College to recognize six Alumni of Distinction
The College will recognize six alumni this year as “Alumni of Distinction,” based on the recommendations from the faculty, Dean Terry Hynes announced. Including these six, the College will have recognized only 91 of its more than 21,000 graduates in this manner.
Two alumni have chosen to be recognized at the College’s annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 5, 2006: Guillermo Martinez and Johnny Tillotson.
Four alumni have chosen to be recognized at the College’s Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 6, 2006: Matt Bunker, Jim Harper (also will be recognized as a UF Distinguished Alumnus), Jennifer McMillin, and Scott Sanders.
The six are:
Matthew D. Bunker (PhD 1993): Bunker is the Reese Phifer Professor of Journalism, Department of Journalism, and former associate dean for graduate studies in the College of Communications, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Widely regarded as one of the pre-eminent First Amendment scholars among mass communications academics. Author/co-author of two books, 35 refereed journal articles and two law review articles, among other publications. Matt received the Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression for his book, Critiquing Free Speech: First Amendment Theory and the Challenge of Interdisciplinarity. This book also was a finalist for the Frank Luther Mott-Kappa Tau Alpha Award for research in journalism and mass communication. Matt is the first person who received a Ph.D. from the College to be recognized as an alumnus of distinction.
James Harper (ADV 1963): Senior vice president for business development for Acordia, Inc., an insurance brokerage division of Wells Fargo Banks. Former president and CEO of Acordia Southeast and Acordia of Central Florida; former owner of a large insurance brokerage firm in Clearwater which was bought out by Acordia; former president of American Business Insurance Southeast; former partner in and senior vice president of Rodgers & Cummings, former senior vice president of Merrill Lynch, among other professional accomplishments. Has served his community and the state as a leader in numerous ways, for example as director of BayCare Health System, chair of the capital campaigns for the Greater Clearwater Public Library and YMCA, director of Morton Plant Health Services, and chair and president of the Ruth Eckerd Performing Arts Center. Currently a director of the University of Florida Foundation and member of the College’s Board of Advocates. Also will be recognized in May 2006 as a University of Florida Distinguished Alumnus.
Guillermo I. Martinez (JOU 1966): one of the nation’s leading Hispanic journalists. Semi-retired, Martinez is a consultant for Hispanic news organizations in Miami, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador and a syndicated columnist whose weekly column appears in newspapers in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, New York, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. Founding member and past president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Florida Association of Hispanic Journalists. Career highlights include: UPI bureau chief in Puerto Rico, Argentina and Peru; senior editorial writer and first Hispanic member of the editorial board of the Miami Herald; first city editor of El Nuevo Herald; winner of the InterAmerican Press Association’s Gleaner Award for editorial commentary on Latin America; two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee; senior vice president for news and sports for Univision (the largest Spanish-language network in the U.S.); executive news director of Miami’s WLTV-Channel 33, Florida’s leading Spanish-language news station; vice president for news of CBS/Telenoticias Miami; international corporate vice president for Organizacion Cisneros in Caracas, Santiago, San Juan, and Miami.
Jennifer McMillin (PUR 1988): executive vice president with GolinHarris, where she runs the consumer practice of the Atlanta office. She is a creative and strategic senior manager with extensive experience with trade associations and commodity groups as well as branded products. Her expertise includes program planning and development, campaign launches, issues management, consumer education, publicity campaigns and special events. Jennifer began her career as an intern with Ketchum Public Relations. Before joining GolinHarris in January 2000, Jennifer was senior vice president and North American director of special projects for GCI Group.
Scott Sanders (ADV 1979): executive producer and entertainment industry entrepreneur, whose most recent project, the Broadway musical version of The Color Purple, has been playing to sold-out audiences since opening in New York December 1, 2005. Scott has produced more than 1,000 live shows and events. Founded Creative Battery in 2002, his innovative New York-based production company. Received an EMMY for his production of the HBO Special, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty. His company also won a TONY for its first production, Elaine. Scott is widely credited with the historic turnaround of Radio City Music Hall, where he served as executive producer for 15 years and worked with a variety of entertainers including Bette Midler, Liza Minelli, The Grateful Dead, Madonna, and Liberace—whom he persuaded to perform in New York City for the first time and for whom he eventually produced several shows. Scott also founded Mandalay Television, where as president he executive produced six network television series, including ABC’s Cupid and WB’s Young Americans. Also has produced Presidential gala’s for Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush.
Johnny Tillotson (Tel 1959): Songwriter, singer and recording artist who charted 26 hit recordings, mostly his own compositions. His song, “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’” has been recorded by more than 100 artists and was one of two songs for which Johnny was nominated for a Grammy Award. Out of thousands of popular recording artists over the years, Billboard Magazine ranks Johnny in the top 150 of all time. His songs continue to receive radio airplay today. Wrote and recorded his first hit record, “Dreamy Eyes,” while still a student in journalism and communications at the University of Florida. In addition to the songs named above, he is best known for “Poetry in Motion,” “Without You,” “Earth Angel,” “True, True Happiness,” “Our World,” “Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On,” “She Understands Me,” “Worry,” “You’re the Reason,” “Talk Back Trembling Lips,” and “Heartaches by the Number” (for which he earned his second Grammy nomination). Johnny wrote and performed the theme song for the television sitcom, “Gidget,” starring Sally Field. He has received several songwriting awards, including two BMI awards and the Millionaire Award for more than one million airplays of his song, “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin,’” His songs and recordings are popular internationally and he has performed all over the world.
Posted: February 15, 2006
Category: College News
