A crowd filled every seat and then some at the College of Education building to honor UF alumnae Ada Rosenson Dorfeld’s legacy.
The College of Education officially dedicated the outside plaza of Norman Hall, near the parking lot, to Dorfeld Thursday evening.
The event, originally scheduled for Aug. 29, honored UF College of Education bachelor’s and master’s graduate Dorfeld who is also a significant donor to the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship. Dorfeld died in March before she could see the unveiling of the plaza.
The Ada Rosenson Dorfeld College of Education Florida Opportunity Scholarship prefers to aid education students from Broward and Dade counties due to her teaching and living in those counties after graduation. A $400,000 donation was added to the scholarship fund by Dorfeld’s daughter, Cindy Dorfeld.
During the dedication ceremony, guests heard speeches from the College of Education Dean Glenn Good, the executive director of advancement Leslie Pendelton, College of Education elementary education senior and student ambassador Lauren Massais, Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman, and other executive staff.
The speeches all highlighted how hardworking and passionate Dorfeld was throughout her life. She put herself through college by working jobs in high school and college. She also represented Mallory Hall as the building's president.
Lauren Massais said she’s inspired by Rosenson’s drive and tenacity.
“I wish I would have gotten the chance to meet her because she seems like all of us who are pursuing education are striving to be,” Massais said. “Not only was she an incredible educator, but she was so caring and so passionate about so many things and such a well-rounded, amazing person.”
Dorfeld left a contribution of $1 million to the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship that will fund education for first generation students.
Contact Megan Howard at mhoward@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @meganmhxward.
Megan Howard is a second-year journalism major and the K-12 Education reporter for The Alligator. When she's not writing, you can find her rewatching the Eras Tour movie or reading The Hunger Games series.
