By Stu Bobcat - St. Thomas University
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Receiving the AA gift to St. Thomas University, from left: Hilda Fernandez, vice president of the office of advancement; Alexis Aran Coello, AA corporate communications manager - Miami; Marilyn DeVoe, AA vice president - Miami; Msgr. Franklyn Casale, STU president; and Griffin Gonzalez, AA community relations manager - Dallas.
MIAMI GARDENS | American Airlines has given $40,000 to St. Thomas University in honor of Marilyn DeVoe, who is retiring after 39 years with AA. DeVoe, a lifelong advocate for education, has served as vice president-Miami since 2010.
DeVoe’s relationship with STU started 17 years ago when she worked with Msgr. Franklyn Casale, STU's president, to build a vocational school in Haiti – Haiti Tec. Haiti Tec was built by an alliance of South Florida businesses which included The Miami Herald, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, The Children’s Trust and six Haitian business associations, as well as American Airlines. DeVoe was recently named a member of St. Thomas University’s President’s Board of Advisors.
“We believe education lays a foundation for excellence, and American Airlines’ generous gift in honor of Marilyn tells us they feel the same,” said Msgr. Casale. “This is a fitting way to honor someone that values the power of a good education.”
STU will use this substantial donation to continue developing "leaders for life," and to provide scholarships to its students.
"Marilyn is a homegrown hero at American, having begun her career in the finance department in 1977,” said Robert Isom, chief operating officer of American Airlines. “She is a passionate advocate for her employees and for Miami-Dade County and we are thrilled to make this donation to St. Thomas University in her honor."
