Linda Ray teacher Caroline Morin supervises children during a play session at their remodeled playground.

Still overjoyed with their remodeled playground more than a week after it was unveiled, 3-year-old Gabriel and about 20 of his classmates at the University of Miami’s Linda Ray Intervention Center hardly noticed the group of adults who visited their special-needs school on January 5 to watch the children scamper about in their refurbished play area.

A new wooden house and slide, a mural of a jungle scene with animals, and sporty new tricycles proved too much fun for the group of adults to compete for the attention of these energetic tykes. Read the full story

Grammy-nominated recording artist Drake will kick off his Club Paradise Tour on Tuesday, February 14 at 8 p.m. at BankUnited Center. Pre-sale tickets will be available for UM employees online only at ticketmaster.com on Thursday, January 12, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The code is SINGER. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 13 at 10 a.m. For UM students with valid ID, a limited number of discounted tickets will be available at the box office only, beginning Friday, January 13.

Luz Escobar poses with Joe Natoli, senior vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer.

Look up the word “dedication” and you’ll probably find a photo of Luz E. Escobar. A systems analyst in Information Technology, Escobar has worked at the University of Miami for 35 years, an incredible three-and-a-half decade stretch she describes as “fantastic.” On December 12, Escobar and several other UM employees were honored by the Division of Business and Finance for their many years of dedicated service to the division.

10-year group: Elaine Alonso-Cruz, Nerida Rodriguez, Helen Mitchum, Lisi Carreno, Tiana Starks, Amiee Echeverri, Chris Perez, Ramon Molina, Derek Lawrence, Irma Abella, Isidoro Quezada, Vivian Smalling, Steven Frometa, Elna Cabrera.

15-year group: Teresita Von Plinsky, Ana Paneda, Lucia Cruz, Hiram Sem, Mari-Carme Saumell, Jill Colmery, Richard Jones, Kenneth Lair, Maria Moneo, Cynthia Collier, Jacqueline Asenjo.

20-year group: Katherine Wright, Glenda Jimeson, Norma de la O, Margaret John, Maita Beguiristain, Joseph Cilli, Orlando Bomnin, Cesar Ferreiro, Diane Della-Pietra

25-year group: Alice Williams, Maryesther Eymann, Liana Morales, Carmen Oliva, Camille Cilli, James Durante, Wilbert Henry, Saundra Pepper, Barbara Burns, Carlos Diaz-Silveira

During the weekend of January 13-15, the Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation (VONA) visits UM’s Coral Gables campus for a special Writers Weekend for Writers of Color: Words Are Mightier. The Creative Writing Program is offering special scholarships for UM faculty and staff, alumni, and local writers. Tuition for the entire weekend will be discounted from $475 to $250. If you are interested in participating, click here. After completing the application, submit it along with your manuscript via email to [email protected]. Email Professor Evelina Galang at [email protected] if you are interested in applying for the local scholarship.

Lauren Book visited the UM campus last March, speaking to students at the UM Bookstore.

Lauren Book, a sexual abuse victim turned advocate, will make a stop on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus on Wednesday, January 18 at 5 p.m. at The Rock as part of her 39-day, 1,000-mile walk across Florida to raise awareness about sexual abuse.

Book, a UM alumna, will join students and members of the organization No Zebras for a candlelight ceremony to recognize the 39 million survivors of child sexual abuse. The event also will include a speak-out in which survivors will share their stories and encourage continued awareness about sexual abuse on campuses nationwide.

Book was sexually abused for six years while under the care of her nanny. She created the Lauren’s Kids Foundation to end the sexual exploitation of children through education and awareness. After graduating with an education degree from the University of Miami, Book went on to create elementary prevention education that is being incorporated in every public kindergarten classroom in Florida.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.laurenskids.org or call 786-288-5045.