Javier Gil, a longtime Miami Lakes resident, graduated from the University of Miami School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree on May 11. He is the son of local residents and proud parents Mayte and Nestor Quiros. The 23-year-old kickstarted his academic career by enrolling into Miami Dade College’s School for Advanced Studies, a nationally recognized collegiate high school, which concurrently earned him a high school diploma and...

Youth Co-Op Preparatory Charter School fourth grade student Amy Marie Doval Valdes Rodriguez was selected as first place winner in the 2017 Barbara Petchenik Children’s World Map Drawing Competition. Judges, which included artists, cartographers, and geography teachers, chose their favorite maps along with international participants at the 2017 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Conference in Boston. Rodriguez’s...

Goleman High School sophomore Rakia Walker’s academic achievements and skill have earned her a spot in the prestigious University of Miami’s Scholar Program in Business, Ethics and Leadership. No other student at Goleman has earned this internship.With the help of her mom, Rewa, Walker found out about the program which aligned perfectly with Walker’s goals and passion – business and leadership. The program offers high...

Alessia Michelle Ortega, born and raised in Miami Lakes, is graduating Summa Cum Laude from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School in June. Ortega was selected as the female Scholar Athlete of the year at HGSH and attended the Miami-Dade Scholar Athlete Luncheon in which she was the recipient of a Junior Orange Bowl Scholarship. Ortega participated in three sports – soccer, swimming and water polo. She is Editor-in-Chief of the...

In the last weekend of April, seniors at Mater Lakes Academy joined thousands of other seniors from across the state for Grad Bash at Universal in Orlando to celebrate their accomplishments. Among them were 32 students who had a second reason to celebrate: earning their college degree. “Mater Lakes has prepared me for my pursuit of a collegiate education by instilling a strong work ethic and an ambitious mindset on me. At Mater...