Here are the 2026 winners of the Silver Knight Awards for Broward-Monroe counties
Here are the winners from Broward-Monroe counties of the Silver Knight Awards for 2026.
ART
Colette Marquez
North Broward Preparatory
With a mission to create a safe space for students to de-stress, create and connect, Colette combined her love of art, music and psychology to co-found Serenity Studio, a monthly support group where students create art to process their emotions.
Working with her school’s guidance counselor, she organized a variety of mindful, beginner-friendly events such as Paint Your Safe Space, Create and Destroy Mini Sculptures and Tissue Paper Sun Catchers. Participants also share their highs and lows with their peers at each session, and can recommend a song to the Serenity Studio playlist.
“Through this check-in, I hope participants feel a sense of community and acceptance,” Colette said.
After graduation, Colette has her sights set on a career in art therapy. She also volunteers at KidSpace Therapy Center and performs with School of Rock as a vocalist and percussionist.
Honorable Mentions: Isabella Ambrogi, William T. McFatter Technical High; Fiorella Camperos, Coral Glades High; Emerald Hart, Cardinal Gibbons
ATHLETICS
Isabella Abohasen
Pembroke Pines Charter High
Through her initiative to collect new and gently used sports equipment for the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Isabella is inspiring children to discover sports, become more active and learn from student-athletes who volunteer with the program. The schoolwide drive donated 100 pieces of equipment in its first year. This year, they are on track to double that.
She and a teammate founded the Student Athlete Association at her school, where student athletes mentor children, bonding with the kids and taking on new roles in their community.
Isabella also volunteers as a coach in Make the Play, a basketball summer camp that teaches children basketball and all-important life skills.
“The experience allowed me to combine my passion for basketball with meaningful community service. Witnessing new athletes develop a love for the sport ultimately inspired my Silver Knight Project,” Isabella said.
Honorable Mentions: Christina Paschal, Calvary Christian Academy; Eric Levy, North Broward Preparatory; Lydia Berent, Cardinal Gibbons
BUSINESS
Ava Weissman
American Heritage, Broward Campus
After volunteering at senior homes, Ava saw how many seniors were lonely and isolated. To remedy this, she founded Pickleball 4 A Purpose as a sophomore in high school, pairing seniors and teens to play pickleball.
She was inspired by playing pickleball with her grandmother.
“My grandmother and I always experienced tons of laughs during our competitive pickleball matches. I loved that there was a sport we could play together,” Ava said.
Today, Ava mentors 15 chapters in 11 states and two countries, helping with everything from logistics to securing sponsors and recruiting over 200 teen volunteers.
Through four major tournaments in South Florida with over 500 attendees, she helped raise over $50,000 to benefit several charitable organizations, including United HomeCare, AVUS Connect and Florida Council on Aging.
Honorable Mentions: Leo Shee, Everglades High; Isabella Nesselroth, Cooper City High; Ayaan Hemani, College Academy at Broward College
DIGITAL & INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Rebecca Elitzur
David Posnack Jewish Day School
What began as a way to help her grandmother combat fatigue after chemo has grown into a global nonprofit and digital platform educating more than 42,000 people across 147 countries.
Rebecca founded and is executive director of Elevate Health, which provides free two-week virtual health challenges supported by daily progress-tracking, food guidance, motivational support and educational videos to help individuals improve their nutritional habits.
She designed and built the website, created the Health by Becca podcast and co-developed the Elevate Health mobile app. She also secured grants and sponsorships from Microsoft, OpenAI, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Canva and Google, among others.
“By combining research, technology, and digital media, Elevate Health addresses nutrition inequities at scale and continues to create sustainable, long-term impact,” she said.
Rebecca also is editor-in-chief of the Posnack Pulse student newspaper and president of the Dead Poets Society Literary magazine.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Pinto, American Heritage, Broward Campus; Brandon Clarke, Cardinal Gibbons; Isabella Borges, West Broward High
DRAMA
Lucas Himawan
Cardinal Gibbons
Through the Broward Center Teen Ambassador Program, Lucas has attended and reviewed more than 50 shows at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, including Broadway productions, classical concerts, jazz performances, operas and ballets.
He is website manager for the teen ambassador program, designing and managing the published reviews.
In his junior year, Lucas was named stage manager, overseeing every student within a production. One of his largest groups included more than 80 students and 15 adult musicians. He designed the programs used in three productions: “Clue,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”
“Using concepts I learned in AP Computer Science Principles, I created a custom program embedded within our spreadsheets that automatically fills in repetitive information and checks for inconsistencies. What used to take one to two hours to assemble the next day’s schedule can now be completed in about 10 minutes,” he said. Honorable Mentions: Rebecca Sherman, Fort Lauderdale High; Isabella Fuentes, West Broward High; Kaitlyn Burgess, Nova High
ENGLISH & LITERATURE
Diana Cho
Cypress Bay High
The first time a teacher asked Diana whether an AI tool was ‘‘basically cheating,” she realized her school didn’t just need rules — it needed understanding.
Diana founded and led Florida’s only affiliate chapter of StudentVoicesInAI, an MIT-partnership dedicated to ethical and accessible AI use.
“I watched while a surprising number of my peers leaned heavily on AI tools as they struggled to learn and keep up with schoolwork, often without clear guidance about academic integrity and privacy and responsible use,” Diana said.
StudentVoicesInAI aims to help students, teachers, small business owners and community leaders better understand how AI impacts learning, work and privacy and equip them with tools that translate abstract analysis into concrete language.
The group has partnered with local schools and organizations to encourage responsible tech use, including through programs like the Broward Youth AI Challenge.
Honorable Mentions: Kendall Towbin, North Broward Preparatory; Piya Sarkarati, American Heritage, Broward Campus; Chloe Blackwell, Key West High
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP
Lucia Lecour
Pine Crest School
In November 2023, Surfside’s town commission had devolved into screaming matches and projects being delayed indefinitely.
The next month, Lucia established the Surfside Youth Commission to encourage young people in Surfside and across Miami-Dade County to become active participants in local government. The eight-member leadership body now represents more than 1,700 youth living in Surfside.
“For the first time, Surfside’s youth have a seat at the table, and the town recognizes them as stakeholders whose ideas can directly shape the community’s future,” Lucia said.
The group created a database that connects Surfside teens with jobs and internships. Its College Prep Series provides free college advising to Surfside students.
In addition, the commission’s advocacy helped Surfside become the first town to join the Biophilic Cities Network. It’s now expanding its tree canopy and installing permeable pavements to create spaces that foster face-to-face community connection.
Honorable Mentions: Anagha Iyer, American Heritage, Broward Campus; Radhika Nanavati, North Broward Preparatory; Steven Strong, Monarch High
JOURNALISM
Katelyn Jagelman
Cardinal Gibbons High
Growing up with Type 1 diabetes was not easy for Katelyn, who was diagnosed at 8 years old.
To help children, families and teachers understand the condition, she wrote a children’s book, “Type 1 Heroes: Max’s Story,” published on Amazon.
“The idea that felt most personal was a children’s book that showed kids with Type 1 that they were not alone,” Katelyn said. “A book that explained their world in a way they could understand and that teachers could read aloud in classrooms to build empathy.”
As the project grew, she spoke at a diabetes event at the 92nd Street Y in New York, giving away more than 200 copies. She also read the book to a second-grade class at the Pine Crest School.
And she has partnered with Help a Diabetic Child, which provides glucose monitors for children who lack insurance or are underinsured. She plans to donate a portion of the book’s proceeds to the Naples organization.
Honorable Mentions: Nina Goncalves Vieira, American Heritage, Broward Campus; Valentina Arango, Coral Glades High; Janeyliz Baez, Pembroke Pines Charter High
MATHEMATICS
Harmoni Rachel
College Academy at Broward College
For the past four years, Harmoni has volunteered with the Urban League of Miami as a youth mentor and math tutor to students from elementary to high school.
She quickly realized learning is not one-size-fits-all and sought ways to find the best teaching style for each child, as some could not solve algebraic equations while others couldn’t count the change they received from a grocery store.
To help students better understand math concepts, she devised fun activities such as “Edible Math” and “Money Market” games that have been shared with other tutors in the Urban League to ensure the program’s continuity.
“Through my service, I was able to use diagnostic problem-solving, step-by-step reasoning and visually focused instruction to improve grades and students and daily applications of math.”
In return, the experience taught Harmoni valuable leadership skills and helped strengthen her own study habits. Post graduation, she plans to continue to mentor her students.
Honorable Mentions: Akhil Kotaru, North Broward Preparatory; Jessica Schmilovich, Pine Crest School; Abigail Jones, Saint Thomas Aquinas
MUSIC & DANCE
Neha Joseph
Cooper City High
When her grandparents moved in with her family, and her grandfather’s dementia worsened, Neha would play her violin for him after school and saw how much it soothed him.
When she later volunteered in the pediatric wing at Memorial West Hospital, she remembered that and worked with hospital therapists to establish a pediatric music program.
“By incorporating live violin music into therapy sessions, I provide emotional support to children, helping them feel calmer and more comfortable during treatments that are often both physically and emotionally challenging,” said Neha, a violinist with the Florida Youth Orchestra.
She noticed children with special needs or who are nonverbal often become more engaged and relaxed during the sessions. Parents and hospital staff have also noted the program’s impact, observing reduced anxiety, improved focus and overall smoother physical and occupational therapy sessions.
Neha performs regularly with the Florida Youth Orchestra in other healthcare settings such as the Cleveland Clinic, further strengthening her ability to connect with others through music.
Honorable Mentions: Kylin Reynolds, North Broward Preparatory; Victoria Alvarez, Saint Thomas Aquinas; Kyla Dunn, Cardinal Gibbons
SCIENCE
Camila Galicia
American Heritage, Broward Campus
While accompanying her mother to breast cancer treatments, Camila noticed so many other women in the waiting room were alone.
Driven by that harsh reality, she founded the nonprofit Saving Our Sisterhood (S.O.S.), a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive access to medical services, education and emotional support to women who are breast cancer survivors.
She started creating care packages with magazines, books and other items. So far, Camila has raised over $7,500 to purchase items to provide comfort and encouragement to women undergoing chemotherapy or post-mastectomy recovery. She has delivered the care packages directly to hospitals.
S.O.S. has reached about 200 women receiving treatment and is participating in community health fairs to reach others.
“S.O.S envisions a world where every woman, regardless of geography, income, age, or circumstance, has access to life-saving breast cancer screening, care and vital resources needed to thrive,” Camila said.
Honorable Mentions: Christopher Evans, North Broward Preparatory; Tyler Blake, Saint Thomas Aquinas; Maya Moore, Western High
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Landyn Spellberg
Western High
As the student adviser to the Broward County School Board, Landyn launched Creating a Culture of Student-Led Decision Making, a program that aims to bridge the communication gap between students and administrators.
The project evolved in three phases: Listening and Learning; Developing and Acting; and Sustaining and Scaling. Landyn facilitated 36 sessions at every traditional high school in the district, engaging over 1,000 students to create a space where they could speak honestly about their concerns.
The Student and School Board Feedback Sessions ultimately led to school repairs, process changes and policy-level conversations, demonstrating that student voices can drive tangible outcomes.
In year two, he led the Superintendent’s Student Engagement Initiative, a districtwide strategy to enhance student input and introduced an AI-powered quarterly student feedback survey that generated over 92,000 responses.
Lastly, he founded the Student Advisory Leadership Team (S.A.L.T.) to mentor future student leaders. “At its core, this project is about creating a culture where all students, regardless of their school or background, have the opportunity to have a say in their school experience,” Landyn said.
Honorable Mentions: Riley Troy, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High; Isabella Arredondo, Archbishop McCarthy High; Arantxa Gil, Saint Thomas Aquinas
SPEECH
Jade Capella
American Heritage, Broward Campus
Jade became the first and only under-18 ambassador for Operation Gratitude, a national organization dedicated to paying tribute to military and first responder communities.
Her first attempt was turned down due to her age, but Jade persisted and proved she was up for the job.
She networked within her community to source about 5,000 letters and 500 drawings of gratitude to send to active-duty service members and deployed troops and veterans, helping to ensure they would have the encouragement to keep going.
“It may seem insignificant, like a few words won’t make that big of an impact; however, when they open the letters, they truly feel grateful to have received them. The battles they face are unimaginable and this is a simple way that we can keep their spirits up,” said Jade, whose grandfather, Popper, served in World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Jade’s tenacity and hard work impressed the organization, which has expressed interest in working with teens on similar projects in the future.
Honorable Mentions: Anna Toledano, North Broward Preparatory; Kieran McManus, Cypress Bay High; Keira Gomez, J.P. Taravella High
VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL
Mia Moyano
Cardinal Gibbons High
After losing her father to cancer, Mia wanted to be a source of support for others grappling with the disease. She created the Light Through the Storm Project to serve as a beacon of hope and support for families impacted by cancer, especially children.
“Light Through the Storm allowed me to be the support I once needed, offering children and families reassurance that even in their darkest moments, there is still light,” Mia said.
She launched the project last summer with Light Through the Storm Empathy Kits, thoughtfully curated kits with personal notes, games, coloring supplies, toys, journals and stress-relief items.
Last year she delivered 50 kits to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Next, she created The Empathy Light Line, where she connected one-on-one with youth coping with isolation and loneliness as their loved ones battled cancer.
As the project grew, so did her role, expanding to include community outreach, advocacy and leadership development. She shares her story and continues working with school administrators, clubs and peers to raise awareness about pediatric illness and emotional health.
Honorable Mentions: Thomas Gentile, Pompano Beach High; Joshua Rena, Monarch High; Sneha Mathews, Pembroke Pines Charter High
WORLD LANGUAGES
Cecilia Gonzalez-Jimenez
American Heritage, Broward Campus
Cecilia founded Coastal Conservators, a youth-led organization dedicated to making environmental action accessible through volunteer coordination, education, advocacy and fundraising to spread environmental awareness across South Florida.
She led shoreline cleanups, hosted environmental education workshops, and partnered with South Florida nonprofits to engage more communities in environmental action.
She was the only youth site leader for International Coastal Cleanup Day and has represented Coastal Conservators on both local and national platforms, including at the inaugural Aspen Ideas: Climate Summit and Cupid Splash: Miami.
“Advocating for environmental justice means recognizing systemic barriers and intentionally creating pathways for participation, using whatever skills and interests we have. I hope to continue building spaces where every community member has the tools and opportunities to contribute to a healthier, more resilient future,” Cecilia said.
Honorable Mentions: Camilla Escobar, Cardinal Gibbons High; Katelyn Chen, Everglades High; Tracey Alexandre, Saint Thomas Aquinas
