Nine Miami-Dade students are recognized for courage and compassion
In the Chief Clarence Dickson Police College auditorium, nine Miami-Dade students were recognized Wednesday morning for stepping up in critical moments such as protecting classmates against bullies and reporting suicidal behavior.
Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales called their actions inspiring during the ceremony, adding these students are only a “small glimpse” of children doing the right thing every day.
Sofia Fuentes, Selena Gomez Castro, Michelle Grados, Sanaii Horne, Akila Solomon, Mia Mateu, Meredith Ortiz, Aiden Pupo and Mauricio Sarria were called individually onto the stage — some appearing excited and others nervous — to be rewarded for their positive decisions.
They shook hands with Miami Police Department officers and accepted prizes, including a tablet, a plaque, two tickets to a Miami Marlins game and letters from U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, R-Fla., as well as Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Do The Right Thing Executive Director Ariadna Espinosa detailed the actions of each student, who chose action over silence, often during tough situations.
For example, Sofia learned her classmate was experiencing physical and emotional abuse and expressed intentions to end their life, Espinosa said. She reported it to school officials as soon as possible to get the student help.
While many students were aware of this situation, “Sofia was the only one who spoke up,” she said.
Similarly, Selena came forward to report several girls who were cutting their arms. One of the students “was showing her cuts to others and actively encouraging this behavior,” and Selena spoke up despite personal discomfort and potential social fallout.
Sanaii and Akila were recognized for intervening during a fight on a school bus, and Meredith took pride in her school and rallied a group of girls to scrub graffiti off a wall.
Do The Right Thing, Inc. is a community-based non-profit program working with the Miami Police Department and other police agencies to recognize students.
Out of the nine students, two received special recognition and were awarded trips.
Despite Aiden’s young age, he consistently demonstrates outstanding character and a commitment to doing what’s right, Espinosa said.
Aiden recently discovered a lighter on a school playground and gave the item to a supervisor instead of hiding it or trying to play with it and won a trip to Rapids Waterpark, she said.
Michelle, who founded Heat and Heart Outreach in Miami, was given a trip to Washington, D.C.
She partnered with Miami-Dade County officials to distribute hundreds of specialized kits containing sunscreen, electrolytes, cooling towels and other essentials to protect outdoor workers and homeless people from extreme heat.
Her grandfather arrived in this country at a young age to build a better life, often having to work long hours in the burning sun with no resources or support, Espinosa said.
“The roots of this project trace back to her family’s history,” she said.