The Palm Beach State College Foundation is proud to announce that Armando Christian Perez, professionally known as Pitbull, will be the keynote speaker for the Foundation’s 2017 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) luncheon presented by Bank of America.
The event will take place February 1, 2017 at 11:30am at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen Pavilion, West Palm Beach.
“Everyone knows Pitbull is one of the most successful recording artists of our time, but what many don’t realize is that he is also a leading tech innovator and arts education proponent,” said event chair and nationally honored arts advocate, Yvonne Boice. “We are thrilled that he will be our speaker this year and that he will be sharing his inspiring success story that now melds so many aspects of the STEAM disciplines.”
A first generation Cuban American, the young Perez was inspired by one of his high school teachers to pursue his musical dreams. Now, he wants to make sure other children are inspired and have that same opportunity to succeed.
In 2013, Pitbull helped create the SLAM! (Sports, Leadership, Arts and Management) charter school in one of the Miami’s most impoverished neighborhoods. SLAM!, which educates students in grades 6-12, now has a school in West Palm Beach that could become a direct feeder to Palm Beach State College.
Pitbull is also passionate about using and advancing technology. Besides utilizing social media to communicate with his fans and supporters, he is co-founder of eMerge Americas. This 3-year-old conference brings together high-tech firms from throughout the Americas to promote innovation and the development of disruptive technology across a myriad of industries.
In 2017, the Foundation will enter the fifth year of its STEAM initiative to impact the projected shortage of local, skilled professionals in the STEAM fields. Goals include increasing student scholarships, business partnerships, internships and other academic program enhancements to prepare more graduates for these high-wage, high-demand positions.
Sponsors of the event are: Bank of America, Modernizing Medicine, Florida Power & Light, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Tenet Florida Physician Services, The Palm Beach Post, WXEL PBS for the Palm Beaches and Alpha Media.
For ticket information, click here.
Individual tickets purchased before Dec. 15 are $175; after Dec. 15 tickets are $200.
