Another successful Rome Golf Tournament was enjoyed by over 105 golfers, 54 sponsors, and the Rome Golf Committee members, accompanied by U-SoA faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This year's event raised over $115,000 thanks to our generous sponsors, and was fueled by a silent and live auction that included a UM football signed by Coach Manny Diaz, a Four Seasons Surf Club stay, artwork, event tickets, restaurant and fitness gift certificates, and more!
Golf Committee member, Frank Vilar, kicked off the event by sharing opening remarks on the afternoon of October 11th at Crandon Golf on Key Biscayne. Next year, the Rome Program will reach a milestone, turning 30 years old! Every year, proceeds from the tournament support both U-SoA students and the school's position as a prestigious academic research and educational center in Rome. Aside from a full house on the links, there was another full house this semester in Rome with 19 students participating in the Rome Program abroad experience. The success of past and present tournaments contributes each year to more students attending the program. This semester in Rome was launched with Prof. Jean Francois Lejeune guiding the students through a careful mapping of the layers of the ancient, renaissance, baroque, and modern city. Rome Director, Prof. Carmen Guerrero, also joined the students in Rome to explore the lesser known modern heritage and contemporary interventions in the city. The semester will end with Prof. Jaime Correa proposing a rereading of Piranesi's Rome and leading a final review in December at the MAXXI Museum.
At this year's golf event, ARCH students, Israel Martinez, Bernute Augustin, and Michael Burke shared their Rome experience and thanked the sponsors for their continued support and commitment to the program, extending their gratitude to the Golf Committee members who were the driving force behind the tournament.
Congratulations to all of our competitive golfers and to Alpha Wrecking, who took home first place, followed by Pines Construction and Plaza Construction.
Additional winners were Gary Tarbe, who came closest to the pin, and AJ Blackmon, who won for the longest drive.
The 13th Annual U-SoA Rome Golf Tournament surpassed previous years' fundraising thanks to the continued generosity of our sponsors. Proceeds benefitting the Tom Spain Rome Program endowment, in support of the Rome Program, provide scholarships that enable U-SoA students to spend a semester studying in Rome.
We thank our committee members: Robert Behar; George Cuesta; Jim Durante; Chris Korge; Albert Menendez; William Real; Alex Remos; Luis Revuelta; Tom Spain, and Frank Vilar; our generous sponsors, and our alumni for making this event a huge success and for making our continued Rome program a reality. Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury closed the reception by thanking participants and reminding them how the scholarships, supported by the tournament, make Rome a possibility for an increasing number of students every year. Everyone enjoyed a beautiful day on the links with perfect weather!
To support the Rome Program, please click here, or further information on the program, please click here.
Start practicing your swing for next year's 14th annual golf tournament as well as the 30th anniversary of U-SoA's Rome program. Together, we can make it another swinging success!
