PANAMA CITY, Panama, March 1, 2004–Alberto Alemán Zubieta, Administrator/CEO of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), was presented today with the 2004 Outstanding International Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University and the Association of Former Students at the Consuls General Luncheon.
This honor reflects Alberto Alemán Zubieta’s outstanding professional career, his commitment to his country and the Panama Canal and his leadership in world trade. Alemán Zubieta is the only Administrator to run a profit-making Canal, and has done so by leading the Canal to operate at the safest, most reliable and efficient levels in its 89-year history.
“Texas A&M is the foundation of my professional success. To be honored by my alma mater with such recognition is truly a wonderful feeling and marks a real milestone in my life. I am very grateful,” said Administrator Alemán Zubieta.
Traveling to Texas for the award were Alemán Zubieta, his wife Ana Matilde and children Alberto Antonio, Ana Isabel and Rafael Ernesto.
In presenting the 2004 International Alumnus Award, David B. Prior, executive vice president and provost of Texas A&M University said, “One important measure of a university’s quality is the quality of its graduates — the leadership and character demonstrated by the students who leave the classrooms and residence halls to make their way in the world. Texas A&M is pleased to present its 2004 Outstanding International Alumnus Award to Mr. Alemán. Throughout his distinguished career in business and public service, he has demonstrated both a commitment to excellence and a dedication to Texas A&M University.”
Created in 1994, the Outstanding International Alumnus Award is jointly sponsored by Texas A&M University and the Association of Former Students and is presented to successful Texas A&M alumni who were non-U.S. citizens while attending the University, but who excelled and achieved prominence in education, the sciences, technology, agriculture, the arts, business, humanities and/or the government.
About the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal Authority is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating, and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the Panama Canal Authority is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the website: www.pancanal.com.
The Authority’s responsibility to the Panamanian people is paramount. The Canal belongs to the people and benefits from the Canal should accrue to as many Panamanians as possible. The Authority will plan its future so that it will continually contribute to the economic development and welfare of the citizens of Panama.
For nearly 90 years, the Panama Canal has served as the global gateway – a pathway for the shipment of major world commodities. Since the end of 1999, the ACP assumed the responsibility for the management, operation and modernization of the Canal as well as the protection and conservation of its watershed.
In the past four years, the ACP has made significant strides – shifting to a market-oriented business model focused on customer service and reliability, making major capital investments for new and modern equipment and machinery, increasing safety and operational efficiency for customers, decreasing the time it takes ships to travel through the Canal and widening and deepening sections of the waterway.
An important transportation link, the Canal services more than 140 different transportation routes from every corner – it is where major trading routes of the world connect and intersect providing safe, reliable and secure passage for all vessels.
