A diverse group of innovators will go to the next round in the Knight Arts Challenge Miami. The annual contest of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation aims to bring South Florida together through the arts.

The 57 finalists are predominantly individual artists and small artist-led organizations in communities from Homestead to Hialeah and north to Palm Beach County.

“This year’s finalists have proved that South Florida’s creativity is limitless,” said Dennis Scholl, the Knight Foundation’s vice president/arts.

For the first time, the public will have a say in who receives funding. In the fall, the public will be invited to vote for the new People’s Choice Award, via text message, for one of several up-and-coming cultural organizations. The winner will receive $20,000 in support.

“Much of this community’s exciting art is happening at the ground level. The People’s Choice Award will help bring attention to emerging groups while engaging the public in innovative arts ideas,” said Matt Haggman, Miami program director for Knight Foundation.

This is the fifth year of the Knight Arts Challenge, which offers $20 million over five years in matching grant money to the best ideas that help weave the arts into the community. To see a full list of the finalists and for more information on the Foundation, visit www.knightarts.org.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation “supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts.” The winners will be announced in December.

CONGRATULATIONS

The Tropical Flowering Tree Society presented its college scholarship awards at the recent 2012 Royal Poinciana Fiesta.

The Queen is Vivian Valdez from South Dade Senior High School. She will be attending Harvard. The Princesses are Eugenie Elie from Miami Northwestern Senior High School who will attend Mount Holyoke, and Paulette Puello from Coral Reef Senior High School who will attend University of South Florida.

“We gave the Royal Poinciana Scholarships to three very bright and deserving young women,” said Lynda Lynch La Rocca, President of the Tropical Flowering Tree Society. “I was so impressed with all three. Very poised, well spoken and involved with their communities.”

BAPTIST NURSES HONORED

Chosen by their peers for their caring spirit and high ethical standards, the Unit Nurses of the Year were named by Baptist Hospital at presentation held during National Nurses Week.

The recognition is the nursing profession’s highest honor. It is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s largest and foremost nursing accrediting and credentialing organization.

Honored for excellence in nursing were: Marilyn Alvarez, R.N., Vera Bryant, R.N., Diane Callas, R.N., Maria Cobo, R.N., Elizabeth Conover, R.N., Diane Deaza, R.N., Melissa Dobol, R.N., Connie Drutman, M.D., Ava Duke, R.N., Delores Eachus, R.N., Erika Encalada, R.N., Shiela Escobar, R.N., Cassandre Fernandez-Andrew, R.N., Rosario Flynn, R.N., Courtney Fry, R.N., Melissa Garcia, R.N., Hannah Gauran, R.N., Wil Gil, R.N., Jasmin Guzman, R.N., Miriam Hernandez, R.N., Paula Hernandez, R.N., Claudia Hodgson, R.N., Michelle Houellemont, R.N., Ellen Denise Houston, R.N., Grace Kittelle-Cintas, R.N., Jill Knight, R.N., Delphena Magloire, R.N., Maria Marcial, R.N., Simla Mathew, R.N., Patti Miller, R.N., Jenny Navarro, R.N., Eugene Obando, R.N., Leyzer Ramirez, R.N., Maria B. Serrano, R.N., Janice Sodemann, R.N. and Elizabeth Zike, R.N.