The University of Miami's Jose Diaz prepares to give his acceptance speech after being named 2002 Florida College Student of the Year at the awards ceremony and press conference in Tallahassee on April 12.

All 20 students were honored at the annual Florida College Student of the Year Awards ceremony in Tallahassee on April 12, 2002. The event was held on the scenic 22nd floor of the State Capitol Building and is televised by Sunshine Network. Call (352) 373-6907 or email info@studentleader.com for more details on when the Student of the Year TV show airs.

Read the expanded Florida Leader magazine profiles on each honoree below.

Overall Winner
     Jose Diaz, University of Miami

First Runner-Up
     Stefanie McCormack, Florida State University

Finalists
     Michael Gale, University of Florida
     Charity Hamilton, Florida Gulf Coast University
     José Montalvo, Hillsborough Community College
     Teri Smith, St. Leo University
     Leyda Su Ham, Nova Southeastern University

Honorable Mention Winners
     Elvis Brazil, Miami-Dade Community College
     Viancca Burger, University of Tampa
     Sherman Curry, Florida A&M University
     Oliver Davis III, Okaloosa-Walton Community College
     Richard Dudley, University of South Florida
     Patrick Gaughran, Florida Keys Community College
     Amanda Howey, Eckerd College
     Nour Kawa, University of Florida
     Luis Moroney, St. Petersburg College
     Rochelle Popp, Indian River Community College
     James Reynolds, Rollins College
     Rachel Russo, University of Central Florida
     Amit Verma, Eckerd College

2002 honorees Rachel Russo (left), Charity Hamilton, Sherman Curry, and Richard Dudley participate in one of many seminars during the Florida College Student of the Year Leadership Retreat on April 11.