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In 2003, the Board of FAPS decided that a special award was needed to recognize people outside the university who have contributed above and beyond the call to the club’s success.

This award was designated the Friend of FAPS Award.

This recognition reiterates FAPS commitment to maintaining ties and working with the professional planning community.

Selection of recipients is made by the Board on a case-by-case basis. To date there are three members.

Friend of FAPS #1 Dr. Tom Kazo (2003).

Over the years, Dr. Tom Kazo and his Wildlife Research Team volunteers have spent thousands of hours reopening intertidal corridors throughout the 600-acre of Matheson Hammock Preserve. A unique mangrove system in Miami-Dade County, which was devastated after hurricane Andrew in 1992 preserve: using only canoes, sheer manpower and inspiration. For these efforts, Dr. Tom received a 2003 Environmental Hero of the Year Award from NOAA. Besides his efforts to restore Matheson Hammock, Dr. Tom has been instrumental in Broward County’s Adopt a Waterway Program.

In addition to that Dr. Tom and his team have been regular volunteers at a huge amount of the FAPS North Fork of the New River waterway clean ups. He is always ready to help FAPS and his tireless efforts have played a large part in the North Fork’s clean-up success.

Friend of FAPS Dr. Tom Kazo

Friend of FAPS #2 Renée Miller (2003).

Renée is the Broward Chair of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and prior to graduation from FAU in 2002, served on the FAPS Board. She currently is an associate planner with the Broward County Planning Council

Renée has worked hard to ensure that FAPA remains committed to assisting students at FAU. She spearheaded the successful effort to have FAPA sponsor the hugely successful 2003 and 2004 Career Day’s held at the Downtown campus.

Friend of FAPS Renée Miller

Friend of FAPS #3 Elizabeth Hude (2004)

Elizabeth also a former FAPS Board member was made a Friend in 2004. Elizabeth now works as Community Programs Manager for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Long after her graduation, Elizabeth has continued to spend countless hours helping FAPS with data base management and promotions. Always the consummate professional, Elizabeth’s efforts have played a key part in the success of all the FAPS programs.

Friend of FAPS Elizabeth Hude

Friend of FAPS #4 Bill Nemser (2008).

Bill was a  FAPS Board member who has remained in close contact with SURP since his graduation with a BURP in 2003 and a MURP in 2005.  Employed as a Project Manager with the Village of Wellington, Florida,  he was the first president of the SURP Alumni Society.  Bill continues to try and maintain a connection between the professional planning community and the university through joint research, programs and interaction with the student body.