The Miami Dade College (MDC) Foundation (MDCF) welcomed alumni, community leaders, donors, supporters and new board members to the Loews Coral Gables Hotel on June 5 for its annual Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, celebrating 12 MDC graduates who exemplify the power of education through outstanding professional achievement and leadership. The evening also marked a strong milestone for the Foundation as it raised more than $1 million in support of student scholarships.
The newest class of Hall of Fame inductees includes:
Business – Bernie Navarro, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, U.S. Department of State
Education – Historian – Dr. Paul S. George, Resident Historian, HistoryMiami Museum
Entrepreneurship – Joshua Pascual, Owner, Josh’s Premium Meats
Hospitality – Emilio Cabrera, McDonald’s Franchise Owner, EC Management Corp.
Law – Beatriz Azcuy, Managing Partner, Miami Office, Sidley Austin LLP
Non-Profit – Kamila Pritchett, President & CEO, The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.
Philanthropy – Silvia Rios Fortun, President of Guardian Angels, Jackson Health System Foundation
Public Safety – Fire – Fernando Gomez, Chief Fire Officer, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Public Service – Senator René García, County Commissioner District 13, Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners
Real Estate – Nestor J. Machado, President, Cawy Management Corp.
Sports – Francisco J. Martin, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Massachusetts
Technology – Ernesto Arguello, Co-founder and Co-CEO, CanWe app by Social Navigation Society
In addition to honoring its newest Hall of Fame inductees, the Foundation also announced its 2026 Board of Directors leadership team, which will continue to guide the organization’s efforts to support student success and advance Miami Dade College’s mission through philanthropy and community engagement.