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FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Recognizes Top Students and Faculty

BOCA RATON, FL (May 4, 2004) - Florida Atlantic University's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters recognized outstanding students, faculty and alumni at the College's Sixth Annual Awards Celebration held on Friday, April 16 on the FAU Boca Raton campus. Over 250 students received scholarships and honors for excellence in a variety of fields. Prizes were awarded for excellence in art, music and theatre and for accomplishment in anthropology, communication, English, history, Holocaust and Judaic studies and languages and linguistics. Students received scholarships and fellowships for further study at FAU and abroad and were recognized for outstanding work.

The Dean's Public Service Commendation Award was presented to Mariano Abello, a graduate student who was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to the department of music. Abello, a jazz musician, helped to build FAU's jazz program and is the leader of the Uwallo Messengers, FAU's jazz ensemble.

"Mariano's energy, dedication, enthusiasm and creative drive have greatly expanded student performance opportunities throughout the University and within many community venues," said William A. Covino, dean of FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.

Covino also recognized the faculty recipients of the College awards for Researchers of the Year. Recipients included Heather Coltman, chair of the department of music, Jeffrey Morton, associate professor in political science and director of peace studies and Marianne Sanua, assistant professor in the department of history and Holocaust and Judaic studies. University awards for excellence and innovation in teaching went to Patricia Fleitas in the department of music and Marcella Munson in the department of languages and linguistics. Cynthia Cone, director of Student Academic Services for the Davie campus, also won an award for excellence and innovation in advising.

Covino further recognized donors that made these awards possible. Donors who attended this event included Frances Edelman, who established 10 endowed awards for outstanding students within the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters; Claire and Mary Dorst, who established an art scholarship; Sylvia Rosen, who established a ceramics award; Madeline Savarick who established several music scholarships; David and Alfrede Myerson for their support in art; the Italian Cultural Society of the Palm Beaches for its support of the Italian studies program; Lena Camiccia-Arnautou and Mel Gesner for a scholarship to study abroad in Florence, Italy; Doug Gatlin, who sponsored an FAU endowed scholarship in political science; the Delray Art League and Women in the Visual Arts who both gave scholarships to art students and Eugene Crabb, who sponsored a music scholarship.

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