Philippe Buteau/Staff Writer
For the first year, students will be the baton-bearers at the annual Trail of the Torch.
Trail of the Torch, FIU’s biggest tradition, celebrates the recognition of University alumni and students.
Beatriz Newborn, Alumni Relations coordinator, said in years prior the people responsible for carrying the Torch were alumni.
The University’s Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving originally scheduled Trail of the Torch to take place during the Week of Welcome, but rain forced a reschedule of the event.
As a result, Alumni Relations moved one of the preeminent Panther Pride events – now in its 11th year – to Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. It will start in front of Primera Casa at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus to end at the Housing Quad.
A committee of alumni chose five students who will carry the Torch relay style.
The Student Alumni Association, the cheerleading team and the Golden Dazzlers dance team will honor five students who have represented the University for this year’s Trail of the Torch. There will also be music from the FIU Marching Band.
Along with Roary, the University mascot, the groups will follow each alumnus with a torch from one point to another until they reach a final stop in the front steps of Primera Casa. PC is the first campus building since 1969.
The Torch represents knowledge, opportunity and service, which highlights the qualities of the selected alumni who were chosen by a committee of faculty.
Students will also receive a passport and a wristband as they trail throughout the main campus. With ten stamps from different tents at the event, they will receive exclusive anniversary “FIU@50” t-shirts at the end of the trail.
Newborn said the rescheduled event is now a pre-event for Homecoming, which takes place from Friday, Oct. 16 to Saturday, Oct. 24.
She said the new date is meant “to have some of that excitement” from Homecoming, but next year the aim will be to do it again during Week of Welcome.
“It will be a rain or shine event in the future,” Newborn said, adding that there will be some type of cover.
“We will have really good activities and entertainment,” Newborn said.
Newborn also said some of the new features for this year’s event are a mechanical bull, a photo booth and crepe makers.
The University’s Student Alumni Association has teamed up with the Student Ambassador program to host the annual FIU tradition.
Newborn said the Alumni Association paid for event, but the ambassadors planned and will host it.
Student Ambassadors are members of the SAA who help the University with events.
“They give students an opportunity to get to know them and learn about what the Alumni Association has in store,” Newborn said.
The goal is for ambassadors to represent the whole university as they themselves represent its different groups: on-campus residents, commuters, greeks, internationals, Honors College students and athletes.
“We look forward to welcoming the entire student body,” Newborn said.
Torch bearers:
- Kamila Manzueta – Academic Excellence
- Junior
- Major(s): International Relations and Political Science
- Minor(s): Communication Ethics and Legal Profession Minor and Rhetorical Communication
- Johanna Gustafsdottir – Student Athlete
- Senior
- Major(s): Recreation & Sport Management
- Stephanie Gomez- Greek Representative
- Senior
- Major(s): Elementary Education with ESOL
- Robbin Meneses- Student with Desire to Leave Paw Print
- Senior
- Major(s): Criminal Justice and Psychology
- Ana Correa- Student with Desire to Leave Paw Print
- Junior
- Major(s): International Relations
- Certificates in: Global Media Communications and Environmental Studies
philippe.buteau@fiusm.com
About Post Author
