The $60,000 in net proceeds from the classic, named in honor of Al and Nancy Burnett, will help attract the best and brightest graduate school scientists to the College of Medicine鈥檚 Burnett School of Biomedical Scientists. The inaugural tournament, held last October, was rained out and rescheduled this spring at Winter Park鈥檚 Interlachen Country Club.

鈥淭he money raised during this event is a powerful statement of the commitment that the entire community has for the cutting-edge biomedical research we are performing in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences,鈥� said Dr. Stephen King, a Burnett faculty member who golfed in the event as president of the medical school鈥檚 Faculty Council. 鈥淭hese funds will be used to train the next generation of researchers that can help society address the health challenges of the future.鈥�

The Burnetts’ donation to begin the biomedical sciences program was the foundation for 麻豆原创鈥檚 new medical school. It was one of many gifts the Burnett family has given to 麻豆原创 鈥� the president鈥檚 home and the Burnett Honors College are also the result of their generosity.

“Al and Nancy Burnett personified the philanthropic spirit that has made this community so great and that lead to the formation of the Burnett School and the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine,鈥� said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the medical school. 鈥淭hat caring and giving attitude is demonstrated through their children and grandchildren in this golf tournament that will help create tomorrow鈥檚 scientific leaders.鈥�

Golfers included 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt, area business leaders and donors. The scramble tournament included a shotgun start, buffet lunch and awards reception. The tournament鈥檚 proceeds were matched by the Al & Nancy Burnett Charitable Foundation.

“We are so grateful that 麻豆原创 created this wonderful opportunity to celebrate our parents鈥� legacy with the good friends and leaders who inspired their passionate support of the university,” said Bruce Burnett, the Burnetts鈥� son and a director of their charitable foundation. 鈥淭hey were very proud of the cutting-edge research taking place at the university and its commitment to educating future doctors and scientists in a new and better way.”

Event sponsors included: GrayRobinson, P.A. Attorneys at Law, SunTrust Private Wealth Management, Mercedes-Benz of Orlando, CFE Federal Credit Union, Moore, Ellrich & Neal, P.A. Certified Public Accountants, AT&T, DELL, FAIRWINDS Credit Union, the 麻豆原创 Foundation, Inc., the Volvo Store of Winter Park, Jim and Judy Russell and the Al & Nancy Burnett Charitable Foundation.

Money raised will go toward fellowships for Masters and Ph.D. students. Burnett School faculty researchers, graduate and undergraduate students focus their work on cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and infectious disease.

College of Medicine faculty members Dr. Jane Gibson and Dr. William Self also participated in the tournament. 鈥淥ur golfing highlights included a few birdie opportunities (that we were unable to convert), playing on a simply amazing course, and driving past an alligator on one of the holes,鈥� said Dr. King, who completed the faculty threesome. 鈥淲e look forward to improving our skills and being ready to participate in what we hope will become an annual tradition at 麻豆原创.鈥�

The good news: The tournament raised over $65,000 for Burnett school graduate student fellowships and had more than 90 golfers, including 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt and Pat Campano, father of College of Medicine vice president for medical affairs and dean, Dr. Deborah German. 聽鈥淭he glass is always half full, and today it was really overflowing,鈥� mused Dean German.聽 鈥淭hat money goes to support graduate students who will do the research that will save the lives of our future children and grandchildren.鈥�

The tournament honored the late Al and Nancy Burnett, devoted 麻豆原创 supporters, whose generosity created the Burnett school. Plans are already underway to set a new date for the tournament that will be open to all fall participants.聽 鈥淲e invite everyone who鈥檚 become a part of this tournament to please come and be our guests,鈥� said Charles (Chip) Roberts, the College of Medicine鈥檚 assistant vice president for development.聽 鈥淪ave your mulligans, and we鈥檒l all be back to have a great time in the spring.鈥�

In the meantime, Dr. German hopes to brush up on her own golfing skills. 鈥淚 look forward to seeing you back here in the spring,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 told by Dad and one of the faculty members, I鈥檒l be good enough to play by then!鈥�

“Al and Nancy Burnett were very generous friends of 麻豆原创 and the College of Medicine,鈥� said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the medical school. 鈥淲e are honored to work with their family and continue the legacy with this first-time golf tournament.聽 Proceeds will support critical medical and biomedical research programs that were important to Al and Nancy and that will have impact on the health of us all.鈥�

The tournament begins with an 11 a.m. buffet lunch.聽 Golfers begin play at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. Following the scramble tournament, golfers will enjoy an awards reception. Registration is $1,200 per foursome. Individual players also are welcome with a $300 registration. The first $50,000 raised will be matched by a grant from the Al & Nancy Burnett Charitable Foundation.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and range from a $25,000 presenting sponsor to a $2,500 silver sponsorship.聽 Silver sponsor benefits include recognition at the tournament, a foursome at the tournament and one hole sign on the course.

Event sponsors include: GrayRobinson, P.A. Attorneys at Law, SunTrust Private Wealth Management, Mercedes-Benz of Orlando, CFE Federal Credit Union, Moore, Ellrich & Neal, P.A. Certified Public Accountants, the 麻豆原创 Foundation, Inc., and the Al & Nancy Burnett Charitable Foundation.

To sign up for the tournament or get more information, please visit http://med.ucf.edu/burnett-classic/

Dr. Hitt thanked supporters for sharing their time, talent and personal resources to ensure that 麻豆原创 continues to stand for opportunity.聽 鈥淵our philanthropy supports our students, faculty, programs and facilities. Your vision helps us to provide real-world experiences to our students. Your support strengthens our commitment to creating new facilities to meet student and community needs.鈥�

Two special awards 鈹� the President鈥檚 Award and the Partnership Award 鈹� were also given. The recipient of the 2012 President鈥檚 Award was Dr. Neil Euliano, a long time supporter of 麻豆原创 who led the way for the creation of the Veterans Commemorative Site on Memory Mall. 鈥淲e thank you not only tonight, but always. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to honor your service and the sacrifices of all American veterans,鈥� said Hitt.

The 2012 Partnership Award was given to The Wayne M. Densch Charitable Trust, whose decades-long partnership with 麻豆原创 has resulted in the renaming of two athletics buildings and the creation of the Wayne Densch Sports Center, home to the 麻豆原创 football program. A new partnership between the two will become a student-academic center on campus that will provide classroom space, career advisement and tutoring services for 麻豆原创鈥檚 student-athletes.

Senior engineering major Tatiana Viecco thanked the donors who have made her studies at 麻豆原创 possible. 鈥溌槎乖粹�檚 ability to stand for opportunity is made so much stronger because of donors like you. You give much more than money 鈹� you give hope and encouragement too. None of what I鈥檝e accomplished would be possible without your generous contributions.鈥�

(Photo: Santiago Rodriguez, Santiago Studios)

The legacy of Al Burnett and his wife, Nancy, includes a $10 million donation that laid the foundation for the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, which is transforming health care and the economy in Central Florida. Their generosity also built the beautiful home of the university鈥檚 honors college, which includes classrooms, a reading room and a popular Meditation Garden.

“One of the qualities I admired most in Al was the love and devotion he had for his family,” 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt said. “Martha and I will always treasure the friendship we shared with Al and Nancy. He touched many lives through his enormous generosity toward 麻豆原创.”

The Burnetts donated $12.8 million over more than 30 years to support 麻豆原创 students and programs, and the impact of their gifts plus state matching funds totaled nearly $25 million. The university president鈥檚 home, honors college and school of biomedical sciences are named in their honor. Al Burnett also received an honorary doctorate degree from 麻豆原创.

The Burnetts鈥� $10 million donation established a new college of biomedical sciences at 麻豆原创 in 2004. Al Burnett envisioned his gift leading to the establishment of a college of medicine that he hoped would open in five to 15 years.

The 麻豆原创 College of Medicine opened five years later 鈥� in 2009, and it now enrolls 180 students. So far, $2 billion in construction is committed at medical city, of which $1.5 billion is complete or under way. The medical city has been described as the biggest economic game changer for Central Florida since Walt Disney World.

Nancy Burnett passed away last year. Following Nancy Burnett鈥檚 death, the couple鈥檚 children donated $28,000 for a graduate fellowship at the College of Medicine鈥檚 Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences to honor the memory of their mother.

鈥淭heir gifts have benefited thousands of students in our classrooms, in our research labs and on our athletic fields, and their generosity will continue to benefit Central Floridians for many years to come,鈥� President Hitt said following Nancy Burnett’s death.

Al Burnett was born in Denver, Pennsylvania, and he attended Drexel University with a full athletic and academic scholarship.

His success as an entrepreneur began at a very early age.聽 When he was five years old, he sold his mother鈥檚 vegetable soup from a red wagon.聽 While in college, he sold Fuller Brushes door-to-door in downtown Philadelphia and managed a campus-wide candy business with his fraternity brothers. In the 1950s he established Twin Kiss, a family restaurant franchise that quickly expanded to 234 locations in 11 states.

Nancy and Al Burnett moved to Winter Park in 1966 with their family after acquisition of Contemporary Cars.聽 During the next two decades, he expanded the dealership to include the Porsche and Audi brands.聽 The dealership had more employees with 10 and 20 years of service than any other dealership in the United States.聽 This was the first of 16 automobile dealerships he purchased in Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

“He was a someone who reminded us to pursue excellence, work hard, and give back to the community,” said Alvin Wang, dean of聽The Burnett Honors College. “These are the values that we strive to cultivate among our students.”

A memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, at First United Methodist Church Winter Park, 125 N. Interlachen Ave.聽 In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation, 22 White Street, Rockland, Maine 04851.

In 2004, when the Burnetts made their $10 million donation to create a new college of biomedical sciences, Mr. Burnett called the gift “a necessary step if we’re going to head in the direction of a full-fledged medical school, which is what I hope we can accomplish in the next five, 10 or 15 years.”

“Their gifts have benefited thousands of students in our classrooms, in our research labs and on our athletic fields, and their generosity will continue to benefit Central Floridians for many years to come,” 麻豆原创 President John Hitt said. “Please keep Nancy’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

Family and education were always important to Nancy Burnett. She taught speech and drama in Ephrata, PA, where she met her future husband. The Burnetts moved to Winter Park in 1968 with their family, after acquiring Contemporary Cars. She received an honorary doctorate degree from 麻豆原创 for her unfailing commitment to the university. She was also an active member of the Interlachen Country Club, a member of 101 and Town and Gown, and actively supported many Central Florida charitable organizations.

“Nancy Burnett was dedicated to family and that extended family including the 麻豆原创 community,” said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. “Every day at the medical school we witness the Burnett family’s generous support as we train the next generation of scientists.”

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of the Comforter.

Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop informed the university鈥檚 Board of Trustees of the new designation on Wednesday.

Public Administration offers 22 graduate and undergraduate programs and serves nearly 1,000 students. The school鈥檚 areas of focus include nonprofit management, urban planning and emergency management.

The school鈥檚 Center for Public and Nonprofit Management has earned about $4 million in external funds and helped more than 200 nonprofit organizations.

鈥淭his is an amazingly innovative department,鈥� College of Health and Public Affairs Dean Michael Frumkin told the trustees.

Public Administration is one of eight 麻豆原创 graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Also at Wednesday鈥檚 Board of Trustees meeting:

— President Hitt expressed 鈥済reat sadness鈥� that Nancy Burnett, a longtime friend and benefactor of the 麻豆原创, passed away last week.

Nancy and Al Burnett have donated $15.5 million over more than 30 years to support 麻豆原创 students and programs. The Burnett Honors College and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences are named in their honor, as is the president鈥檚 on-campus home.

鈥淭heir gifts have benefitted thousands of students in our classrooms, in our research labs and on our athletic fields, and their generosity will continue to benefit Central Floridians for many years to come,鈥� Hitt said. 鈥淧lease keep Nancy鈥檚 family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.鈥�

— Board members approved Chairman Emeritus status for Rick Walsh and Vice Chairman Emeritus status for Tom Yochum. Yochum attended the meeting, accepted a plaque and said he was thankful for the opportunity to serve the university for 10 years.

— The board welcomed newly appointed trustee Robert Garvy, chair and CEO of INTECH.

— The board heard an update on the university鈥檚 progress on developing a new policy governing academic integrity and misconduct. The Academic Integrity Task Force is in the process of receiving feedback from the university community.

— The board learned about a proposal to attach a large screen to the outside of the 麻豆原创 Arena that could be used to showcase movies, away sporting events and university programs along with advertisements. Additional feedback about the concept will be accepted.

— Joel Hartman, vice provost for Information Technologies, was lauded for his selection as the 2011 Sloan Consortium鈥檚 A. Frank Maydas Leadership Award winner. The award acknowledges and celebrates leadership in online education.

— The board recognized Professor Linda Walters for being named one of the best biology professors in the country by The Coastal and Estuarine Research Foundation. She also earned the 2011 Florida Campus Compact Service-Learning Faculty Award for her excellence in linking 麻豆原创 courses with community needs.

— Associate Professor H.G. Parza of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management was applauded for earning the John Wiley and Sons Lifetime Research Achievement Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education.

— The board lauded the volleyball team for earning the 2010-11 Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The award honors teams that have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.