The 2006 Pineapple Award recipients were announced at Florida's Salute to Excellence Awards Luncheon on Saturday, September 9, 2006. 

LMP Teacher of the Year

PAT NOVALIS , MID FLORIDA TECH, ORLANDO

Pat’s dedication to LMP and her students is to be commended.  She has gone above and beyond the call of duty by working closely with her students to place them in jobs at local hotels and to stay up to date on the latest in the lodging industry.  Pat even helped the FRLAEF staff as we began working with LMP.

LMP Industry Participant of the Year

LAURA SHERMAN , DOUBLE TREE CLUB HOTEL, LAKE BUENA VISTA

According to Harry Gayes, LMP instructor at Oak Ridge High School, Laura took a chance on a school with a Lodging Program that was in reorganization.  She brought one of Harry’s LMP students on as an intern and was so pleased with him that she hired him.  Ms. Sherman has allowed Oak Ridge High School LMP students to work in every department of her hotel.  Ms. Sherman was speaking of one of Oak Ridge High School's LMP students when she said, "this kid is so good, he will have my job someday!” 

2005 LMP Teacher of the Year

LUPE DIAZ, MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 

Last year, Dr. Lupe Diaz was chosen as the 2005 LMP Teacher of the Year.  Lupe is an LMP instructor at Miami Beach Senior High School.  She works closely with the lodging industry there to ensure that her students get full indoctrination into the lodging industry. Unfortunately, we were not able to recognize her for this award at that time. 

Lupe Diaz and Pat Novalis receive

their Pineapple Awards