- December 22, 2025
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Daniel Noguera crouched down to pet Diesel, one of two tortoises roaming the gala.
Kelly Stewart and Doctor Peter Pritchard welcomed arriving guests.
Dennis Lind, Krista Ledden and Jonathan Ledden enjoyed the night's events.
Speed painter Rock Demarco worked on a sea turtle painting.
A cellist played with her string quartet inside the center.
UCF Downtown vice provost Thad Seymour, Katie Seymour and Ava Doppelt chatted and sipped drinks as guests arrived.
Visitor's placecards were available for pickup before dinner was served.
Ray Allen, Ms. & Mr. Anil Deshpande and Helen Tillem met up at the gala.
Guests bid on turtle and tortoise artwork to raise money for the Orlando Science Center.
The string quartet performed for onlookers at the event.
Alan Ginsberg chatted with different groups throughout the night.
Tom and Gina Draper met up with Stan Thorton over drinks.
Jonathan and Betty Raz had a great time at the gala.
Dennis Daugherty came to the social event with friends.
Cindy and Ken Robinson arrived to support a good cause.
Linda Wilinski and Sarah Hampton went to the gala to contribute to a good cause and to share their love of turtles.
"Real turtle people" Eric Goode, founder of the Turtle Conservancy and conservancy programs director Peter Paul Van Dijk hoped the gala would result in more protection for the reptiles.
People and reptiles alike gathered at the Orlando Science Center’s "Inspiring Innovation" gala Friday, Oct. 13. The event honored Doctor Peter Pritchard, a celebrated turtle and tortoise expert, for his lifelong work in the field.
Guests bid on tortoise artwork as a pair of the titular reptiles - Diesel and Alice - walked among the crowds. The money raised went towards the Orlando Science Center and the Chelonian Research Institute in Oviedo, not to mention towards a new science center program initiative named after Pritchard himself.
