Brother Marty Rifkin ('82) was honored as keynote speaker at the UTampa's graduation commencement for the class of 2024. The convocation was held on May 4, 2024 at the Expo Hall of the Florida State Fairgrounds. Brother Rifkin delivered a compelling keynote address to rousing applause from the 1,900 UT graduates and over 7,000 friends and family members in attendance.
Marty Rifkin ('82) implored the students to hold on tight to all the loved ones that are in attendance at graduation as "they will be the people that will always support you." Marty offered the graduates 3 solid pieces of advice: "1. Always align yourself with kind and ambitious people. 2. Take calculated risks. 3. Harness your youth and passion."
Marty was the original founder of the Florida Chi chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UTampa. Brother Rifkin was instrumental in starting the chapter, served as our first Eminent Archon, recruited the entire first class of founders, and was the main cog in bringing the fraternity on campus from 1979-1982.
Brother Rifkin was honored in February of 2024 by UTampa's Lowth Entrepreneurship Center with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring impact and contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape. Collaborating with his wife and business partner, Kate Jones, Rifkin ventured into the health industry with the pioneering development of the gummy bear vitamin. Their brands L'll Critters, Gummy Vites and Vitafusion helped launch a new vitamin category that today generates annual global sales of $7 billion.
To watch Marty's speech, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fssITrQ-ng0
Comments