SALUTE TO WOMEN IN ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES 2007 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY HELD A DINNER GALA TO SALUTE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES ON MAY 5, 2007 AT THEIR SOUTH MIAMI CAMPUS. STUDENTS FROM THE DEAN'S ACADEMY WERE INVITED TO THE EVENT BY MISS STEPHANIE STRANGE, HEAD RECRUITER FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS AT SAID COLLEGE. THE YOUNG MEN FROM THE DEAN'S ACADEMY WERE THE ONLY MALES INVITED TO THE SALUTE SO THEY WERE SURE TO BRING THEIR OWN PRAISES AND ADMIRATIONS FOR SMART, SELF-ASSURED WOMEN. FOR ME, THE FOUNDER OF THE ACADEMY, THIS DATE RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO...TO GET YOUNG MEN TO SEE WOMEN AS PEOPLE. INDIVIDUALS. HUMAN BEINGS. THE STUDENTS BROUGHT THEIR OWN TALENTS TO THE EVENT. PAUL MADISON PLAYED CLASSICAL PIECES ON HIS PIANO, AND JAZZ PIECES ON HIS HORN. REGGIE GORDON WELCOMED THE YOUNG WOMEN TO THE EVENT. IVORY McFARLAND READ "STILL I RISE", CHRIS LASPRILLA READ "WONDERFUL WEEKEND", AND SHAMAL ATKINSON CLOSED WITH "PHENOMENAL WOMAN" WHICH BROUGHT THE CAPACITY ROOM TO ITS FEET! ALL POEMS WERE WRITTEN BY MAYA ANGELOU. AFTER TOURING THE COLLEGE CAMPUS AND DOING THEIR BEST AT THE GALA, THE STUDENTS FELT, IN THE WORDS OF PAUL MADISON "LIKE I'M ON CLOUD NINE!". THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN SEEING A YOUNG MAN SEE HIS POTENTIAL COME TO FRUITATION AFTER DOING SOMETHING THEY SO FEARED, AND DOING IT SO WELL!!