The Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board honored 22 students and an outstanding educator during its annual Awards of Excellence ceremony, held April 30 at the Roberto Alonso Community Center.
The Graham Companies also presented three Miami Lakes Future Leaders Scholarships to high school seniors.
“Today we’re here to give back, to give back to the educators in our community, to give back to the students and their families, to recognize them for their incredible work they’ve done throughout their journey,” School Board member Roberto J. Alonso said.
Teachers and others in the education community chose the award recipients.
“Events like the Awards of Excellence and the Miami Lakes Future Leaders Scholarship presentation serve as a powerful testament to what happens within a community that truly invests in the potential of our youth,” North Region Superintendent Dr. Yesenia Aponte said.
She called Miami Lakes “home to great and educational excellence. None of this success is accidental,” Aponte said. “It is the result of tireless dedication of our school leaders.”
Andrea Graham Rechichi, vice president for corporate relations at The Graham Companies, presented $1,500 Future Leaders Scholarships to three students:
--Roberto A. Alonso, a son of Roberto J. Alonso who attends Belen Jesuit Preparatory School and plans to attend Tallahassee State College and Florida State University;
--Monica Espejo, who attends Mater Lakes Academy High School and had not yet chosen her next school,
--Gabriella Felipe, who attends Barbara Goleman Senior High School. She will study at Florida International University.
“What you have to do nowadays, I just don’t know how you do it,” Graham Rechici said, adding that she was impressed with their volunteer service and other accomplishments. “So kudos to everyone.”
The ceremony also honors 14 retiring educators from Miami Lakes area schools who received proclamations from Mayor Josh Dieguez.
“This is important because teachers often they help our students understand the world,” Dieguez said.
He said that education begins at home, but a good teacher will reinforce those lessons in the classroom.
“I want to say thank you to all the educators and administrators for everything you do, day in and day out, to help kids be able to realize their dreams,” Dieguez said.
Educator of the Year, Pablo Millares, a kindergarten teacher who is retiring from Bob Graham Education Center after 36 years in the classroom. He was also honored at the April 21 town council meeting, when a large crowd of parents celebrated his career and students sang the national anthem.
“One of my dreams was always to be a teacher and I was able to fulfill that dream and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your trust …” Millares said.
Headquarter Toyota Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Judy Farcus Serra said Millares was an educator whose reach extended into the community.
The Lawton Chiles Middle School culinary team served dinner from Paellas by Mich and cake, too. Vicky Bakery provided lite bites and Vida Custom Designs created the awards. Sponsors included Headquarter Toyota; M.O.P. Automotive; MHC Construction; The Graham Companies and Vicky Bakery.
Not shown in the photos: Councilman Juan Carlos Fernandez; students Roberto A. Alonso, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School; Nicole Diaz, Miami Lakes K-8 Center, Fine Arts; Zachary Webb, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, Athletics; Lucia Bring, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, Local Advocacy; Xiomara Gonzalez, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, Digital Arts/Media; and retiring teachers Livia Bello; Josephine S. Vernon; Mark J. Moyle; G. Dennis Wilson; Yvette Gonzalez and Queen E. Sommers.