Space Coast Public Service Awards Recognizes Gary Shiffrin With Lifetime Achievement Award

By  //  September 12, 2016

SPACE COAST PSA HALL OF FAME NOMINEE

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Gary Shriffrin served in the Brevard County schools for 42 years and dedicated his life to insuring that students received the quality education they deserved. He helped to shape generations of young adults during his wonderful career.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:  In every community there are great men and women who have, by their strength of will and character, become ingrained in the consciousness of our society. They are doers and risk takers who have made a stand and a commitment for the common-good. They are labeled as public servants, but they are truly our natural leaders whose legacies are the milestones of our progress.

BCSO Chief Deputy Doug Waller
BCSO Chief Deputy Doug Waller

The Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes public service professionals who have dedicated years of service during a distinguished career where they significantly advanced the public safety or service profession, and by substantial service, has furthered the cause of justice and the mission of community service.

The award is presented to a deserving individual (living or deceased) who has taken a long-term leadership role in a public or community service profession. Recipients of this award are recognized for making extraordinary contributions and sacrifices through a body of work that positively impacted their organization and community over their lifetime.

The first annual Space Coast Public Service Awards & Hall of Fame Induction Gala will be held Saturday, September 24, 2016, inside the spectacular Canaveral Port Authority’s Cruise Terminal 1 at Port Canaveral.
The first annual Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction will be held Saturday, September 24 at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this compelling event where all proceeds will benefit the Brevard County Public Safety Charity, a not-for-profit organization that was created to help Brevard County Public Safety Officers and their families during difficult hardships. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

DEDICATED TO BREVARD EDUCATION FOR 42 YEARS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Gary Shriffrin served in the Brevard County schools for 42 years and dedicated his life to insuring that students received the quality education they deserved. He helped to shape generations of young adults during his wonderful career.

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Gary Shiffrin was often seen sporting a black and gold plaid zoot suit along with a Merritt Island baseball cap, and is well-known at Merritt Island High School for his coined phrase “Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!”

Throughout his tenure, Shiffrin has held many positions including educator, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal, serving at Cocoa Beach High School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Stone Junior High School, Melbourne High School and Merritt Island High School where he retired in 2013.

He was a devoted student fan, but proudly wears the official school colors of the Merritt Island Mustangs.  

Shiffrin was often seen sporting a black and gold plaid zoot suit along with a Merritt Island baseball cap, and is well-known at Merritt Island High School for his coined phrase “Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!”

He was involved with the Cape Coast Conference, the athletic association covering all athletic programs in the district and served as a secretary and treasurer, and eventually assumed the role of Commissioner for both Brevard and Indian River Counties, holding that position for 23 years.

While he has had many personal high points in his long career in Brevard – including Teacher of the Year in 1976 and Principal of the Year in 2010 – Shiffrin notes the top ones are related to his association with sports.

“Maybe the moment that defines my career was when I received the phone call in February 2013 informing me that I had been selected for induction into the FHSAA Hall of Fame,” he said.

“And then the notification that I had been selected for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.  It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Space Coast Public Service Partnership Award Presented In Memory of George ‘Mack’ MosierRelated Story:
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There is no doubt, that Shiffrin has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students and parents during his career and has truly been an influential role model to many here in Brevard County.

For 42 years he worked during the days, nights and weekends helping students and educators reach their potential.  Through his efforts and professionalism, he has advanced his profession by shaping and developing our future educators and leaders.

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Gary Shiffrin’s “labor of love” has been his dedication to education and he is proud of seeing students achieve things under his mentorship they never thought possible.
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Gary Shiffrin was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Gary Shiffrin, center, said the moment that defined his career was when he received a phone call in February 2013 informing him that he had been selected for induction into the FHSAA Hall of Fame.
Gary Shiffrin, center, said the moment that defined his career was when he received a phone call in February 2013 informing him that he had been selected for induction into the FHSAA Hall of Fame.
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Gary Shiffrin with current Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Desmond Blackburn.
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There is no doubt, that Gary Shiffrin has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students and parents during his career and has truly been an influential role model to many here in Brevard County.

CLICK HERE TO OBTAIN TICKETS TODAY

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Space Coast Daily is very proud to sponsor and produce the first annual Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction, which will be held Saturday, September 24 at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. With all the seemingly endless politically-charged negative rhetoric in the media aimed at our first responders, we felt it was time as a media entity to make a statement and give these men and women the respect and support they deserve. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this compelling event where all proceeds will benefit the Brevard County Public Safety Charity.

Tom Palermo
Tom Palermo

Seating for this celebration of these outstanding public servants is now available, so don’t delay in making your reservation. The festivities will include a meet-and-greet with our outstanding public servants, food and drink, and the induction proceeding – which will feature compelling video tributes.

All proceeds of this event will go to the Brevard County Public Safety Charity which benefits our law enforcement officers and firefighters in their time of need. These funds will help our public safety members when they face critical challenges such as medical emergencies, long term illness or even the tragedy of a line of duty death. This charity organization is designed to help protect those that protect us. 

For additional information about the Brevard County Public Safety Charity, please contact Sue Parker at Sue.Parker@BCSO.us.

– Tom Palermo, Space Coast Daily President & Publisher

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction, call 321-615-8111 or 321-323-4460.

CLICK HERE TO OBTAIN TICKETS TODAY

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