In the hectic days before commencement, many students in the College of Business at Florida International University (FIU) answered the open invitation for a champagne toast held in their honor. The toasting event was held the evening of November 19, 2015, at the college’s Special Events Center.

At the start of the evening, Sergio Tigera, executive director of Development, addressed the gathering of more than 100 undergrads and graduate students along with families and friends. Tigera congratulated the Class of 2015 for their generosity in contributing to the 2015 Class Gift, an initiative of the newly formed Business Student Philanthropy Council. The council established a $10,000 goal for the Class of 2015 and Tigera informed the reception guests that giving had reached $10,500. (By the end of November, the class gift had reached $11,793.)

The Business Class of 2015’s gift will go to the FIU Student Enhancement Fund, which helps pay for out-of-the-classroom experiences such as case competitions and professional development opportunities, scholarships and mentoring programs, Tigera explained. He thanked the grads for their generosity as FIU’s newest alumni.

Dean Aldrich raises his glass.

Acting Dean Jose Aldrich added his appreciation to the class for using the Class Gift as an opportunity to begin “giving back” to those who come after them. The students are now joining the more than 50,000 members of the alumni of the FIU’s College of Business and will expand the alumni’s presence on a global level, he said.

Then it was time to pour the champagne! Led by Dean Aldrich, everyone raised their glass to salute the hard work and determination of the graduates and to wish them ongoing success.

Among those who congratulated the grads were Jennifer Quintana (BA ’07), director of Alumni Relations); Silvia Arrastia, associate director, Stewardship & Events; and class giving manager Yanyn San Luis (BBA ’10), assistant director, Alumni Relations.