Congrats Jorge! UF's Association of Hispanic Alumni Gran Caiman Del Ano

UF’S ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC ALUMNI ANNOUNCES GRAN CAIMÁN DEL AÑO

March 24, 2009

MIAMI, FLA.—The University of Florida Association of Hispanic Alumni (AHA) is pleased to announce that it has selected Jorge Abreu as its 2009 Gran Caimán of the Year. The announcement was made at the Gator Guayabera Guateque Kick-Off event, which was held at on March 21, 2009 at the CubaOcho Art and Research Center in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. At that event, Gators of all ages and friends of the University of Florida joined AHA’s board in congratulating the Gran Caimán while enjoying the artistic and beautiful confines of the CubaOcho Art and Research Center, which was also exhibiting elements from the Latin American Collection belonging to University of Florida Libraries.

Jorge Abreu, this year’s Gran Caimán, is President and Owner of West Kendall Nursery, Inc. and has two degrees from the University of Florida, one in Animal Sciences and the other in Environmental Horticulture with a specialty in Nursery Management. Since graduating from the University of Florida, he has become an advocate of the University’s Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC)’s research, teaching, and extension programs in Miami-Dade County and has been a staunch advocate of the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). He has actively lobbied in favor of his industry at the national and local level and was instrumental in helping to secure $15 million in repair and renovation funds for the over 100 IFAS facilities across the state. He serves as the president of the Miami-Dade Chapter Florida Nursery Growers and Landscaping Association (FNGLA) and acts as an advisory board member for both TREC and IFAS.

“We are thrilled to announce Jorge as this year’s Gran Caimán,” indicated AHA President Ignacio Abella. “He has not only been a fervent supporter of the university and its programs, he has become an advocate for his industry at both the state and national level. He leads his industry by example and, for that, we feel he must be recognized with our distinguished award.”

All Gators and friends are cordially invited to join AHA at this year’s Gator Guayabera Weekend activities, which will take place May 8-9, 2009. The Gator Guayabera Weekend activities will begin on Friday, May 8 with AHA’s second annual Gator Educational Symposium & Seminar, featuring top University of Florida professors. On May 8 AHA will also host its first Young Alumni Happy Hour at Balans, conveniently located in the heart of Miami at Mary Brickell Village. The AHA weekend festivities will culminate, as always, on Saturday, May 9 with the 2009 Gator Guayabera Guateque, which is entering its sixth year and will be celebrated at Jungle Island (formerly Parrot Jungle).

As with previous AHA Guateque events, proceeds from the Gator Guayabera Weekend support numerous scholarships at the University of Florida.

Tickets for the Gator Guayabera Guateque are $100 per person and are on sale now. Sponsorships are also still available for all Gator Guayabera Weekend events.

For more information about the 2009 Guateque Guayabera Guateque, please visit the AHA website, http://aha.ufalumni.ufl.edu. or call Armando Olmedo at (305)343-8178.