DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Two Daytona State College officials will be honored as “hometown heroes” tonight during a banquet kicking off the Daytona Beach area’s annual Juneteenth celebration, commemorating African-American freedom and emphasizing education, achievement and community involvement.
The hometown heroes' recognition is designed to educate and show by example the accomplishments of people of any stature contributing to their community’s success and growth, giving unselfishly of themselves and inspiring others.
Isalene Montgomery, vice president and chief financial officer for the college, and Costa Magoulas, dean of Daytona State’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Management, will be honored for their contributions in the field of education, as well as for the lives they have touched and influenced.
Isalene Montgomery and Costa Magoulis are among 24 individuals who have been identified as 2014 Hometown Heroes by local Juneteenth organizers.
Isalene Montgomery and Costa Magoulis are among 24 individuals who have been identified as 2014 Hometown Heroes by local Juneteenth organizers.
Montgomery joined the college in 2001. Prior to her overseeing the college’s fiscal operations, she was director of Daytona State’s Women’s Center -- now called the Center for Women and Men -- and broadened the program’s scope to provide educational and supportive services to both genders.
This includes non-traditional students, displaced homemakers, single parents, pregnant teens, first-generation college students and at-risk youth who had dropped out of school.
Magoulas is a member of the American Culinary Federation and the World Association of Cooks. He holds certifications as an executive hef, culinary educator and culinary administrator. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Chefs, which is the honor society of the ACF with only 5,000 members worldwide.
Juneteenth organizers noted Margoulas' dedication to helping students by sharing his industry experiences and training, and helping them to succeed in their career choices and achieve their goals.
In addition to the banquet to be held at the Daytona 500 Club, 1801 International Speedway Blvd., Juneteenth also will feature a free festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, that will include family events, food, vendors and entertainment.
The festival will take place at the Cypress Recreational and Aquatics Center, 925 George W. Ingram Blvd.