Carnival Student Center Opens At Florida International University

Carnival Student Center Opens At Florida International University

Florida International University (FIU), Carnival Corp. and Carnival Cruise Lines marked the dedication of the new Carnival Student Center at FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the university’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

Located adjacent to the campus’ bayside terrace, the facility encompasses more than 2,600 square feet and has been renovated and repurposed to create a gathering place for students. The center has an advising center, reading room, computer workstations and conference rooms.

The Carnival Student Center was made possible by a gift to FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management from Miami-based Carnival Corp. and its flagship brand Carnival Cruise Lines. The gift also includes an endowment for scholarships, the first of which were awarded to two FIU students at a March 11 ceremony -- Fabiana Ferrer, a sophomore, who serves as a peer advisor, orientation leader, past vice president of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, and chair for the Panther Power Council; and SherAaron Hurt, a graduate student whose career objective is events management and is currently an executive assistant in the school’s hospitality advising office and a member of several professional organizations including the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. The funding for the renovation of the Carnival Student Center and these scholarships qualified for a match by a grant from the state of Florida.

“With hospitality and tourism the backbone of South Florida’s economy and FIU providing excellent educational opportunities in this growing field, it is only appropriate that Carnival help fund the renovation of this new state-of-the-art student center,” said Howard Frank, Carnival Corp. vice chairman and chief operating officer. “Carnival is proud and honored to have its name associated with this stunning facility, which continues the incredible growth of both FIU and FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.”

FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has one of the highest rated programs in the U.S. The school’s alumni hold prominent positions throughout the hotel, travel and food service industries, including Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Corp. At least half a dozen alumni hold high-ranking jobs within Carnival, including Richard Brilliant, Carnival Corp.’s vice president and chief audit executive, who earned a master’s degree in 1993.