These ambitious South Florida high school students were honored and awarded scholarships
Our youth are our hope.
For 25 years, Univision Miami has honored outstanding South Florida high school students at its annual “Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud” (Pride of Our Youth) awards luncheon.
This year, six were recognized for their academic excellence and outstanding commitment to civic duty through community service.
Four additional students were awarded for demonstrating academic growth despite significant setbacks in their personal lives.
“Today, we celebrate 25 years of honoring exceptional youth,” said Claudia Puig, president and general manager, Univision Miami. “At Univision, we are committed to supporting ambitious and striving students and, in many cases, beating the odds to achieve academic success to live the American dream.”
The Academic Excellence Award recipients are:
▪ Amanda Saiz, Barbara Goleman Sr. High School;
▪ Amanda Rey, Coral Reef Sr. High School
▪ Juan Pablo García-Casals, Christopher Columbus High School
▪ Nicole Rodríguez, Barbara Goleman Sr. High School
▪ Nicole Torres, School for Advanced Studies-Kendall Campus
▪ Ryan de Ara, Archbishop Coleman F. Carr
The Academic Achievement Award recipients are:
▪ Alize Pérez, New World School of Arts
▪ Daniella Magbanua, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
▪ Gabriel Plescher, School for Advanced Studies-West Campus
▪ Ricardo Álvarez De la Hoz, Miami Southridge Sr. High School
The ceremony was hosted by Univision Miami news anchor Sandra Peebles May 6 at Firefighters Memorial Building in Doral.
All 10 students were awarded scholarships by Papa John’s Pizza and Publix Super Markets to help fund their college education. In addition, Miami Dade College awarded each student free tuition if they choose to continue their university education there.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava presented a County Recognition Certificate to each honoree. The new Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools Jose Dotres also attended the ceremony along with other community leaders.
“These outstanding young men and women work diligently to achieve educational excellence and a higher education, and we are proud to contribute scholarship funds that will be used toward fulfilling their career dreams,” said Ricky Warman, president of Pizzerias, LLC, a franchise of Papa John’s Pizza.
The next “Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud” application process will start in the fall of 2022. Univision will send the nomination packages in late November to all Miami-Dade County and Broward County public, private and charter high schools. Students are nominated by their educators.
Matt Crawley, Publix Super Markets Miami Division VP, said Publix is proud to be part of the “Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud” scholarship program.
“It is imperative that we create as many opportunities as possible for our youth to learn, develop and evolve into the leaders of tomorrow,” Crawley said.
A Memorial Day observance in Coral Gables
To Roberto Molleda, Memorial Day is not a time for picnics. A U.S. Army Veteran who was born in Cuba, Molleda came to this country in exile from the Castro regime.
He served in Vietnam as a non-commissioned officer with the infantry. Wounded in action, he is a Purple Heart recipient, and has many other military decorations.
“Memorial Day is not about picnics and BBQs,” Molleda said. “It is about paying respect in memory of the men and women who sacrificed so much in the defense of our nation and freedom around the world.”
He is one of the veterans, generals and guest speakers who will commemorate fallen soldiers at a Memorial Day observance, 10:30-11:30 a.m., May 30, at Woodland Park Cemetery, 3260 SW 8th St., Coral Gables.
Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, and local veterans are joining to host the services to honor and remember the lives of U.S. soldiers lost in battle.
The event will include a rifle salute, a flag ceremony, and stories told by veterans, including Lt. General Andrew Croft, Military Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command. As the keynote speaker, Croft will share his insights of more than 30 years of service and six flying assignments.
“This is a day of observance where we honor the great men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces of this great nation of ours,” Molleda said.
He continues to help as a volunteer at the downtown VA Medical Center, and has been instrumental in creating the Cuban-American Veterans Association (CAVA), VFW Post 10212 (Jose Marti), VVA Post 620, and the DAV. He is married and lives in Westchester.
Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.