Broward Education Foundation Inducts Newest Members to the Hall of Fame

by Chris Brunner November 28, 2016

by Chris Brunner November 28, 2016 2 minutes read

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Broward Education Foundation Honorees L to R: Olayemi Awofadeju, Roderick “Rocky” Gillis, Angel Gomez, George Platt, Nancy Botero, George LeMieux and Ulrich “Ric” Green on the Walk of Fame.

By: Chris Brunner

The Broward Education Foundation inducted the newest members to the Hall of Fame of Distinguished Alumni, which honors and recognizes alumni of Broward County Public Schools.

Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich, Laurie Rich Levinson, Superintendent Robert Runcie, Broward County School Board Members Ann Murray and Heather Brinkworth.

The inductee who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors an alumnus who is dedicated to improving public education, was George Platt, Managing Partner of LSN Partners. Platt was a member of the Fort Lauderdale High School Class of 1962 and has spent more than 50 years volunteering his services to foster positive change and improvement of education. The Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

The three inductees who received the Community Achievement Award, sponsored by Bank of America, for significant achievements in any field were:

Ulrich “Ric” Green, President/CEO of Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce, Pompano Beach High School, Class of 1972; Nancy Botero, Executive Director of Broward College Foundation, Northeast High School, Class of 1977; and George LeMieux, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Gunster Law Firm, Coral Springs High School, Class of 1987. He served as a United States United States Senator from 2009 to 2011.

The three inductees who received the Education Achievement Award, sponsored by ACAI Associates, Inc., for their dedication to a career in public education were:

Hall of Fame Chair Ruth Lynch, George Platt, JM Family Enterprises AVP of Corporate Philanthropy Kim Bentley.

Roderick “Rocky” Gillis, County Athletic Director for Broward County Public Schools, Pompano Beach High School, Class of 1978; Olayemi Awofadeju, Principal of South Broward High School, Plantation High School, Class of 1995; and Angel Gomez, Principal of Piper High School, Western High School, Class of 1987.

“We are truly honored to recognize this impressive group of Broward County Public School graduates,” said Christina Fischer, chair of the Broward Education Foundation Board of Directors. “Not only have they been successful in their professional careers, but they have also made a positive impact on our community.”

The event featured keynote speaker Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie and was presented by Publix Super Markets, BrightStar Credit Union, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Bank of America, and ACAI Associates, Inc. Other sponsors also included Wells Fargo, Gunster, RIVA by Premier Developers, Video Dynamics,The Charter Schools of Excellence, D. Stephenson Construction, Inc., Gilbane, LSN Partners, Patriot Insurance, Pierson Grant Public Relations and Hoffman’s Chocolates.

Author Profile

Chris Brunner: Chris has been a contributing writer at Tamarac Talk and Coral Springs Talk since high school. He is a resident of Coral Springs and is currently attending college.