Students sample one of the products on sale by local vendors at the ’Well Canes Farmer’s Market on October 24. The market, typically held on Wednesday on the Foote University Green, was part of Food Day events organized by the University of Miami’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement. The day was part of a movement across the country to promote a healthy, affordable, and equitable food system. Food Day activities on the UM campus included a food fair, a food and agriculture panel discussion, and screenings of food justice movies.

Seven student nurses from the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies have been nominated finalists for the 2011 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year in the categories of “Student Nursing” and “Rising Star.” Finalists in the “Student Nursing” category include UM undergraduates Joy Ariel, Valerie Halstead, Ana Pino, Kelley Poteet, Autum Willard, and Sophia Khawly. “Rising Star” nominee Aubry Florom Smith was selected based on a demonstration of outstanding caring, leadership, and professionalism within the first 18 months of practice.

March of Dimes, a leading nonprofit organization focusing on improving the health of all babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, hosts the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year, a special event that honors the contributions of nurses who have demonstrated exceptional patient care, compassion, and service. Finalists are nominated by their peers, coworkers, and patients based on commitment to profession and community as well as dedication to excellence. Each honoree has generously touched the lives of families in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

The UM student nominees will be honored at a program hosted by the March of Dimes on Friday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel in Doral. The program will include a silent auction, which will be immediately followed by a dinner and awards ceremony.

Kelly L. Jackson, left, a graduate student at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, explains her research project to UM President Donna E. Shalala, Rosenstiel School Dean Roni Avissar, and Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

From research posters on past climate and the geologic effects of a hurricane to seamless news gathering and on-spot reporting, University of Miami students played a key role on the opening day of the recent Society of Environmental Journalists Conference, for which UM served as the host institution.

UM School of Communication students and their counterparts from Florida International University and Miami-Dade College documented the event, writing news articles, taking photographs, and producing multimedia stories for the UM-created online newspaper The Miami Planet. And during the opening reception of the conference, held October 19-23 at the Miami Intercontinental Hotel, students from the College of Engineering and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science presented research papers.

Left to right: Jay Nerang, president of the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee; Beatrice Louissaint, president of the SFMSDC; UM VIce President of Human Resources Nerissa Morris; Sophia Galvin, director of UM’s Business Development Program and second vice-chair of the SFMSDC board of directors; and Erasmos Acostas, chairman of the board of directors for the SFMSDC.

The Southern Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC) awarded the University of Miami the Local Corporation of the Year Award at its recent 36th Annual Awards Gala. UM was nominated for the award by a minority-owned business and competed against Baptist Health South Florida, Miami Dade College, FPL, and Broward College for the award.

The Local Corporation of the Year is the highest honor presented by the SFMSDC in recognition of organizations in South Florida that consistently demonstrate a commitment to women and minority business development and have or are striving to establish world-class supplier diversity programs. Nerissa Morris, vice president of human resources at UM, accepted the award on behalf of the University. Read the full story

With an oversized American flag serving as a backdrop, Colonel Michael J. Colburn, the 27th director of "The President's Own," leads the band during one of many musical selections performed at the concert.

Music mixed with patriotism on October 14 when “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band performed at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center, giving thousands of audience members an opportunity to see and listen to a professional musical organization that was founded by an Act of Congress in 1798. The free concert was held in conjunction with Festival Miami, the Frost School of Music’s annual series of concerts and master classes. Read the full story