| FIU Alumni Association | |
| Director: | Sara DuCuennois [1] |
| City: | Miami, Florida |
| Country: | United States |
| Colors: | Gold & blue |
| Affiliations: | Florida International University |
The Florida International University Alumni Association is an alumni organization for former students of Florida International University. It is governed by a 32-volunteer-member board of directors and currently has over 20,000 dues-paying members made up of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of FIU.
Each year, the FIU Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni at the Annual Torch Awards Gala which was established on FIU's 25th anniversary. During the 14th Annual Gala, which took place on March 28, 2015, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the FIU Alumni Association broke a university record with over 800 guests in attendance and commemorated the university's 50th anniversary. The gala boasts an attendance of university leadership, high-level donors, alumni and friends of FIU.[2]
The awards categories include:[3]
The Florida International University Scholarship Fishing Tournament is a one-day, offshore tournament featuring fishing for Dolphin. The university's Alumni Association organizes this event and the NET proceeds go towards a scholarship program for students of the university. In addition to recognizing Alumni Association scholarship recipients, the Dock Party is open to the public and features unlimited drinks and food sponsored by local restaurants, music and activities for kids. The Student Alumni Association hosts a PAW Wall at the event which features a wall of numbered Paws, which correspond to different prizes. Guests can contribute a donation to select a paw, which will win them a mystery prize guaranteed to be valued higher than the cost of the paw. The funds raised by the surprise raffle wall go directly to the student scholarship fund.[4]
The prize categories include:[5]
The Alumni Association also hosts smaller scale annual events to provide their alumni base with a variety of networking options. These range from receptions and meetings to luxury tailgates and reunions.[6]
An exclusive members-only reception that provides networking opportunities with fellow alumni and university leadership. During this event, an induction ceremony takes place for any new members of the Alumni Association Board of Director.
A week of service during which alumni are invited to return to campus as guest speakers to inspire students at the start of their academic career. The Alumni Association also hosts a reception at the end of the week for the participating alumni to enjoy food, beverages and listen to an update on FIU from the university's president, Mark B. Rosenberg.
An exclusive, air-conditioned luxury tailgate that allows guests to escape from the masses and enjoy food, beverages, music and networking prior to select football games.
The event honors those who graduated 25 years and prior and invites them back for a reunion weekend where they can reconnect with their fellow panthers and enjoy a variety of activities, including an induction ceremony, dinner, football game and campus tour.
The Alumni Association travels to cities with large pockets of alumni and hosts an intimate cocktail reception to show them what is on the next horizon for FIU and let them now how they can become involved in the university's future growth.
FIU currently has over 250,000 alumni around the world in more than 30 countries.[7] In conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations, the Division of External Affairs publishes a quarterly news and alumni magazine, "FIU Magazine". FIU Magazine is distributed free of charge to all FIU alumni, faculty and donors.[8]