Fall 2009 Newsletter - M E Rinker Sr School of Building Construction ...

Spring 2009 Graduation CeremonyThe College of Design, Construction and Planning hosted its graduationon May 1, 2009, at 4 p.m. at the Curtis M. Phillips Center forPerforming Arts for its students graduating in Spring 2009. Commencementspeaker Bill Coan (LAE 1978), President and DesignPrincipal at ITEC Entertainment Corporation, reminded DCP graduatesto always dream big. Coan, who previously worked at Walt DisneyImagineering for 14 years on projects in Florida, Southern California,Tokyo, and Paris, said that he has always “lived for the nextchallenge” and “for the chance to scratch that itch.” “I believe thatI’m yet to do my best work,” Coan said. “Learn to seek challenges,be flexible and be an inspiration. You are the planners, designers andbuilders of the future – what an exciting thought. Impress and affectpeople in a profound way.”BCN graduate John Kauffman, the recipient of the 2009 DCP UndergraduateStudent Academic Achievement Award, thanked the staffand faculty at UF. “On behalf of this class, thank you for what youpoured into us – you are a part of our degrees and you will be a partof us in the future,” Kauffman said. “We owe you a debt that cannotbe repaid.” Kauffman urged his fellow graduates to be dedicated servantsin the industry. “What you leave behind is not what you leavebehind in stone monuments,” he said. “In years to come we will allhave the opportunity whether we will pour our lives into ourselves orinto others – choose others.”(above) L to R: Buck Merritt, MatthewHall, Jared Vincent, and KarlKuczmera celebrate. (right) JohnKauffman accepts award.During the ceremony Esther Obonyo, assistant professor of buildingconstruction, was awarded the 2008-09 DCP International Educatorof the Year Award (junior faculty).BCN Graduation DinnerL to R: Dr. Jimmie Hinzecelebrates with graduatesJohn Kauffman,Ryan Minton & MichaelMealor.A special thanks toJames A. Cummings Constructionfor sponsoring theGraduation Dinner.BCN held its graduation dinner on April 30, 2009, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. atEmerson Alumni Hall. Over 210 graduates, family and BCN faculty attendedthis event to celebrate the graduation of another group of BCN students.Dr. Chini presented the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Timothy Good(BCN 1972) during the dinner. The award for Student Academic Excellencewas given to John Kauffman while the Student Leadership award went to TimothySellers. Dr. Paul Oppenheim received the BCN Excellence in TeachingAward.21