Earth Day is an annual celebration that raises awareness of the need to protect the Earth and its natural resources for future generations. At NSU, students and staff and faculty members celebrate the concepts of sustainability and conservation every day—this issue of Donor Connection shares just a few of their stories and achievements. 

Earlier this month, scholarship donors had the opportunity to meet scholarship recipients at The Big Thank You Luncheon. Student researchers were on hand to share their work and achievements with donors and fellow Sharks, and we introduced our new donor kiosks. These interactive displays feature the stories of donors, scholarships, and scholarship recipients.  

This edition also celebrates the achievements of our student athletes. The NSU women’s swimming team won the NCAA Division II Tournament—making them back-to-back champions! The men’s and women’s basketball teams also had incredible seasons with the women breaking records with an unprecedented winning streak and the men returning to the championship game of the NCAA Division II tournament. Fins Up to all our student athletes. 

Congratulations are also in order to … 

• Michael Mominey, Director of Athletics and Associate Vice Present for Advancement, who received the Athletics Director of the Year Award from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. 
• The NSU University School Upper and Middle School robotics team, for winning the state championship for the third consecutive year, elevating the program to the dynasty level—the highest achievement a robotics program can attain. The team is now preparing to compete in the world championships for the 11th consecutive time. 
• Harry K. Moon, M.D., FACS, FRCSEd., NSU president-elect, executive vice president and chief operating officer for being named a Fellow ad hominem of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The qualification is required to practice as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. 
• James Donnelly and Ramola Motwani, members of the NSU H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame, for receiving the 2024 Horatio Alger Award. The award is given to exceptional corporate, civic, and cultural trailblazers who have overcome challenges and remained committed to educational and philanthropic efforts. 
• Douglas McIntosh, J.D. was named Alumnus of the Year at this year’s Student Life Achievement Awards—also known as the STUEYs—celebration. McIntosh graduated from NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law and currently serves as an adjunct professor of law. 

We hope you enjoy the photos from The Big Thank You, the work of Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, and the multitude of events held by NSU University School during the 2024 Colen Family Summit on Human Dignity. I also want to express my sympathy to the family and friends of a treasured member of our Shark family, Nancy D’Alessio, Ph.D. Her legacy lives on through the Biology Student Award, and her impact is evident in the matching donations pledged by her former students. We hope you take a moment to read her story. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Terry J. Mularkey, M.A.S., CFRE
Vice President for Advancement and Chief of Staff