Page 4 - Boca Club News - March '24

Page 4, Boca Club News

FAU’s C.A.S.T. Party Celebrates from page 1

“My mother felt that that it was important to bring a
cultural arts program to the University, to bring arts to the
community, something that was desperately needed,” said
Dick Schmidt, son of Dorothy and Charles Schmidt. “She
felt that a focus on the arts was vital in higher education,
and both my parents thought it was important to support the
community in which you’re living.”
Myrna Gordon Skurnick was also honored for her
contributions to the arts in South Florida and specifically
for her naming of the Theatre Lab Writing Nest, an initiative
that brings together the Theatre Lab and the Department of
English to encourage new works in American Theatre. Dean Michael Horswell, FAU Interim President Stacy Alisa Cohen, Linda Petrakis, Silvana Halperin, Arlene
Rounding out the honorees was corporate honoree Volnick with honorees Myrna Gordon Skurnick, Dick Schmidt Herson
BrandStar, which recently installed state-of-the-art industry (Schmidt Family Foundation), Doug Campbell (BrandStar)
production technology that will especially enrich students
studying multimedia production, broadcast journalism, short
film and video, and digital production. Students in commercial
music, theater, political science, as well as students outside of
the college will also benefit from this advanced technology.
BrandStar is a multi-faceted marketing agency based in Fort
Lauderdale, specializing in technology innovation, television
production, media strategy and integrated marketing. The
company was founded by Mark Alfieri, founder and chief
executive officer, and Doug Campbell, co-founder and chief
revenue officer.
Three-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch
’88 headlined the event, which was emceed by Jamie
Ostroff, investigative reporter at WPTV Television. Other
entertainment included the FAU Jazz Band, Phil Hinton on Dean’s Community Honor Roll Honoree Ilene Wohlgemuth, Joan Lamonica, Ellen Schuster, Skeets Friedkin, Arthur
piano, Juan Peña (FAU ’16) on guitar, Ryan Townsend and Anthony Barbar, Vicki Barbar, Sharon Kusuke Gutterman, Alison Gutterman
Mitchell Hutchings with musical theatre, visual arts pop-ups,
and the FAU commercial music band.
All proceeds from the event will benefit student
scholarships for the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. The
college houses 21 academic programs including the School
of the Arts, along with humanities degrees, social science
degrees, and the areas of communication and architecture.
The college also houses the Center for Peace, Justice and
Human Rights; the Center for the Future Mind; Women,
Gender & Sexuality Studies; Global Studies; Jewish Studies;
among others.
Myrna Gordon Skurnick, Oliver Buckton, Dean Michael Horswell, Marilyn Maurice Plough, Melanie Cabot, Headliner/
Francesca Daniels Weinberg, Jay Weinberg FAU Alumnus Marc Kudisch and Beth Schwartz

About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine,
University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles
in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High
the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation
billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing
students at sites throughout its six-county service region in special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that
southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech,
faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative
Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These
the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build
Andrea Doyle, FAU Interim President Stacy Volnick, Bonnie of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship.
Kaye, Jan Savarick Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Chairpersons for the
CAST Party evening were
Melanie Cabot, chair of the
Dean’s Advisory Board, and
members Maurice D. Plough
and Beth K. Schwartz.
CAST host committee
members included Alisa
Cohen, Nancy Dershaw,
Silvana Halperin, Andrea
J. Karsch, Bonnie and Jon Dr. Patricia Anastasio and
Kaye, Deborah L. Kull, Jo- Tom Mersch
Ann H. Maynard and Linda
Satz.
Sponsors included Grandpa Buys Cars
Marilyn and Jay Weinberg,
the Schmidt Family Automotive Concierge and Estate Appraisals and Sales
Foundation, Marta and serving Boca Raton
Jim Batmasian, the Barry
and Silvana Halperin Buy | Sell | Consignment | Lease Buyouts
Foundation, Inc., Arthur
Gutterman, Margie and
Maurice D. Plough, Linda As a member of your community, Grandpa Lou at Boca Classic Motorsports Co.
and Joe Satz Trustees, Marcia and Doug Mithun welcomes the opportunity to help with all of your automotive needs.
Mandell Weiss Charitable
Trust, Melanie Cabot, Beth K. Schwartz, Sharon DiPietro, We do everything so you don’t have to leave the house. We’re happy to help whether
Fidelity Investments, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Kaye you’re buying, selling, consigning, trading in a lease, searching for a new everyday
Communications PR & Marketing, Mithun Family driver, or that special classic.
Foundation, The Boca Raton, Alisa and Dr. Richard Cohen,
Liz and Jason Hagensick, Bonnie Halperin and Family, Sally
and Dick O’Loughlin, Linda and Jay Rosenkranz, Myrna Call, Text, Email, or visit us online
Gordon Skurnick, Mark Swillinger, Marilyn Wallach, and
Judith and Dr. Howard Weiner. The Boca Raton Observer 561.757.5500
was the exclusive media sponsor.
For more information about the Dorothy F. Schmidt Info1bcmc@gmail.com | BocaClassicMotorsports.com
College of Arts and Letters, visit fau.edu/artsandletters.