Issuu

The Boca Raton Tribune Yo u r C l o s e s t N e i g h b o r

Number 391 • Year IX

East /West Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL

December 7 - December 13 2018

17-Year-Old Finishes PBSC Honors Diploma in High School Boca Raton Public Library Announces New Manager of Library Services

Story on Page 3

Ahria Bass didn’t just get a head start on her college education while in high school, she completed her Associate in Arts degree with Honors College distinction. ow the Palm Beach State College dual enrollment student and aspiring neurosurgeon will cross the stage at the 2 p.m. fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 19 to celebrate her achievement - five months before she is set to graduate from Seminole Ridge High School.

COMMUNITY see page 3

COMMUNITY see page 4

SPORTS

see page 13

SPORTS

see page 13

The Boca Raton Public Library is pleased to announce that Ellen Randolph has been promoted to Manager of Library Services. Previously, Ms. Randolph served as the library’s Public Services Librarian and was responsible for managing over 50 staff members in three library departments in both the Downtown and Spanish River Library locations. Story on Page 5

Electrician student, fastest in the state, to compete nationally

FAU Schmidt College of Medicine Honors Donors at Ceremony

UAB Blazers to Take on NIU Huskies in 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

Boca Raton FC Brings in Silvio Costa as Advisor/Assistant Coach for 2019 Season

state at the competition finals in Orlando Dec. 1-3. Story on Page 8

YOUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR.

2 -Edition 391 The Boca Raton Tribune COMMUNITY NEWS East/West Boca Raton, FL

The Boca Raton Tribune

Quote of the Week:

PAGE TWO Graphic Designer

Innovation Design Creative Studio

Marketing

Andre Heizer Karen Guimaraes

News Room

Gabe Diaz* Jack Rubin* Bryanna Basilio* Nikki Colonna*

Photographers

Gabriela Heizer Janis Bucher Marcelo Gabrielli Rosa Cavalcanti

Video

Andrew Ramey

* Interns

Mail Subscription

subscription@bocaratontribune.com

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 970593 Boca Raton, FL 33497

Office Address

141 NW 20th St., Suite B5 Boca Raton Fl, 33431 business@bocaratontribune.com www.bocaratontribune.com

General Information Phone: 561-536-5443 Fax: 561-208-6008

Email: frontdesk@bocaratontribune.com Community Papers of Florida The friendly community where friends do business with neighbors.

West Boca Chamber of Commerce Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Independent Free Papers of America Paper Chain

INDEX Community News.....p 3 Editorial.....................p 6 Columnists................p 7 Classified..................p 19 Sports........................p 16

December 7 - December 13, 2018

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever belives in me shall never thirst.’” - John 6:35

Boca Beat

BOCA RATON By : P e d ro H e i zer

Boca Raton Football Club has announced they are bringing back head coach Jim Rooney for the 2019 Season. Rooney led Boca Raton FC to a 10-10-2 record across all competitions in 2018, taking Boca Raton FC to their fourth straight APSL Semifinals

• It’s that time of the year again! The Boca Raton Holiday Parade will take place this Wednesday, December 5. The parade will run from 7:30pm til 9pm. The parade route begins at Federal Hwy & SE 5th Street, traveling north to Mizner Park Amphitheater • Boca Raton Football Club has announced they are bringing back head coach Jim Rooney for the 2019 Season. Rooney led Boca Raton FC to a 10-10-2 record across all competitions in 2018, taking Boca Raton FC to their fourth straight APSL Semifinals and growing a young team from scratch to recreate a winning culture within the organization. With only four players over the age of 25, Boca Raton FC was one of the youngest teams in both the NPSL and APSL last season, giving Rooney and his staff much room for growth as these young college stars mesh together in years to come. • Sparks of excitement are flying in PBSC’s Residential and Commercial Electrician program - and for good reason. Agapito Arvizu, Jr. has placed first among Florida electrician students and apprentices in the 2018 IDEAL National Championship, giving him the chance to win $30,000 when he represents the state at the competition finals in Orlando Dec. 1-3. Sponsored by IDEAL Electrical, a leading manufacturer of electrical tools, this annual race-against-the-clock competition determines the best electrical professionals and students/ apprentices in North America and awards more than $600,000 in cash and prizes to the champions. • On the heels of a historic 2018 season, two more honors have come in for Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer, with Ebba Blomqvist and Mary O’Hara earning AllSouth Region recognition from United Soccer Coaches. • The Boca Raton Children’s Museum has a brand new white picket fence surrounding the property thanks to the Rotary Club of Boca Raton. Diane Shawcross, a staff member of the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, the affiliate of the museum, first brought the idea of the fence to the Rotary Club of Boca Raton. The club loved the idea and decided to raise the money necessary to make it happen. • Boca Helping Hands relaunched its Hospitality Job Training Program in September 2018 in conjunction with SouthTech Academy. This Job Training Program prepares students for careers in South Florida’s vibrant hospitality industry. The curriculum of the redesigned program focuses on fundamental cooking and kitchen skills, dining room preparedness (server, busser, hostess, and front of the house

CITY DIRECTORY

Boca Raton City Hall

201 West Palmetto Park Rd.

Boca Raton, FL 33432 www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us

GENERAL INFORMATION (561) 393-7700 training), as well as industry-specific certifications (SafeStaff and TIPS certification) • The Leon Charney Diplomacy Program at Florida Atlantic University recently competed in the National Model United Nations competition in Washington, D.C. and finished first overall out of 60 competing universities. This is the first ever national title for the program. • We at the Boca Raton Tribune are thrilled to announce that Jon Carter will start writing a weekly column for the online edition of our paper titled “Carter Talks” where the FAU student will write about anything and everything. If you have any ideas on what he should talk about, reach out to him or email us at news@ bocaratontribune.com, welcome Jon! • A beloved Christmas tradition that has been a part of the Glades community for three decades is ending on a high note this year. On Dec. 2, Palm Beach State College’s Belle Glade campus and the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center will present the 30th and final production of its Living Christmas Tree performance. The event, titled “A Holiday to Remember: 30 Years of Favorites,” will feature more than 100 children and adult volunteer choir members from the Glades community who will sing popular selections from the past three decades such as “Holiday Rock,” “Light Up the Tree” and “Let it Snow.” It takes place at 3 p.m. in the Dolly Hand. Tickets are $5. • On Feb. 20, New York Times bestselling author, James Patterson will be Palm Beach State College’s keynote speaker for the 2019 STEAM Luncheon. The 7th annual event, themed “A Conversation with James Patterson: Transforming Lives through Literacy” and chaired by South Florida businesswoman and philanthropist Yvonne Boice, takes place at 11:30 a.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach • Florida Atlantic University and Miami Dade College (MDC) recently announced a new partnership to establish the LINK Transfer Success Program. This program is a collaborative effort to facilitate the admission and smooth transition of students from an MDC associate degree to an FAU baccalaureate degree. “We are excited to formalize this partnership with Miami Dade College, the largest institution of higher education in the Florida,” said Jessica Acevedo-Lopez, director for new student recruitment and LINK Program.

www.bocaratontribune.com

EMERGENCY 9-1-1 POLICE DEPARTMENT (561) 368-6201 FIRE DEPARTMENT (561) 982-4000 CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE (561) 393-7703 CITY CLERK’S OFFICE (561) 393-7740 UTILITY SERVICES (561) 338-7300 RECYCLING (561) 416-3367 PBC ANIMAL CONTROL (561) 276-1344 PARKS & RECREATION (561) 393-7810 MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE (561) 483-5235 BOCA RATON PUBLIC LIBRARY (561) 393-7852 FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY (561) 397-3000 LYNN UNIVERSITY (561) 237-7000 PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE (561) 393-7222

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 3

The Boca Raton Tribune

COMMUNITY 17-Year-Old Finishes PBSC Honors Diploma in High School

Ahria Bass didn’t just get a head start on her college education while in high school, she completed her Associate in Arts degree with Honors College distinction. Now the Palm Beach State College dual enrollment student and aspiring neurosurgeon will cross the stage at the 2 p.m. fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 19 to celebrate her achievement - five months before she is set to graduate from Seminole Ridge High School. “It’s been an amazing opportunity,’’ said Bass, who also completed by her junior year the requirements for her University of Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma, an international curriculum and examination system that emphasizes the value of broad and balanced study. That qualifies her for a Bright Futures Scholarship covering 100 percent of her tuition. “At first, I didn’t know if I could handle it, but my mom just kept pushing me. I’ve had so many different options and resources. It’s been really great.” Bass is among two dual enrollment students graduating this fall and an increasing number with the discipline and stamina to handle the rigors of earning an associate degree while in high school. In the spring, 35 dual enrollment graduates earned an A.A. degree, the highest ever. However, not all dual enrollment students complete the degree requirements the semester before their high school graduation and while also pursuing the Honors Gold diploma, the

most rigorous track in the Floyd F. Koch Honors College. While juggling College and high school, Bass works part time at a shoe store and is actively involved at PBSC in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Psychology Honor Society and Honors Student Advisory Council where she serves as secretary. She also is captain of the varsity cheerleading team at Seminole Ridge and a member or officer of numerous clubs and organizations. She completed her A.A. degree while facing numerous personal challenges for herself and her family. “Ahria is a hard-working student. She really acclimated nicely to the Honors College community,” said Marcella Montesinos, Honors College manager. “Students see her not as a teenager from high school, but as a respected college student whose opinions and input they value. I’m proud of all that she has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time.” Bass said she maintains a calendar to stay organized. “I’m not overwhelmed or anything,’’ she said, noting that the only thing she had given up was being on the competitive cheerleading team. “I learned to do homework in between classes. It’s just about time management.” Fallon Johnson said she is proud of her daughter who, until the birth of her son five years ago, was an only child. “I’m ecstatic. She’s such a giving person, and she pushes me to want to be better. I look at her as an inspiration. I measure my success by the success of my children, or in this case, Ahria.” Bass said her next step is to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology and neuroscience. She has applied to 11 colleges, including public and private institutions in Florida, as well as several Ivy League schools and is waiting to see where she will land. In the meantime, she plans to take more prerequisites for her bachelor’s program in the spring term before starting her bachelor’s in fall 2019.Ahria Bass didn’t just get a head start on her college education while in high school, she completed her Associate in Arts degree with Honors College distinction.

FAU Launches MaryLynn Magar Fellowship at MPFI Florida Atlantic University recently announced the launch of the MaryLynn Magar Fellowship at the Max Planck Academy at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. An FAU Magar Fellow is a data science student from FAU High that is pursuing research at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI). The fellowship will include $3,000 to support the student’s research efforts. “MaryLynn Magar has worked to help create a thriving scientific hub in Jupiter at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus,” said FAU President John Kelly. “She successfully fought for, and ignited, numerous initiatives that allowed FAU and Max Planck to grow together as partners. We are truly grateful for her longstanding support.”

www.bocaratontribune.com

The FAU Max Planck Academy is the latest partnership between FAU, MPFI and the Germany-based Max Planck Society, expanding on similar opportunities for FAU’s graduate and undergraduate students. “I am proud to be part of the collaboration between FAU and Max Planck and look forward to seeing what these remarkable students can achieve in the years to come,” said Magar. This unprecedented program will open the laboratories of Max Planck to select high school students, allowing them to participate in world-class research and scientific discoveries as part of their curriculum. Six high-achieving FAU High students currently are dual-enrolled in an Academy pilot program and are the first to be named Magar Fellows.

December 7 - December 13, 2018

4 -Edition 391

FAU Schmidt College of Medicine Honors Donors at Ceremony Florida Atlantic University recently commemorated the 20-year anniversary of a transformational gift of $15 million from the Boca Raton-based Schmidt Family Foundation. The gift, which was matched by the state of Florida, created the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science in 1998 and launched the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, which admitted its inaugural class of 64 students in 2011. FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine recently hosted a special dedication ceremony and reception at the medical school in Boca Raton to celebrate this major milestone and to honor benefactors Barbara and Richard Schmidt, along with philanthropists Lisa and Michael Kaufman, and Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.Ph.H., the first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU’s medical school, for their recent gifts to the college. “Today we celebrate the 20-year anniversary of this transformational gift and pay tribute to Barbara and Dick Schmidt and the Schmidt Family Foundation,” said Phillip M. Boiselle, M.D., dean of FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “Their decades of generous and thoughtful commitment to the success of our college has inspired many others throughout our community. We are very grateful to Lisa and Mike Kaufman and Charlie Hennekens for continuing this tradition of philanthropy with their generous gifts that will benefit our students, faculty, staff, and community for years to come.” The Kaufman’s gift of $250,000 will name the “Lisa and Michael Kaufman College of Medicine Lounge,” located on the first floor of the medical school’s

December 7 - December 13, 2018

main building. The space will provide the college with an engaging environment that will foster collaboration and community building. “Lisa and I are very proud of our affiliation with Florida Atlantic University and the Schmidt College of Medicine,” said Kaufman, a member of FAU’s medical school advisory board. “We are truly committed to supporting this university and building an infrastructure that will continue to propel Palm Beach County’s first and only medical school to even greater heights.” Hennekens’ gift of $200,000 will name the “Hennekens Library and Technology Hub in Honor of Sarah K. Wood, M.D.” This state-of-the-art center will provide medical students with an innovative library and technology resource they need to succeed as future doctors. Hennekens serves as a mentor to Wood, who is now the senior associate dean for medical education

in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “Serving as a mentor to aspiring physicians and scientists has been a highlight of my career as a physician and scientist. I am extremely proud to make this gift in honor of my former medical student and mentee, Sarah Wood,” said Hennekens. “Sarah embodies the outstanding professional and personal qualities that nurture competence and compassion in our outstanding medical students. We are very fortunate to have Sarah, who works in collaboration with many other outstanding faculty members in the Schmidt College of Medicine, as our senior associate dean for medical education.” Since its inception in 2011, the Schmidt College of Medicine has been recognized nationally for its innovative undergraduate medical education curriculum, which has inspired other medical educators around the country. As a community-based medical school, local physicians and leading

www.bocaratontribune.com

hospitals in South Florida have joined forces with the college to mentor students and train and retain physicians in this region. In June 2014, the medical school, together with its five hospital partners in Palm Beach County, launched the first medical residency in internal medicine. Today, university-sponsored medical residencies in the college include internal medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, and neurology as well as a cardiology fellowship. Additional residencies will be added as needed. In addition to its innovative educational programs, FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine is at the forefront of biomedical research. Designed with the community’s needs in mind, and in alignment with the strategic goals of FAU, research in the college is focused on healthy aging and geriatrics, neuroscience, chronic pain management and opioid use disorder, and genomics and precision medicine. More than 100 distinguished guests attended the dedication ceremony and reception along with the Schmidts, including FAU President John Kelly; Anthony Barbar, chair of FAU’s Board of Trustees; Michael T.B. Dennis, M.D., chair of the medical school’s advisory board and a member of FAU’s Board of Trustees; Dwight W. Warren, Ph.D., founding dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science; Ira J. Gelb, M.D., senior academic advisor of pre-baccalaureate programs, professor of integrated medical science and director emeritus of cardiology in FAU’s medical school; Stuart L. Markowitz, M.D., senior associate dean for student affairs and admissions in FAU’s medical school; and Elizabeth Markowitz, among others.

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 5

Boca Raton Public Library Announces New Manager of Library Services The Boca Raton Public Library is pleased to announce that Ellen Randolph has been promoted to Manager of Library Services. Previously, Ms. Randolph served as the library’s Public Services Librarian and was responsible for managing over 50 staff members in three library departments in both the Downtown and Spanish River Library locations. She has been an active participant in library strategy and management, including developing and coordinating library programs and services, streamlining operational structures, strengthening employee leadership skills and expanding creative opportunities, leading and mentoring project teams, designing and implementing revenue processes, and improving library responsiveness to internal and external customers. Recreation Services Director Michael Kalvort, CPRE, notes, “Ms. Randolph impressed the interview panel with her vision for a 21st century library, her past experience in both the private and public sectors and in managing community and university

libraries, and her overall plan to work with and develop a lasting partnership with the Friends of the Library. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in her leadership and vision for the future of our City’s libraries.” “As a City of Boca Raton resident and librarian, I am dedicated to this beautiful community and to the Boca Raton Public Library as a valued education, recreation, and career development learning center,” says Ms. Randolph. “As Library Manager, I will lead our creative, enthusiastic team to provide engaging, innovative programs and services that reflect and support community interests and goals.” The past few years, the BRPL has experienced tremendous growth, and a milestone was reached in October 2018 with 1 million checkouts for the year. Under Ms. Randolph’s leadership, the BRPL will move forward in 2019 with particular focus on early literacy, technology and work skills, civic engagement, cultural awareness, and language resources.

www.bocaratontribune.com

December 7 - December 13, 2018

6 -Edition 391 The Boca Raton Tribune EDITORIALS & LETTERS East/West Boca Raton, FL

The Boca Raton Tribune Founded January 15, 2010

DOUGLAS HEIZER, Publisher

Editorial C. RON ALLEN PEDRO HEIZER MICHAEL DEMYAN

Our Writers/Reporters and Columnists MICHAEL DEMYAN

JOSHUA CARLSON

SAMANTHA THOMPSON

CHARLOTTE BEASLEY

SYNESIO LYRA

BRYANNA BASILLO

Business DOUGLAS HEIZER DINI HEIZER

Online Edition PEDRO HEIZER FLAVIA PROENCA

EDITORIAL By C. Ron Allen

How Will you be Remembered? Our community lost three giants of men recently in the passing of former President George Herbert Walker Bush, former Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson and former Florida Highway Patrol trooper Sevine Williams. It has become a scary trend as the last three obituary-related columns I penned, were for people who died in groups of three. While many of us were not surprised by the transitioning of “Daddy Bush” last Friday at 94, I was somewhat saddened. I find comfort, however, in knowing that he is with his widow of more than seven decades, his baby daughter, and no longer will be concerned with the issues of thisworld. As I listened to the tributes, I learned so much about the man whom I came to know as our 41 st president. I knew about his love for boating, golfing, of country and family. It was public knowledge that he was shot down as a young Naval aviator and was rescued by a submarine during WWII, and I am quite familiar with his “thousand points of light” promotion of volunteerism. But unfortunately, it was not until in death that I discovered the human side of him. Far too often, in this unkind world, we allow politics to cloud the great deeds that

define us as good human beings. I was overcome with emotion a few times as many spoke about his compassion, his humility and his civility; like when his grandson, Jeb Bush Jr., grounded his Papi’s boat, Fidelity IV, while he was putting it in the slip. To add insult to injury, the younger Bush later used his “ganny’s” smart car without permission, only to get a butt chewing from her. Just when he thought the world was caving in, he received a handwritten note from his Papi telling him to hang in there, it’s not the end of the world. There are some days like that… but some are brighter, he recalled. President Bush was known for writing and leaving thoughtful notes in the most conspicuous places at the most opportune times. I wondered why I felt the same way when the late Sen, John McCain died in August. It did not take me long to realize the two were gentlemen, who despite their political differences, earned the respect of those who disagreed with their beliefs - a stark contrast from the lack of character we have in our leaders today. Another gentleman who was snatched from among us on Oct. 25 was Aaronson, affectionately called Burt.

Burt was a die-hard Democrat who genuinely cared about his constituents, regardless of how they voted. He was “The Godfather” of South County politics. There was hardly a community meeting in West Boca, West Delray and West Boynton where Burt, who served an unprecedented 20 years in office, or his administrative assistant Mary Lou Berger, were not present. Berger, who began working for him in 1994, succeeded him as county commissioner in 2012 after term limits forced him to quit. Burt’s accomplishments are evident across the county. I recall in the early 1990s, he fought to prevent the county’s Solid Waste Authority from building a landfill and incinerator on 1,662 acres west of Boca Raton. He also led the charge, which led to the creation of the sheriff ’s substation and a fire station, along US 441, west of Boca Raton. He founded the Palm Beach International Film Festival and he helped open the county’s Special Olympics athletic and therapeutic center in Lake Worth. He supported a bond issue that provided $100 million to buy land in the county’s 20,500-acre Agricultural Reserve, west of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.

Every Thursday evening, I drive by and through the 872-acre park that bears his name - Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in West Boca Raton - and I am honored to have known this legend. The third blow came Thursday when my fraternity brother, “So Fine” Williams, passed unexpectedly. We first met in the late 1980s when I was a reporter with one of our local dailies. Over lunch one day, I challenged him to make a right turn at Atlantic Avenue one Friday morning and help me change a life. Back then, there were no guard rails along Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County so troopers were known for making left turns on the interstate. Sevine took me up on the request and was among a few troopers who would meet and mentor students at the old Carver Middle School. When hurricanes Frances and Jeanne destroyed Fort Pierce in 2004, he was one of two troopers who escorted two vans of school supplies and toys for kids in the city. With the passing of these three great men, I can attest that they all have left their mark on their communities. When your day comes, what will your legacy be?

POSITIVE LIVING By Dr. Synesio Lyra, Jr.

Leaders Depend on Followers! There are persons who wish Dr.Synesioto be recognized as leaders on account of a position they occupy. Yet, if no one is following them, the title cannot rightfully be applied to them, and it makes very little difference, if any. The very idea of leadership entails followers, to justify the use and application of the term “leader.” Interestingly, before anyone can be a leader, he or she must first be a follower also, observing certain guidelines which, then, can be passed on to others who are now following such person. And once someone begins to act as a leader, such person must continue to seek new guidelines and abide by them in the tasks they

are to fulfill and the example they must set before those depending on their leadership. Leadership entails ever learning new paths to take the followers along, with fresh, relevant ideas to inspire and further prepare every current or potential follower. It also signifies being able to revise personal habits and patterns so as to help advance the followers to where they need to go and to what they must experience for the success desired and anticipated! A leader often fulfills some of the same tasks the followers are performing; a genuine leader is not just a distant boss but an involved colaborator. A true leader should never depend solely on one’s own insights. They may be good,

but can also be improved. They may be outdated and require the necessary revisions which others can inform and even help implement. Or they can also be quite bad, and should be prevented from further implementation! Followers will always need to know where they are going in following their leader, since personal capacities vary, individual limitations are a major factor when it comes to certain aspects of a task which, otherwise, can be achieved with brilliance and legitimate good results. Leaders, sincerely and proactively, have to consider the best interests of their followers by being clear communicators of their vision and expectations, kind in

the face of errors committed, approachable at all times, and never impossible to be reached for any emergency. As I once read, “if you want to be the top banana, you should not detach yourself from the bunch.” Several institutions have persons who have become leaders by default and who, in so many cases, are incapable of doing the job, in the manner the work needs to be conducted. Unless lines of communication between leaders and followers are perennially open both ways, little progress can be made. Leaders and followers have to study their roles continuously so as to improve them always, as they move forward, whatever the cause or project may be!

Dr. Synesio Lyra, Jr. is a Florida resident who, for many years, was a professor at the post-graduate level. He is a writer, a sought-after conference speaker, a man who lived in five continents of the world, having received his education in four of them. When he resided in southern California, he wrote a weekly column for the daily “Anaheim Bulletin,” which was carried for about six years, until he moved to south Florida.

December 7 - December 13, 2018

www.bocaratontribune.com

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 7

www.bocaratontribune.com

December 7 - December 13, 2018

8 -Edition 391

FAU To Serve on Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Florida Atlantic University recently was appointed to serve as a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) focused on information and communication technologies. FAU is among a handful of academic institutions representing the United States and the only academic institution in Florida serving as a member of ITU. FAU’s appointment to ITU was approved by the U.S. State Department. ITU was founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union and become a specialized agency of the UN in 1947. ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops technical standards to ensure that networks and technologies interconnect seamlessly, and works to improve access to information and communication technologies to underserved communities worldwide. More than 800 leading companies and academic institutions are members of ITU and represent a cross-section of global information and communication technologies. Warner A. Miller, Ph.D., a professor of physics and associate dean for research in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, is serving as FAU’s ITU representative. He is spearheading a sub-group on global quantum-safe communication standards in collaboration with FAU colleagues and leading academic institutions in Europe, Asia and throughout the world, to shape all future requirements from both a government and industry perspective. Miller is helping to develop, for the first time, standards for quantum cryptography for the sub-group – ITU’s study group 17 (SG17). His areas of expertise include quantum information geometry and quantum gravity, among others. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of this prestigious and influential special agency of the United Nations,” said Miller. “We are very excited to collaborate with other members of the International Telecommunication Union and its study group 17 on quantum-safe communications, which is a vital and enormous growth area for the United States,” said Miller. “Using quantum cryptography, we are committed to reducing fraud and identity theft and stopping cyber attackers from compromising sensitive data globally.” ITU’s SG17 is currently working on cybersecurity; security management; security architectures and frameworks; countering spam; identity management; the protection of personally identifiable information; and the security of applications and services for the Internet of Things (IoT),

December 7 - December 13, 2018

smart grid, smartphones, software defined networking (SDN), web services, big data analytics, social networks, cloud computing, mobile financial systems, IPTV and telebiometrics. In 2015, FAU and SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecommunication company entered into a research and education collaboration agreement to develop secure communications using quantum physics for applications in cryptology, hardware engineering and quantum computing. For this ITU initiative, Miller is working closely with SK Telecom, ID Quantique, a Swiss-based world leader in quantum-safe security, and the Hudson Institute, a think tank and research center dedicated to nonpartisan analysis of U.S. and international economic, security, and political issues, on this leading technology for next-generation security systems. “Using the laws of physics to block eavesdropping attempts from hackers, quantum cryptography is going to globally revolutionize how we protect our data,” said Ata Sarajedini, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Science. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Miller’s and Florida Atlantic University’s role on the International Telecommunication Union. Their efforts will help to ensure that the exchange of data is secure for numerous industries such as finance and banking and health care as well as military and government entities. Moreover, the educational component of this collaboration will help to make sure that we have a highly-trained workforce of quantum cryptography experts.” Miller, who is currently at the Hudson Institute working with industry, academia and federal agencies on these quantum standards for the January 2019 ITU meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, also is establishing a quantum core at FAU involving experts from physics, mathematics and computer science. He has been working closely with one of the university’s research pillars, the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE), and FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, to jointly develop a quantum certificate program at the university. “Belonging to the International Telecommunication Union and being involved at the national and international levels will provide Florida Atlantic University with a ‘quantum leap’ in this realm and will place us at the forefront of research and education is this rapidly emerging field of quantum secured communication.” Today, there are more than 7 billion cell phone subscribers, more than 1.4 billion households with access to television, and tens of millions of new Internet users every year. Furthermore, hundreds of millions of people globally use satellite services for a multitude of purposes such as GPS navigation systems. Data breaches and cyberattacks affect millions of businesses and households each year, hindering the integrity of critical systems, leaking private information and paralyzing Internet infrastructures.

Electrician student, fastest in the state, to compete nationally

Sparks of excitement are flying in PBSC’s Residential and Commercial Electrician program - and for good reason. Agapito Arvizu, Jr. has placed first among Florida electrician students and apprentices in the 2018 IDEAL National Championship, giving him the chance to win $30,000 when he represents the state at the competition finals in Orlando Dec. 1-3. Sponsored by IDEAL Electrical, a leading manufacturer of electrical tools, this annual race-against-the-clock competition determines the best electrical professionals and students/apprentices in North America and awards more than $600,000 in cash and prizes to the champions. Arvizu will travel to the IDEAL National Championship, all expenses paid, accompanied by program instructors and about 20 of his classmates, including Kyle Brown, who came in second in Florida. If Arvizu wins the $30,000 top prize, an additional $5,000 will go to PBSC. Second place would award him $20,000 and third place, $10,000, but no additional money for the College. While Brown won’t compete in Orlando, he’ll receive $500 to spend on IDEAL tools. The College also will bring back tool donations from the event to use in the program. “The fact that our students won first and second in the state has energized all of the electrician students,” said Brent Ebner, program director. “The camaraderie that this event helped foster will last our students a lifetime.” Over 20,000 students/apprentices attended qualifying rounds nationwide from March through mid-October, with 700 attending in Florida alone. While not all attendees competed, the field was competitive. Arvizu, who is known as “Pito,” took the top state spot by completing the timed task in just over 53 seconds. Brown’s time was 55 seconds. The task required students to demonstrate both problem-solving and physical skills across five categories: pulling wire, cutting, stripping, termination and testing. IDEAL officials judged all qualifying rounds, and in addition to fastest completion time, evaluated wire connections, termination, connectivity and safety. Arvizu will perform a similar timed task at the national championship when he goes

www.bocaratontribune.com

up against 64 student/apprentice winners from the other states and U.S. territories, as well as wild card contestants. “I’m really excited,” Arvizu said. “I’ve never been in a competition like this before, so this being my first time, I’m just ready to get out there and show what I can do. It’s a great opportunity.” He credits instructor Josh Colvin for encouraging him to take on the challenge of the competition. “The fact that my teacher showed me the video and allowed me to build boards in class and practice in class…it helped me to get better and better,” said Arvizu, who also helped other students learn how to do the challenge. Colvin, who came in second in Florida in the competition’s professional category, noted that Arvizu is the first PBSC electrician student to win the state and go on to the national event, which draws thousands of electricians from across the nation and Canada. “Now when he goes on job interviews, he gets to say, ‘I won the state of Florida for the IDEAL challenge,’” Colvin said. “To most people, it doesn’t mean anything, but to an electrician, it’s a well-known tool company and competition, so that helps him get hired. It builds his confidence. With what he’s taken from our class and what he’s learned in the field, he knows he can do this right.” Arvizu, a 2010 graduate of Santaluces Community High School in Lantana, had been working on and off as an electrical helper since he was 12 years old, often helping his uncles in the field. He realized, however, that his on-the-job experience only took him so far, and he needed formal training. Now, as he gets ready to graduate from the yearlong certificate program Dec. 19, his goal is to become a master electrician and own his own company. He also wants to pay it forward. “I want to be able to provide for my family and do what my uncles did for me,” Arvizu said. At first, I didn’t understand why they were doing it, but now as I grow up, I appreciate it that much more, and I want to be able to give that back to the younger generation- maybe my little cousins, or my little sister or brother, or anybody that wants to join the field.”

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 9

FAU Partners with Miami Dade College for Link Transfer Success Program

Florida Atlantic University and Miami Dade College (MDC) recently announced a new partnership to establish the LINK Transfer Success Program. This program is a collaborative effort to facilitate the admission and smooth transition of students from an MDC associate degree to an FAU baccalaureate degree. “We are excited to formalize this partnership with Miami Dade College, the largest institution of higher education in the Florida,” said Jessica Acevedo-Lopez, director for new student recruitment and LINK Program. The program will serve students who are currently enrolled in MDC and plan to complete their associate degree within three years or six consecutive semesters

(excluding summers). “Through the FAU LINK program, Miami Dade College students planning on transferring to FAU will receive their FAU student ID which opens the door to FAU events, academic advising and exclusive scholarships,” said Acevedo-Lopez. “FAU’s campuses in Broward county and online programs expand access to academic opportunities for MDC students.” The FAU LINK Transfer Success Program was established in 2009 to reinforce the University’s commitment to state colleges and transfer students. MDC joins FAU’s other LINK partners, including Palm Beach State College, Broward College and Indian River State College.

Lynn Social Impact Lab Students Attend Global Conference

Lynn University’s Social Impact Lab selected six students and an alumnus to receive a scholarship to attend the annual Opportunity Collaboration summit in Cancun, Mexico, Oct. 14–19. The delegates- Kuda Biza ’10, graduate student Michael Buckley, seniors Alberto Gomez and Ivar Guerero, junior Coralie Alexis, sophomore Tariro Katutura, and freshman James Okina-joined 440 leaders from 50 countries to explore the latest techniques and technologies being used to tackle the global poverty crisis. “We’re grateful for the Cordes Foundation gift that made this trip possible for our students,” said Jerry Hildebrand, director of the Social Impact Lab. “Their support helped students to gain a better understanding of sustainable business practices that are impacting the real world.” Over the six days, students built their professional networks and learned from high-power

leaders about the world’s current poverty landscape and alleviation efforts. Speakers also shared best practices and partnership opportunities. “I met many extraordinary individuals who gave me advice for my career and my life,” said Gomez. “Learning about how they turned their passions into functional businesses including nonprofits was genuinely inspiring.” Unlike traditional conferences, Opportunity Collaboration blended its main sessions with more personal, small group session. Students also were invited to shadow Social Impact Lab Director Jerry Hildebrand and Associate Director Erina McWilliam-Lopez in their meetings and strategy sessions. “Allowing students to interact with industryleading changemakers in such a relaxed atmosphere is comparable to none,” Gomez added.

www.bocaratontribune.com

December 7 - December 13, 2018

10 -Edition 391

The Boca Raton Tribune

COLUMNISTS BOCA SOCIETY HAPPENINGS

FAITH

By Charlotte Beasley

By Robert J. Tamasy

Rotary Club and Boca Tribune Toy Drive On Sunday I loaded my car up with toys and dolls to bring to the Rotary Club toy drive in Sugar Sand Park. Joined by many friends, the Rotary collected a sizable amount of toys and dolls to distribute to many kids in our area. A job well done!

December 7 - December 13, 2018

Who Cares Where You Went To School?

“What kind of work do you do?” This is a question we typically ask someone we have just met, maybe during a business trip or in a coffee shop. It’s a way of getting acquainted. People also ask, “Where did you go to school?” or, “What college did you attend?” Sometimes those questions come up during a job interview. They may provide interesting information, but are not always relevant to job competency. Before starting my career, I enrolled in a major university’s school of journalism. I earned bachelor and master’s degrees in journalism, but learned more about writing and editing in my first few months as a newspaper editor than I had the entire five years I was in college. Most of the theoretical knowledge I accumulated in school had no practical application for my day-to-day work responsibilities. As Seth Godin, an author, entrepreneur and blogger, observed, “The campus you spent four years on 30 years ago makes very little contribution to the job you are going to do. Here is what matters: The way you approach your work. What have you built? What have you led? How do you make decisions?… How do you act when no one is looking? You are not your resume. You are the trail you have left behind, the people you have influenced, the work you have done.” There is much wisdom in what Godin says. Having an MBA from a prominent business college or degree from a prestigious university sounds impressive, but neither addresses the inner qualities needed for a high-quality staff member or leader. We want to know someone’s track record: What they accomplished and what experience they have, particularly as it relates to the job they are seeking. Even more important than what we have done, I think, are how we approach our work and how we behave when no one is

www.bocaratontribune.com

looking. The Bible’s book of Proverbs has much to say about this: Approaching our work with a high level of dedication. The surest way to build a successful career, or to advance a company’s goals, is to work with diligence and determination, responding to opportunities when they present themselves.“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son” (Proverbs 10:4-5). Working with excellence and effectiveness. A person who strives to achieve the highest level of quality is rare in society today. Since many people seem satisfied with mediocrity, skilled workers that take pride in what they are asked to do tend to be noticed. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men”(Proverbs 22:29). Putting a priority on honesty. Sometimes it seems tempting to misrepresent vital information to gain a sale or win a contract, but as we often read in the headlines or hear in the daily news reports, dishonest practices eventually are exposed and consequences paid. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment” (Proverbs12:19). “Differing weights and differing measures – the Lord detests them both” (Proverbs 20:10). Becoming known for commitment to integrity. Another form of temptation is to behave differently when we think no one is looking, compared to when we know our actions are under scrutiny. A person of integrity, however, is one whose public and private behavior remain constant. “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity”(Proverbs 11:3).

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 11

From Supermarket to Super Engines: One Palm Beach State Graduate’s Journey

When Eduardo Gilces graduates from PBSC’s Engineering Technology A.S. degree program this month, he’ll already have eight months under his belt at his dream job as a drafter/modeler for Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) in Jupiter. However, 19 months ago, helping to design turbine engines for the aerospace industry seemed like a dream that would never come true. Back then he was paying his bills with a job in the produce department of a local Publix. While he spent his days stocking and cutting up fruits and vegetables, his ambitions lay elsewhere. As a teenager, Gilces, who is good in math, would play around with his civil engineer father’s computer-aided design software. He wanted to pursue an engineering degree after he graduated from PBSC with an A.A. degree in 2014, but universities had a slew of prerequisites for their engineering programs,

and Gilces found himself overwhelmed. That is until his friend and Publix coworker, Thomas Garza, opened a door. Garza had enrolled in a related PBSC program, Electrical Power Technology, and invited Gilces to come to one of the program’s events. There Gilces met Professor Oleg Andric, chair of the EPT program, who instead encouraged him to consider Engineering Technology, a program closer to his interests. Soon everything came together for Gilces. “I had a taste for engineering but didn’t know how to get into it and bring it all together into a career,” Gilces said. “This program seemed a much simpler kind of path, so I took a roll of the dice and signed up, not knowing too much, and now I’m working on engines. I love what I’m doing.” He’s also getting good at it. Recently, he helped save a client from a costly manufacturing error. “Eduardo contributed significantly to the tolerance study on a family of turbine blade profiles by identifying a number of discrepancies that we then took back to the customer,” said Dave Ohlschwager, product definition team lead at FTT and Gilces’ supervisor. “That’s where his value really came in because, even though he had limited experience with the customer and the components, he was able to understand something that’s very complex and bring it

back to me in a way that was very clear.” Gilces will continue at the company after his graduation on Dec. 19 and sees a bright future there. “This is the beginning. FTT gives raises and promotions as long as you show the discipline for it,” he said. “They’ll switch me around to train with different engineers because they want me to broaden my horizons and will pay for me to keep going to school to get a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.” Gilces, 26, grew up in West Palm Beach and graduated from Forest Hill High School. Looking far into the future, he speculates that he may one day teach at PBSC, like his professor and work colleague Eva Suarez, who is chair of the Engineering Technology program and holds a part-time position at FTT as a program engineer. I’m very proud of Eduardo,” Suarez said. “He has overcome a lot of hurdles, and not only is he an exceptional student, I actually work with him at FTT, and there he’s also an outstanding employee. I have to give him so much credit for working and studying and exceeding expectations with the highest level of integrity and workmanship in both places.” The Engineering Technology and Electrical Power Technology programs are handson, practical and closely related to industry,

www.bocaratontribune.com

which allows students to see the connections and apply what they are learning. All students do internships, many of which lead to jobs. Gilces’ case was exceptional— FTT hired him on the spot. Garza, who graduated from the EPT program in August, also transitioned successfully from an internship to a full-time position at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, where he is an instrumentation technician in its Development Flight Center. “The program truly changed my life. I’m in places I never imagined myself to be, and I know it’s only going to keep getting better for Eduardo, too,” Garza said. “With our programs, it’s much easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Andric noted. “Eduardo and Thomas would have been stuck with a much longer path to a career, and here it is much more direct.” Andric tells the story of Gilces stopping by the school’s lab after his first day working at FTT last April. Classmates were asking how it went when Garza, recalling their days at Publix, said ‘Look at us. Imagine… the two of us were cutting fruit a year ago, and now both of us have jobs in the aerospace industry.’ “To me, that was a moment,” Andric reflected. “These transformations, which occurred in front of our eyes, have been inspirational to watch. We’ve done good for them, and they’ve done good for themselves.”

December 7 - December 13, 2018

12 -Edition 391

December 7 - December 13, 2018

www.bocaratontribune.com

for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com

Edition 391 - 13

The Boca Raton Tribune

SPORTS UAB Blazers to Take on NIU Huskies in 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

This year’s Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl will feature the Northern Illinois Huskies from the Mid- American Conference and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers from Conference USA. The 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. ET, at FAU Stadium. It is the only matchup this season outside of the New Year’s Six hosting two conference champions. The game will be aired live on ESPN before a national audience and globally on ESPN’s affiliates around the world. Northern Illinois finished the season 8-5 overall after becoming the 2018 MAC Champion under sixth-year head coach Rod Carey. NIU has won four MAC Championships (1983, 2011, 2012, 2014) and has played in ten postseason bowl games since 2004, most notably the 2014 Inaugural Boca Raton Bowl. Junior defensive end Sutton Smith became the first Huskie to win back-to-back MAC Defensive Player of the Year awards. NIU is ranked No.1 in total defense and leads the country in quarterback sacks. “We’re really excited to go back to Boca

Raton,” said NIU head coach, Rob Carey. “Last time we were there in the inaugural game it was a fantastic bowl experience. It’s part of the mission to be in a bowl every year and we’ve done that all but one year [since 2008], so I’m super happy for our seniors and our team. There is a part of this that is a reward for everything these student-athletes do, but the best part of it is we get to compete as a team together again.” UAB finished the season 10-3 overall under head coach Bill Clark after claiming the team’s first Conference USA championship. In the two years since UAB’s program has been reinstated, the Blazers have played to an overall record of 17-8 and a league mark of 13-3. The 13 C-USA wins are the most of any school in that two-year span. The team is also ranked in the top-10 in seven different statistical categories. Sophomore running back Spencer Brown is ranked seventh in the nation for rushing offense with 15 rushing touchdowns and has scored at least one rushing touchdown in 10 of 12 games.

Boca Raton FC Brings in Silvio Costa as Advisor/Assistant Coach for 2019 Season Boca Raton Football Club is excited to announce the hiring of Silvio Costa as an advisor and assistant coach for the 2019 Season. A native of Brazil, Costa was well-known in the 90s where he played for a number of powerhouse teams in Brazil including São Paulo, Grêmio, Internacional, and Fluminense. Costa also played with the Brazilian National Team, where he played 21 games for The Seleção, Costa came in second place in the 1991 Copa America with the National Team. “I’m excited to join Boca Raton FC. This is a time in which players are coming to the United States to get better, and I believe Boca Raton FC will be fundamental in helping these players,” said Costa. “I am honored to be learning from

www.bocaratontribune.com

someone like Jim [Rooney], who is very well respected around the world and has top-class coaching credentials.” As an advisor/assistant coach, Costa will be an advisor to the Brazilian players looking to make the move to Boca Raton FC and will also assist head coach Jim Rooney in the soccer operations of the club. With the signing of Costa, Boca Raton FC has also relieved Villy Washington of his duties as assistant coach. “Having Silvio with us is a reflection of the growth we are experiencing,” added team president Douglas Heizer. “We have bold plans for next season and the presence of a former player who defended the Brazilian team will serve as a mirror for our players.”

December 7 - December 13, 2018

14 -Edition 391

December 7 - December 13, 2018