Philanthropist Harvey Gedeon, members of his family, and FIU Gedeon Scholars came together on February 26, 2026, for the Rosita Gedeon Scholarship Celebration. 
 
Held at the International Center for Tropical Botany (ICTB), located within The Kampong, the historic estate of plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, the event began with a cocktail reception followed by a private tour led by ICTB Director Dr. Christopher Baraloto. The Gedeon family and FIU Gedeon Scholars toured the ICTB — the product of a partnership between FIU and the National Tropical Botanical Garden — together, and they received a behind-the-scenes look at the great work taking place at this signature tropical botany research facility.

How Scholarship Support Changes Lives

After the tour, participants gathered for a family-style dinner under the stars. Harvey Gedeon and FIU CASE Executive Dean Dr. Mike Heithaus presented Josephardine Antoine and Allison Duvelsaint with their Gedeon Scholar medals. These students are now part of the prestigious group of Gedeon scholars who have received this scholarship award throughout the years at FIU.  

“Receiving my Gedeon Scholar medal meant so much to me. It made me feel recognized,” Antoine said.

The evening highlighted the special connection between scholarship recipients and the donor who made the scholarship possible. “The event was wonderful, and I really enjoyed my time with the Gedeon Family,” said Antonine. “Harvey gave me great advice about staying laser focused on completing my degree. I am incredibly grateful for his support.” 

Creating the Rosita Gedeon Scholarship Endowment 

In 2019, Harvey Gedeon and his family established the Rosita Gedeon Scholarship Endowment Fund to honor hardworking FIU students who were pursuing degrees in finance and STEM fields, bound to make a difference in the Haitian community locally or abroad. The endowment is a tribute to their beloved mother — a single mother who devoted her life to providing for her family and ensured her son Harvey received the best education possible despite limited resources. FIU Gedeon Scholars embody that same spirit of resilience and dedication to educational success.  

To learn more about how you can help support student scholars through the FIU Rosita Gedeon Endowment Fund, contact: 

Stephanie Cox 
Assistant Vice President for Development  
Florida International University Foundation  
stcox@fiu.edu | Cell: 805.252.5690

View pictures from the Rosita Gedeon Scholarship Celebration.