Six alumni receive Seminole State College Alumni Association Legacy Awards
Friday, September 24, 2021
Written by: Laura D. Schumacher
The Seminole State College of Florida Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2021 Alumni Legacy Award winners. With a celebration scheduled in conjunction with the Foundation for Seminole State College on Oct. 5, six alumni have been selected as recipients for Alumni Legacy Awards.
The Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni award recognizes the College’s alumni who have made substantial contributions to society and whose accomplishments, affiliations and careers have honored the legacy of excellence at the College. The 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award goes to Sally Moore of Sunniland Corporation and Salmo Investments. Moore attended Seminole Junior College starting in 1974 and completed an Associate in Arts degree. A true friend to the College and other community efforts, Moore has established her legacy and that of her family through impactful philanthropy and top-notch service to others. She and the Moore Family have been connected to the College since its founding!
The Outstanding Graduate Award
This year’s Outstanding Graduate Award recognizes Joel Figueroa, an August 2021 graduate in Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology with the Cyber Security Specialization. This is one of six different certificates and degrees that Figueroa has received from Seminole State College. During his time at the College, he has been an active member of the Association of Latino Professionals for America, worked with the Florida Department of Children and Families and served on the board of Impulse Group Orlando. He has been offered a full-time cybersecurity position with Deloitte and has been accepted into the University of South Florida’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity program with a concentration in information assurance.
Hear Figueroa's Facebook Live interview!
The Honors Alumni Award
Derek Demeter, ’05, has received the Honors Alumni Award that recognizes an honors institute graduate whose professional successes, contributions to society and contributions to Seminole State embody the mission of the Grindle Honors Institute. As the Director of the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College, Demeter is known nationally as expert in the field of astronomy and serves as a board member for the Central Florida Astronomical Society. His commitment to sharing a love for all things “out of this world” is clear through his work with school field trips, public offerings and features on both news and radio. He also has been expanding his expertise into local history, including a recent viral mammoth bone find.
The Alumni Excellence Honorees
The Alumni Excellence Honoree category, established in 2019, recognizes multiple alumni who exemplify Seminole State’s core values of integrity, respect, excellence, academic freedom and learning. This third class of Alumni Excellence Honorees includes an international traveler who is changing lives across the world through music, someone extremely involved in many areas in our local community and someone who has given years of commitment and passion to Seminole State. The Alumni Excellence Honorees are:
Collin Edouard, Yale University ethnomusicology student and adjunct faculty at Seminole State.
Katie George, senior relationship manager at Addition Financial and alumni leadership team member.
Les Lusk, associate director of Web development at Seminole State.
Each of these outstanding individuals will be recognized at the event on Oct. 5 and will be participating in video interviews. Follow @SeminoleStateAlumni on Facebook to get updates on the Alumni Association and live-streamed interviews starting on Sept. 27.
Since 1966, Seminole State College of Florida has awarded more than 100,000 degrees and certificates. The Alumni Association provides benefits and services for all alumni as they continue their lifelong connection with Seminole State College of Florida. It also provides opportunities for alumni to network with one another, interact with the student body and support the College.
Whether you've earned a degree or a certificate, or enrolled in just one course, you're a Seminole State alumnus, and we want you to enjoy the benefits of maintaining a relationship with the College. The Alumni Association is here to help you stay connected to Seminole State through various platforms and initiatives.
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