News

Evening of Excellence

The Evening of Excellence is not just an event; it’s a celebration of the talent, commitment, and passion that define our college. It’s an acknowledgment of those who have consistently showcased excellence and dedication to enhancing their respective fields and the broader community.

Once a year, this prestigious ceremony brings together faculty, students, alumni, and supporters to celebrate the collective awards for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The celebration, which started in 2017, has become a cherished tradition, providing a platform to showcase the remarkable endeavors unfolding within our classrooms and throughout our expansive college community.

College excellence awards are not just a recognition of success; they serve as a testament to the spirit of our college and the people who make it a thriving, vibrant community. Each award embodies the very essence of what makes our institution exceptional.

“The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is home to many fine minds, innovators, and entrepreneurs whose creativity, versatility, and adaptability make them shine in everything they do,” said Dean David E. Richardson. “We are proud to recognize their success in our Evening of Excellence!”

Thank you to our generous Dean’s Fund for Excellence donors whose support makes the CLAS Excellence Awards an annual tradition for the college.

With great pride, we present our 2023 Evening of Excellence awardees:

Superior Staff Award

Kelli Grande, Department of Linguistics

Student Excellence Award

Asia Barlow, Sociology and Women’s Studies

REINALDO CABRERA PÉREZ, Linguistics

EMMA SALATI, Italian, Spanish, and Chemistry

Outstanding Alumnus

DARIN COOK, Statistics BS ’87

Volunteer of the Year

AMY GALLOWAY, Political Science BA ’81, JD ’85

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Student Award

RACHEL HARTNETT, Department of English

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Award

ANITA MARSHALL, Department of Geological Sciences

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Award

UF PHYSICS IDEA, Department of Physics

Faculty Achievement Award

LYNN O’SICKEY, Academic Advising Center

KELLIE ROBERTS, Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication

Gator100 spotlights the most rapidly growing businesses owned
or led by UF alumni. Nearly a quarter of the 2023 ranked businesses are owned or led by CLAS alumni, underscoring their substantial influence on the global business stage.

#4: AceApplications, LLC – Laine Powell (English ’97)

#10: Spark Inc. – Richard Davis (English ’93)

#16: Palm Beach Autographs – Jim Dodson (Economics ’00) & Steve Dodson (Economics ’03)

#19: Everest Ice and Water Systems – Jordan Flores (Psychology ’06)

#22: Admiral – Nathan Hagen (Economics ’12)

#27: Hypolita Co. – Morgan Lampp (Political Science ’08)

#32: Novi AMS – Pete Zimek (Political Science ’01, Master of Science in Management, ’02)

#35: Specialty Smiles PLLC – Melissa Alfonso Sedeño (Political Science ’09, DMD ’13, MS ’16)

#36: Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – Scott Taylor (English ’86)

#41: Zinnia Wealth Management LLC – Charisse Rivers (Criminal Justice ’04)

#61: Endless Summer Realty – Brad Layland (Interpersonal Communications ’94)

#70: Revival Chiropractic – Christina Cuellar (Psychology ’11)

#75: Heitner Legal – Darren Heitner (Political Science ’07, JD ’10)

#76: Bernal-Mora and Nickolaou, PA – Ophelia Bernal-Mora Nickolaou (Anthropology ’00) & Andrew Nickolaou (Criminal Justice ’07)

#77: Push Button Creative Audio – Jon Ruhff(Psychology ’02)

#80: Absolute Numbers, Inc. – Carolyn Jones (Anthropology ’94)

#81: New Medicine Foundation – Edward Pearson (Microbiology & Cell Science ’93)

#87: REAL Building Consultants – Taylor Ralph (Criminal Justice ’05, Master of International Business ’06)

#90: Kikoda | Cutting Edge Software – Chris Korta (History ’89)

#95: The FOCUS Group – Brad Layland (Interpersonal Communication ’94)

#96: Origin Construction LLC – John Wood (Economics, ’98)

#97: Florida Legal Title – Ashlie Luckey (Criminal Justice ’07, JD ’10)

#98: PHOS Creative – Brandon West (Classical Studies ’09)