UF Association of Hispanic Alumni Celebrates
2014 Gator Guayabera Guateque
The University of Florida Association of Hispanic Alumni hosted the 2014 Gator Guayabera Guateque on Saturday, May 17th at McCormick Place in downtown Miami.
The 11th annual event featured displays from the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida including samples from the libraries’ Panama Canal Collection, the Florida Everglades Collection, and the University of Florida History Collection. The Smathers Libraries also provided materials from the Latin American and the Caribbean Maps Collection. The Smathers Latin American and the Caribbean Collection ranks among the finest in the world. It contains approximately 500,000 volumes, 1,100 current/active serial titles, some 50,000 microforms, and a growing amount of computer-based information and access.
Over the years, the Gator Guayabera Guateque has raised $280,000 for student scholarships, including $13,000 for the J. Bernard Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, and in 2013 completed the funding of a $100,000 endowment to provide the University of Florida with an annual source of funds for student scholarships.
University of Florida President J. Bernard Machen was on hand once again for the event. President Machen has attended the Gator Guayabera Guateque since its inception, and is currently serving his last year as university president.
Each year the Gran Caimán of the Year Award is presented to a University of Florida alumnus who is a great representative of the university as well as a strong contributor to the educational, cultural or social communities in which they participate. The Gran Caimán exemplifies leadership, integrity and compassion to the people they serve and is a loyal and spirited Gator. The 2014 Gran Caimán Award was presented to Ignacio J. Abella. Mr. Abella is a loyal and spirited Gator who truly bleeds orange and blue. He developed the concept of the Gator Guayabera Guateque 11 years ago. He served as president of the AHA until 2011.
The University of Florida Association of Hispanic Alumni is an affiliate of the University of Florida Alumni Association and has as its principle goals the promotion of the University of Florida and raising scholarship funds for current students at the university.
