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Be a star with a gift that means business.

Despite its growing reputation—including recognition from U.S. News & World Report, BusinessWeek, Hispanic Business, and América Economía—for its innovative international business programs, its world-class faculty, and the fact that Fortune 500 companies routinely recruit its graduates —the College of Business Administration has not really had a place students could call “home.”

But that began to change in November, when ground was broken for the new business building complex. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, College leaders, friends, architects, and donors signed concrete blocks for the foundation and joined in the groundbreaking ceremony.

“For years, our students have had to take classes across our campuses; our administrative offices are scattered in several buildings around the University; and our business students have no place to gather, interact, and claim as their own,” Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam said. “Today, we are celebrating the beginning of the construction of that home—which we expect to be completed in 2007.”

“It’s clear to me that this College is one of the country’s leading business schools, and I’m delighted to be supporting the future business leaders of South Florida, the Americas, and the world who are earning their degrees here,” said Board of Trustees member and donor R. Kirk Landon at the historic occasion.

“What this community most needs and wants is a world-class business school,” President Modesto Maidique told the audience. “This message has been reiterated to me countless times by civic and business leaders who know that a premier business school is vital to the economic prosperity of our region. The majority of the College’s graduates live and work here, and many of them start new businesses that provide employment opportunities for others and stimulate economic innovation.”

He added that the College, in many ways, “is the flagship of our University’s reputation and of our contribution to South Florida’s future.”

Fundraising efforts are moving along well, having already yielded $9.5M of the $15M needed for the building complex.

It’s not too late for you to leave your permanent mark in the new building complex: How? By securing a star on the “Wall of Stars,” a mural to be featured prominently in the new facilities.

If you’ve ever wanted to become a star, here’s your chance. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff who give at a certain level will have their names included on this “Wall of Stars”—an enduring way to have their names recognized. However, only a limited number of stars remain. Make sure your name is on one of them.

To learn more about how you can be part of this exciting opportunity to help build the business complex, contact Annabelle Rojas, director of external relations and resource development at 305-348-3339 or link to the pledge form from the College’s home web page: http://cba.fiu.edu. Gifts of all sizes are welcome, whether they qualify as star status or not, partially because the State will match every donation dollar for dollar, which doubles the value of each contribution. Your gift is tax deductible.