistant U.S. attorney specializing in health care fraud in Philadelphia where he handled more than 500 health care investigations. Graduated from Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School.

Click here to read the article

 Miguel Germain (Class of 1973) was featured in the FIU Magazine Winter 2007 Issue, click here to read the article. 

2001 graduate Harout Samra was featured on CNN as a Young Person Who Rocks, click here to see the video.

   Alumnus, Ervin Gonzalez was featured in the magazine Super Lawyers, click here to 

  Wilbert Johnson, c/o 1973

was inducted into the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, the State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on August 9, 2008 in  Lakeland, FL.

Pictured Picture at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on August 9, ILSAA president Angel "Mabel" Menendez, HOF Inductee Wilbert Johnson, c/o 1973, and Dr. John Joffre, also c/o 1973.

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IMMACULATA - LA SALLE ALUMNUS BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR

Miami attorney Francisco R. Angones becomes The Florida Bar's 59th president when he takes the oath of office on Friday, June 29 during the Bar's 2007 Annual Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center. He will become the first Cuban-born president of The Florida Bar. John G. White, III, a West Palm Beach attorney who practices commercial and complex business litigation, will be sworn in as president-elect during the same ceremony.

Angones' focus during his presidency will be on the significance and the importance of the preservation of human rights. He said that he believes that The Florida Bar and its members must remain at the forefront in the defense of these rights. His focus will be on the importance of an independent, fair, impartial, diverse and inclusive judicial system; adequate funding for the courts; initiatives to teach civics in Florida's schools; mentorship programs for law students and newly licensed lawyers; and the significance of pro bono work.

"The Bar's agenda for 2007-2008 will reflect the professionalism and the commitment to ethics that we, as lawyers, strive for in recognition of the responsibilities and privileges granted to us by our oath as members of The Florida Bar," he said.

Angones, 56, is a civil trial attorney practicing personal injury defense, commercial torts and insurance defense litigation at the Miami firm Angones McClure & Garcia, P.A. He has been a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors since 2000 and has served on its Executive Committee. He is a past president of the Dade County Bar Association and the Cuban American Bar Association, a former member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar Foundation, and has served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District.

Forty-six years ago, Angones arrived in the United States from Cuba without his parents via Operation Peter Pan, which brought thousands of Cuban youths to this country. Growing up in Miami, Angones graduated from LaSalle High School before attending the University of Miami. There he received his bachelor's degree magna cum laude in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from the School of Law in 1976.

Angones and his wife, Georgina, an assistant dean of the University of Miami School of Law, live in Coral Gables. They have one son, Frank R. Angones Jr., a graduate student in screenwriting and directing at Columbia University.

 

This section puts the spotlight on alumni who have been recognized for an accomplishment, an award, elected to office, etc.

If you would like to submit a spolight request or know of an alumni that should be featured e-mail: spotlight@ilhsalumni.com