UCF to Give Puerto Rico Governor Honorary Degree at Hispanic Summit
by Tom Evelyn (407-823-5988, tevelyn@mail.ucf.edu)

ORLANDO, March 1, 2006 -- The University of Central Florida will award an honorary doctoral degree to Puerto Rico Gov. An$iacute;bal Acevedo Vilá on Friday, March 3, at Orlando's second annual Hispanic Summit.

"Governor Acevedo Vilá's years of distinguished public service, both here and in Puerto Rico, and his fostering of partnerships between Puerto Rico and Central Florida, make him a deserving candidate for such recognition," said UCF President John Hitt, who will present the degree during a ceremony at 12:55 p.m. Friday at the Orange County Convention Center.

Acevedo Vilá will speak at the closing luncheon for the Hispanic Summit, a two-day event focusing on the growing Hispanic community and its economic impact in Central Florida. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is scheduled to attend the degree ceremony and speak at the luncheon.

Acevedo Vilá was elected the eighth governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 2004. He has made budgetary reform and education the centerpieces of his administration.

UCF is partnering with the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine to share research and help develop the curriculum for a proposed medical college in Orlando. Florida's Board of Governors is expected to vote March 23 on UCF's proposal.

For more information on the Hispanic Summit, visit www.orlando.org.

Note to reporters: The honorary degree will be awarded during the summit's closing luncheon, which begins at noon Friday in the North Building, room N310, of the Convention Center. The degree ceremony will begin at 12:55 p.m.

DATE POSTED
March 8, 2006

CONTACT
Tom Evelyn
UCF News & Info
407-823-5988
tevelyn@mail.ucf.edu

Juanita Colombani
Office of the Governor
787-467-6706
jcolombani@fortaleza.gobierno.pr

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LINKS
www.orlando.org