news releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2008
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

More than 6,000 Florida Community College at Jacksonville students earned A.A., A.S. degrees, certificates for 2007–2008

Philanthropist Henri Landwirth to address graduates who participate in May 3 ceremony

What:	Florida Community College at Jacksonville College Credit and Post-Secondary Adult Vocational Commencement
When:	May 3 at 11 a.m.
Where:	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Phillip Randolph Blvd.

Details: 6,062 Florida Community College at Jacksonville students have earned degrees or technical certificates for the 2007–2008 academic year. This annual commencement ceremony recognizes their achievements. (Note: not all eligible graduates and candidates participate in the ceremony.)

Program Details:

Processional	Symphonic Band Prof. Paul E. Weikle Jr., Director
Welcome	Dr. Steven R. Wallace, College President
National Anthem	Florida Community College Chorale Prof. R. Wayne Bailey, Director
Introduction of Platform Guests	Dr. Wallace
Commencement Address	Mr. Henri Landwirth Philanthropist, Founder: Dignity U Wear, Give Kids the World, HateHurts
Presentation of Faculty and Staff	Prof. David H. Bowen, Faculty Senate President
Presentation of Honor Graduates	Dr. Wallace
Presentation of Associate in Science Degrees and Technical Certificates	Dr. Donald W. Green, Executive Vice President, Instruction and Student Services
Conferral of Degrees	Dr. Wallace
Presentation of Associate in Arts Degrees	Dr. Green
Conferral of Degrees	Dr. Wallace and Trustees
Congratulatory remarks	Mr. N. Wyman Winbush II Chair, District Board of Trustees
Closing remarks	Dr. Wallace

Brief Biography*

Mr. Henri Landwirth

Founder, Dignity U Wear, HateHurts

Henri Landwirth was born March 7, 1927 in pre-World War II Antwerp, Belgium. During the war, when he was between the ages of 13 and 18, Henri was separated from his family and shuffled among five Nazi death and labor camps—Auschwitz, Matthausen, Gusen I, Gusen II and Ostrowitz. Near the end of the war, he and four other prisoners were marched into the woods to be killed. At the last minute, the Nazi soldiers decided to spare their lives and told them to run into the woods when they heard the shots that would be fired over their heads.

“It is only a miracle that I am alive today,” says Landwirth.

When World War II ended, Henri left his native Belgium and worked his way across the Atlantic Ocean on a freight ship. He landed in the United States with $20 in his pocket and little knowledge of English. Soon after he settled in New York, Henri received a letter from the President of the United States. At first, he believed the president was welcoming him to America. The letter was actually a draft notice.

Henri served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict, and afterwards used his GI Bill benefits to take courses in hotel management. He landed a position in a New York City hotel, and took every opportunity to learn each job in the hotel industry.

Henri moved to Florida in 1954, and soon managed the 99–room Starlight Motel in Cocoa Beach, near Cape Canaveral. Space exploration was in its early stages then, and the original Mercury 7 astronauts made the Starlight Motel their “home away from home.” It was during this time that Henri developed lifelong friendships with the astronauts and many others, including legendary newsman Walter Cronkite.

Landwirth worked the full spectrum of hotel positions — from bellboy to manager to owner of many successful Central Florida hotels — during an exciting, innovative hotel industry career that spanned more than 50 years. Since his retirement in 1986, Henri has devoted himself to improving the lives of those in need. He founded Give Kids The World, an organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life–threatening illnesses and Dignity U Wear, a foundation that gives new clothing to those in need. Henri now tours colleges and schools speaking about the lessons he’s learned about the virtues of forgiveness.