MAY 2024

STEPHEN "CAJUN" DEL BAGNO

Stephen "Cajun" Del Bagno started flying when he was 14 years old and later became a corporate pilot, banner tower, and flight instructor before joining the Air Force. During his 11-year career as an Air Force pilot, he flew the F-16 and F-35, before joining the Thunderbirds in the fall of 2017. Then, just three weeks before the 2018 Fort Lauderdale Air Show where the Thunderbirds were scheduled to perform, Cajun sadly lost his life.

The Stephen Del Bagno Memorial Scholarship was established to support aspiring aviators at Broward College, fostering the same spirit of excellence and dedication that Major Del Bagno embodied throughout his life. The scholarship is awarded annually each spring and finalists are invited to attend the Fort Lauderdale Air Show. They are also invited to attend aircraft arrivals, social events with the pilots, and even be part of the flight operations team to work closely around the aircraft offering a unique and inspirational experience.

Learn more about Skylor Liu, recipient of the Stephen "Cajun" Del Bagno Scholarship by clicking on the image below.

During the spring 2024 graduation on May 7, the Hard Rock Live venue was filled with graduates and their proud family members. Broward College Alumni & Friends were present to welcome the new graduates into the alumni family and presented them with their official branded alumni pins and opportunities to take photos with peers and family members. 

Photos from commencement are available here. To relive the memorable day, check out the video recap here.

For our newest graduates, we encourage you to stay connected with your Alumni & Friends family. You can do so by updating your contact information here.  

Please join us in congratulating alumna Avesta Shaygannik, Class of 2017, recently honored as a finalist of the 2024 South Florida Business & Wealth Prestigious Women Awards. SFBW honored over 70 influential South Florida women who have significantly impacted the regional business and philanthropic communities through their careers, mentorship, and generosity. Learn more.

Do you have news to share? A major milestone? Career change? Tell us at Class Notes - Broward College Alumni & Friends.

Broward College presents its 2024 summer dance showcase, "Without Limit," on Saturday, July 20, at Bailey Hall on A. Hugh Adams Central Campus. Directed and choreographed by both Broward College students and esteemed alumni, "Without Limit" represents the culmination of dedication, passion, and artistic excellence. Proceeds from the showcase will benefit student scholarships and programming to support dance education for all aspiring artists.

Join us on August 8 through August 11 at the 15th Annual Pillars Conference, taking place at The Pillars Hotel & Club in Fort Lauderdale. This year’s theme is “The Art of Risk Taking: Maximize your Opportunities, Minimize your Excuses." The conference is a collaborative effort between the Broward College Social & Behavioral Sciences & Human Services (SBSHS) Professional Enhancement Program and other Broward College partners, including Broward College Alumni & Friends. This conference invests in leaders to strengthen their sense of global purpose, total well-being, and individual resilience.

Get ready for a smashing good time at the Broward College Pickleball Challenge on Friday, September 6. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is your chance to show off your skills, enjoy some friendly competition, and connect with fellow pickleball enthusiasts. Plus, you'll be making a difference by supporting Broward College students on their path to success. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity – and consider becoming a sponsor to make an even bigger impact!

From October 18 to 19, 2024, the Broward College Computer Science and IT programs in the STEM Pathway will host its 9th Annual BC Hackathon aka PlutoHacks, a 24-hour coding event where teams of students design and develop prototype mobile/web apps to present before a panel of judges.

As planning gets underway for this year, the BC Hackathon planning team extends an invitation to all Broward College alumni and friends to participate either as individuals or organizations to serve as mentors or a judge for our students during the event. There are also a number of sponsorship opportunities.

Did you miss our last workshop? You can replay for the recording of the recent Caregiver Support Workshop by clicking here. 

This webinar was hosted by Broward College Alumni & Friends and presented by Preferred Legal Plan on May 16, 2024. Attorney Brian Samuels, VP and CEO of Preferred Legal and attorney Elizabeth Kominsky led the presentation and took many questions from the audience about the nature and importance of legal documents related to caregiving and estate planning. We encourage you to watch this webinar and to share the link with others who may benefit from this invaluable information.

Some of the key documents and concepts covered included:

1. Durable Power of Attorney 
2. Healthcare Decision Maker 
3. Living Will and Advanced Directives 
4. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

The webinar emphasized the importance of creating these documents now, when you and your loved ones are able to make these decisions.

Professor Dr. Robert Gallagher also spoke about the Associate of Science in Eldercare Services at Broward College and how our students are already having a positive impact on the lives of seniors in Broward County.

This webinar, and all our previous webinars, can be viewed here.

Brandon Saridjo is a proud alumnus of Broward College and currently works as a Transfer Student Success Coordinator at Florida State University. He plans on remaining at FSU and is applying to the Doctor of Educational Leadership program to continue his journey as a higher education social worker.

When asked about his experience at Broward College, Brandon shared: “Without Broward College, I would have never seen the parts of this country that I only dreamed of while growing up. As a member of the Broward College Model United Nations, I traveled across the country representing our school and winning competitions. BC also gave me the unique, positive experience as a transfer student and prepared me to have the perspective I have today in my work. Without BC I would not be as effective today supporting my students through the change and transition of being at transfer student.”

Get instant access to discounts on theme parks, entertainment, gifts, hotels, sporting events, concerts, theaters, movie tickets, and more nationwide. This program is available to all alumni, friends, and employees of Broward College.

Start saving today. Go to www.ticketsatwork.com and click “Become a Member” below. Fill in your name, and password, and where it says Company Code, enter BCALUMNI and submit.

See May’s special deals here.

Did you know you can support charitable organizations like ours through your IRA or 401(k)? By naming Broward College Foundation as a beneficiary, you can continue to make lifetime withdrawals and keep the flexibility to change beneficiaries if things change. 

When you include the Broward College Foundation in your financial and estate planning, you ensure your legacy of providing opportunities to students who are determined to change their lives by pursuing higher education. Help someone become Empowered by Broward!

For more information, email Scott Rivinius or call 954-201-7490.

Past issues of You & the Blue newsletter and recordings of interactive webinars are available online.