‘Proud to be a Stingaree’: Miami High alums gift over $65K in scholarships to 52 seniors

Stingaree tradition at Miami High School goes back generations and its graduates are constantly finding new ways to help students of their beloved school.

In April, the MHS Alumni Association gave $65,500 in scholarship funds to 52 deserving seniors. Leading the way for the coming year are three scholarship co-chairs, Cory Llopiz Cibran, Class of ’71; Lincoln Vidal, Class of ’91; and Steve Marin, Class of ’86.

“I am so proud to be Stingaree!” said Cibran who was chair of the scholarship fund last year. “We want all schools to know they can do this for their grads.”

Founded in 1903, Miami High is the oldest high school in Miami-Dade County. It is famous for its architecture and is a historic landmark.

“The New Jersey family of Anne Lois Kalm, who was a Majorette in the Class of 1953, recently made a donation. Her son, Ron Elowitz, traveled to Miami to visit his mom’s Alma Mater. Ron said he always remembered his mom speaking of how special Miami High was and how proud she was to be a Stingaree. The family donated to the Culinary Scholarship Fund,” Cibran said.

“This year the Scholarship Committee had the especially difficult and unenviable task of reviewing a very strong group of applications,” Vidal said.

“We thoroughly reviewed a total of 52 applications which included essays, videos and interviews which were engaging, powerful and moving on important topics such as mental health, social activism and inclusion, housing crisis, immigration and public education.

“The applicants had compelling backstories with many being immigrants, first generation, recent ESOL graduates and low income students. Not surprisingly, many of the students also will be attending elite national schools such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Cornell, Emory, NYU and in state and locally the University of Florida, FSU, University of Miami and FIU Honors College, among others, this coming fall.

“Ultimately, after much deliberation, we were thrilled to give away a record $65,500 to a group of incredibly talented and worthy students who are full of promise and represent the best of being a Stingaree,” Vidal said.

The team is already hard at work for this school year’s graduates. Members hosted an event Aug. 6 to start fundraising.

“The kick off social was a success!” Marin said. “We are on our way to another great year.”

Student leaders begin training programs

Three Miami-Dade County high school seniors have been selected to join a teen leaders program started in 2004 by Bank of America. Across the U.S., the program annually recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors.

The eight-week internship provides students with first-hand experience in serving their communities.The students are earning $17 per hour and received a Chromebook.

The Class of 2022 Miami-Dade County Bank of America Student Leaders are: Jimena Somoano, an 11th-grader at Florida Virtual School; Shawn Martinez, an 11th-grader at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School; and Cori’Anna White, a senior at Miami Northwestern Senior High.

The program includes a collaborative, mentor-focused project with the YMCA of South Florida and the students will participate in a virtual Leadership Summit delivered in partnership with the Close-Up Foundation.

“Preparing today’s youth through workforce training, financial literacy development and engagement in their community is imperative to equipping them to lead better financial lives,” said Gene Schaefer, president, Bank of America Miami.

“These three civically-engaged students are building a strong foundation through their community involvement and their participation in the Student Leaders program, which will prepare them for the future.”

Library Artisan Fair set for Oct. 1

One of the sweetest artisan fairs, and not just because of the delicious home-baked goodies for sale, is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 1, at the Brockway Memorial Library, 10021 NE 2 Ave., Miami Shores.

This fifth annual event will feature one-of-a-kind items made by local vendors including jewelry, weavings and macramé, paintings and sculptures, leather-crafted items, baked goods and treats, locally-made handbags, homemade soaps and botanical products, potted plants, new and used books, and much more. There are already 30 vendors booked for this popular fall event. The event is held rain or shine.

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.

This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 3:52 PM.