A night of legacy and inspiration: PBSC honors trailblazers at the 2025 Emerald Torch Awards

More than 350 guests, dressed in elegant cocktail attire, filled the SoFi Center on Palm Beach State College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus on Saturday, Nov. 15, for the third annual Emerald Torch Awards Gala.

The event, hosted by CBS12 News anchor Jim Grimes, celebrated distinguished alumni, community leaders, and the College’s enduring mission to transform lives through education.

Held in the world’s only venue dedicated to golf innovation and technology, the gala was a luminous evening of recognition and fundraising. All proceeds benefited The Foundation for Palm Beach State College, supporting scholarships and academic programs that foster student success.

Among the night’s most celebrated honorees were educator and civic leader Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler and golf legend Gary Player, each receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards for their exceptional contributions to their fields and commitment to education.

Before accepting her award, Dr. Carey-Shuler emphasized that no one earns a lifetime achievement recognition alone.

“This award is just as much for all the people who have supported me over the years,” she said, thanking friends and colleagues who joined her that night.

A longtime advocate for educational equity, Dr. Carey-Shuler founded and endowed the Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler Student Success Center at Palm Beach State College, dedicated to advancing equity and improving retention among underrepresented students.

Her more than $1 million in contributions have helped fund scholarships and college readiness programs for 700 students.

“Part of my mission in life was to make things better for our kids in school,” she said. “I offered my support to PBSC because when I heard that they respected and valued any student who walks through their door, that touched me spiritually and emotionally.”

Though Player could not attend in person—he was celebrating his 90th birthday in South Africa—he shared his gratitude in a heartfelt video address.

“I’ve received many awards in my life, and I’ve always received these with great gratitude but particularly when it involves education which is where my focus is,” Player said. “When you don’t have a good education, you struggle. Institutions like Palm Beach State College show that through education, we can build stronger communities and make the world a better place.”

Accepting the award on Player’s behalf was Jonathan Brown, ambassador to the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation.

The evening also celebrated three accomplished alumni honored with Emerald Torch Awards:

• Wolfgang Brunet, a Cuban immigrant and founder and CEO of Ideal Nutrition, who credited PBSC for helping him get to where he is today and shaping his entrepreneurial journey. He brought his parents to the gala, sharing that they believed in him before he believed in himself.
• George Gentile, senior partner at Gentile Holloway O’Mahoney 2GHO Inc., who applauded PBSC’s role in launching his career and highlighted some of his proudest projects, including the site plan design of Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.
• David Ladd, PGA golf professional and general manager at The Champions Club in Stuart, who reflected on his formative PBSC golf experience and encouraged students to embrace their passions, reminding them that “the sky is the limit.”

Closing the evening on a heartfelt note, PBSC student trustee and first-generation college student Michael Derilus shared his powerful story of perseverance. From struggling in high school to earning a Dr. Floyd F. Koch Presidential Honors College scholarship at PBSC, Derilus represented the transformative impact PBSC continues to have on thousands of lives.

“Through PBSC's Summer Bridge Program, I discovered a powerful community, incredible faculty and life changing resources,” said Derilus, who is one of 12 siblings and studying computer science. "For the first time, I felt like I belonged in a place built for growth. Palm Beach State College didn’t just open doors for me; it helped me believe I deserved to walk through them."

Derilus now serves as the vice president of the Honors Student Advisory Council, a role he says he could have never imagined just a few years ago.

With live music, elegant décor, and a shared sense of pride, the 2025 Emerald Torch Awards Gala illuminated how education, mentorship, and community spirit fuel Palm Beach State College’s legacy of excellence and opportunity.

To see photos from the event, view the Emerald Torch Awards Gala Flickr album.