At its annual Earth Month event, Hug the Lake, the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development celebrated two deserving members of the University of Miami community who have made meaningful and lasting contributions to the splendor, progress, and future of the Coral Gables Campus and embody the University's mission to prioritize sustainability.
Pavan Gudoor and Son Vo each received the Roberta “Bosey” Fulbright Foote Prize—which honors the wife of the fourth president of the University of Miami who led numerous beautification projects throughout the Coral Gables Campus.
Gudoor, a senior studying computer science and on the pre-med track and the co-chair of the Student Government ECO Agency, was this year’s student honoree. For the past four years, he has motivated and educated his peers to be more environmentally conscious. He has served as an ECO Rep within his residential college and has successfully implemented the Food Alert Program, which ensures that food leftover after campus events does not go to waste. Gudoor also created an inter-residential competition called the Campus Race to Zero Waste Program—a waste reduction and recycling contest.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to win this award,” said Gudoor. “In these four years, I realized how much I could do, what I was capable of, what I was passionate about, and that I could have a team that supports me. I’m so grateful to Teddy Lhoutellier, Heather Stevens, and the entire ECO Agency.”
Vo, senior manager of facilities and operations, was the staff member recipient this year. He oversees the grounds landscaping team and has helped to support a myriad of initiatives including the environmental stewardship of the Coral Gables Campus. Vo has his hand in bettering all the sites on campus for all to enjoy.
“I feel very honored,” said Vo, who was unable to attend the presentation in person. “I would like to share this recognition with our entire team at Facilities Operations and Planning and send a special kudos to my assistant, Sabrina Hoffman, as well as the whole [landscaping crew].”
“The best two examples of his leadership are the support provided to the Connect to Protect Network at the Sano Building, a native ecosystem planted by students, sponsored by the ECO Agency in partnership with Fairchild [Tropical Botanic Garden] and Vo’s team,” said Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president of student affairs. “The second illustration of his commitment to health and biodiversity is the partnership he helped foment with Dr. Terri Hood on protecting the Atala butterfly, an imperiled species that saw a resurgence in Lakeside Village.”
Whitely presented each honoree with a large potted orchid and a personalized certificate. More than 100 participants attended the annual Hug the Lake event, a longstanding University tradition that brings awareness to our Earth's environmental issues, at the Lakeside Patio Promenade. The participants were able to take their own personal photo “hugging’’ Lake Osceola. And free giveaways, including green graphic T-shirts, were provided to all in attendance.
