FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nova Southeastern University (NSU) will award world-renowned artist, scientist and researcher Guy Harvey, Ph.D., with one of NSU's newest awards, the President's Award for Excellence in Community Service. President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., will bestow the award upon Harvey and four others at the university's annual Celebration of Excellence event on Jan. 24, 2013.

The President's Excellence in Community Service Award recognizes superior professional engagement activities in the community by alumni, students, faculty, staff, and a member of the South Florida community. The awards encourage the ongoing pursuit of community service and exemplify NSU's "community" core value.

The awards are conferred upon individuals (one in each category) who demonstrate significant contributions to the community while exemplifying all eight of NSU's core values. This year's five honorees were selected from 79 total submitted nominations. 

"This award defines what it means to be an outstanding citizen and member of the NSU community," said George Hanbury, Ph.D. "I can't think of someone more deserving of the Excellence in Community Service Award than Guy Harvey, a man who tirelessly gives back to this community, and the global community, in so many ways."

Guy Harvey is one of the world's leading marine biologists, painters and conservationists. Harvey is a unique blend of artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist and explorer, fiercely devoted to his family and his love of the sea. Growing up in Jamaica, Guy spent many hours fishing and diving with his father along the Island's south coast. He was obsessed with the creatures of the sea and began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed. Guy's artwork can be found in art exhibits, stores, galleries, restaurants and at fishing tournaments.

A passion for the beauty and wonder of the underwater world has driven Harvey to be a leading conservationist and advocate for the protection of our environment. He dedicates much of his talent, time and resources to programs that protect our oceans, fish population and reef systems. The Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic Center and The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation have taken on a leadership role in providing the scientific information necessary to understand and protect the world's fish resources and biodiversity from continued decline.

Harvey is the past recipient of many awards and distinctions, including: the International Swimming Hall of Fame Gold Medallion Award; the Vasco Nunez de Balboa Grand Cross, the highest honor the country of Panama bestows on a non-Panamanian; and the first ever IGFA Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Fishing Awards Committee, as well as being inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport fishing community.

The 2013 honorees are:

ALUMNI
T. David Long, B.S.
H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Nova Southeastern University
Long is the president of Miller Electric Company, one of the largest electrical contractors in the nation, based in Jacksonville, FL. His commitment to community is evident through his dedication to various organizations, having served as president and board member of the National Leukemia Society, and as vice president and executive board member of the Dreams Come True Foundation. He is also a trustee of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and an executive committee member of the Gator Bowl Association.

Community
Guy Harvey, Ph.D.
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
(see above)

FACULTY
Elaine Wallace, D.O., M.S.
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Wallace is Executive Associate Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at NSU. She has founded and participated in medical missions around the world, and originated NSU's Medical Outreach trip to Ecuador, which serves 400-2,000 patients each trip. Other countries where she has conducted medical missions include Peru, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Argentina. She is passionate about community service and helped add a community service requirement to NSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine since joining faculty.

STAFF
Susan Kabot, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Mailman Segal Center for Human Development
Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Kabot is actively involved at the local, state and national levels in improving the lives of individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals that support them. She is the Executive Director of NSU's Autism Institute. A nationally renowned advocate, Kabot has spent more than 25 years at the university developing and directing programs for individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Dr. Kabot also leads NSU's Interdisciplinary Council for the Study of Autism, which brings together more than 40 people from an array of disciplines at NSU, all working towards the same goal of creating a multidisciplinary, collaborative group with expertise in all areas of autism treatment.

STUDENT
Walter Upshaw
H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Nova Southeastern University
Upshaw, a student in the M.B.A. Finance Program at NSU, received the "Student of the Year" award in April 2012. He has been the Student Government Association President and involved in the Tampa Bay community through his work with Relay for Life, and the Tampa Bay Black Chamber of Commerce.

This signature event, hosted by President Hanbury, will be held on NSU's main campus at the Don Taft University Center Arena on Jan. 24. The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. for cocktails and 7:00 p.m. for dinner and the awards ceremony. The title sponsor of the event is Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A. Tickets are $95 per person and can be obtained online at www.nova.edu/celebrationofexcellence, or by contacting NSU's Office of Special Events at specialevents@nova.edu.  

Previous Community Service Award Winners

• 2012: Ron and Kathy Assaf
• 2011: Mike Jackson and David Horvitz & Francie Bishop Good
• 2010: John C. Johnson and Don Taft
• 2009: I. Lorraine Thomas
• 2008: Claire and Dan Marino
• 2007: Frank Till, Jr. Ed.D. and David H. Rush
• 2006: Alvin Sherman, August Urbanek
• 2005: Wayne and Marti Huizenga
• 2004: August & Toni Paoli, Morton & Geraldine Terry
• 2003: Jim and Jan Moran
• 2000: Robert and Millicent Steele
• 1999: William and Norma Horvitz
• 1998: Leo Goodwin, Sr.
• 1997: Abraham L. Mailman

About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): NSU is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 28,000 students and is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate's, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University's significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.   For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

SOURCE Nova Southeastern University