Christine Fernandez, a student in the Huizenga School's MBA in Entrepreneurship program, was named NSU's inaugural winner of the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award. Fernandez, who is scheduled to graduate in December, was chosen based on her outstanding academic performance and student engagement. She was selected by a committee of Huizenga School faculty and Dean Randolph Pohlman, Ph.D. For winning the award, Fernandez received a commemorative paperweight embedded with a Student Achievement Award medallion and a one-year complimentary subscription to the Wall Street Journal. Her name will also be on a plaque to be displayed in the Carl DeSantis Building on NSU's main campus and she will be listed among the winners of the award in the Wall Street Journal.

Hugh Brown, an MBA in Finance student, was one of 12 students from Florida colleges and universities selected to the fifth class of the Gubernatorial Fellows Program. The announcement of the class was made on June 15 by Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Students in the program work in the Executive Office of the Governor or in Governor’s agencies in Tallahassee, gaining firsthand experience into the operations of state government. Students were selected based on a competitive application process, which included the ability to show strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida. Brown, 29, began the MBA program earlier this year and is taking classes at NSU's Student Educational Center in Tampa. He will remain in the program and take distance learning courses while in Tallahassee. Brown will begin the fellows program in August, which runs through May 2010. More information on the Gubernatorial Fellows Program is available at http://www.myflorida.com/fellows/index.htm.

Deputy Fire Chief Maurice Kemp, a graduate of the Huizenga School's master of public administration program, will be promoted to Chief this August, making him the first African-American to hold the post in Miami. Kemp has worked his way up the ranks of the City of Miami Fire Department for last 24 years. He has held the positions of lieutenant, captain and assistant fire chief. In 1999, he was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief. Kemp is a Task Force Leader for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue.

Continuing their growth, The Cereal Bowl recently announced an agreement to expand its brand internationally into regions of the Middle East including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The Cereal Bowl was founded by Huizenga School alumni and twin brothers, Kenneth and Josh Rader. Kenneth, President and CEO, graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Professional Management program. Josh, CFO, graduated from the Master of Accounting program. In the U.S., The Cereal Bowl expects to open over 20 new units over the next 24-36 months, with current franchise agreements along the east coast stretching from Alabama to New Jersey. Click here for more information.

Rolando Ochoa, a recent graduate from the doctor of business administration program, was formally congratulated by long-time friend and Florida Congressman, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, prior to his commencement ceremony. NSU’s commencement was held on Saturday, June 20.

The Florida Marlins' Community Foundation presented the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship with a scholarship check for $3000. The scholarship will be given to an undergraduate student enrolled in the Huizenga School's Bachelor of Science in Sports and Recreation Management program. It is the third scholarship the Marlins' Foundation has granted to a Huizenga School student. The check presentation, held on the field during the Marlins' May 22 home game coincided with NSU's annual Night with the Florida Marlins.

Jade Chen, Director of Development, Dr. Jeffery Fountain and Dr. Peter Finley, Assistant Professors of the Sports and Recreation Management program, represented the Huizenga School and accepted the scholarship check from Nancy Olson, Executive Director for the Marlins’ Foundation.