Six Alumni Recognized With Legacy Awards At Celebration Of Giving

SANFORD, Fla. (Sept. 20, 2023) - The Seminole State College Alumni Association proudly announced the recipients of the 2023 Alumni Legacy Awards at the annual Celebration of Giving Event held on Sept. 12. The six recipients were recognized during the event, held in conjunction with the Foundation for Seminole State College, for their significant contributions to the community, their leadership and the lives they have transformed.
 
Distinguished Alumni Award
 
The Distinguished Alumni award recognizes an alum in the community who has made substantial contributions to society and whose accomplishments have honored the legacy of Seminole State College of Florida. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient was Tim Smith.
 
Smith joined Wharton-Smith Construction when he was 16 years old, working his way up the ladder through college, earning full-time employment in 1991. During nearly 40 years of growth and change, Smith has served the company in many roles from cleaning crew, field engineer, quality control director, vice president, president and more. Smith took classes at Seminole State as a dual enrollment student prior to receiving his bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University and used Seminole State classes to bolster his second bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Central Florida (UCF).
 
Smith is committed to the Central Florida community. He actively supports Kids House, Leadership Seminole, Habitat for Humanity, Seminole State College, UCF and the Central Florida Zoo. UCF recognized Smith as well with a Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering achievement award.
 
Alumni Excellence Honorees
 
The Alumni Excellence Honorees exemplify the College’s core values of integrity, respect, excellence, academic freedom and learning. This year’s Alumni Excellence Honorees are:
 

• Shelly Allen: Starting her college education in her thirties, Shelly Allen obtained her associates degree in public relations and advertising at the College in 2018 before going on to obtain her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida (UF). Now, as the director of public affairs for a locally owned solar company, Allen is responsible for supporting the organization’s advocacy and community outreach efforts. In 2017, Allen co-founded the Sanford Porchfest Corporation and serves as the communications officer and vice president.
• Amber Clore Morales: A.Clore Interior’s CEO Amber Clore Morales is a licensed interior designer who has been practicing for over 15 years. After attending Seminole State for her associates degree in 2004, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and grew her passion for interior design into a prominent business. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Avalon Park and on the executive council for Leadership Seminole as well as the advisory council for the interior design program at Seminole State.
• Dr. Molly Kostenbauder: Dr. Molly Kostenbauder received her Associate in Arts degree from Seminole Community College in 1998. She went on to graduate from UF with a focus in animal science for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees before completing a doctorate at UCF in higher education and policy studies and a graduate certificate in public health. She became the associate vice president for the School of Business, Health and Public Safety at Seminole State in 2022.

 
Honors Alumni Award
 
The Honors Alumni Award recognizes a Grindle Honors Institute graduate whose professional successes contribute to society, and this year was awarded to Catheryn “Cate” Kandle. Kandle graduated from the College in 2017, receiving the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and continuing her education at Unity College in Maine to receive her bachelor's degree in sustainable agriculture. Kandle is now the owner and operator of Open Hands Farm in Longwood. She sells her produce at farmer’s markets and shares a portion of the produce at no cost with the Longwood Hills Congregational Church Food Pantry. The food pantry serves approximately 40 families per week and Kandle is starting to offer low-cost gardening workshops for community members.
 
Outstanding Graduate Award
 
Finally, the Outstanding Graduate Award recognizes a recent Seminole State graduate who has shown promise during their time as a student and was awarded to Pedro Armona. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2023 with his Associate in Arts. As an active student and ambassador for the Grindle Honors Institute, he fiercely advocated for students to join the honors program and worked to hold events that helped build a tight-knit community. He is currently a student at UCF in the Burnett Honors College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with aspirations to work as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. intelligence community, motivated by a desire to defend national security.
The Seminole State College Alumni Association and the Foundation for Seminole State College extend their heartfelt gratitude to their donors and partners whose support has continuously transformed the lives of students.
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About Seminole State College Alumni Association:
The Seminole State College Alumni Association provides benefits and services for alumni as they continue their lifelong connection with Seminole State College of Florida, providing opportunities for them to network with one another, interact with the student body and support the College. To learn more, visit the Alumni Association website, Seminolestate.edu/alumni.
 
About the Foundation for Seminole State College:
The Foundation for Seminole State College, founded in 1968, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that enhances the College's programs and services through the development and management of private contributions, public grants and community partnerships. For more information, visit www.seminolestate.edu/foundation or email the Foundation directly at foundation@seminolestate.edu. 
 
Photo: (L-R) Chair of the Alumni Leadership Team Sheryl Mays, Pedro Armona, Cate Kandle, Shelly Allen, Amber Clore Morales, Dr. Molly Kostenbauder, Tim Smith, Seminole State President Dr. Georgia Lorenz.

Media Contacts: 
Emily Hollingshead, hollingsheade@seminolestate.edu
Kimberly Allen, allenk@seminolestate.edu