The Education Advisory Board’s inaugural Awards of Excellence will celebrate exceptional students in Miami Lakes.
The board recognized students in the fifth, eighth and 12th grades for their accomplishments in different categories.
The board also honored an exceptional educator.
Sponsored by the board, the Town of Miami Lakes and Headquarter Toyota, the award ceremony will be held June 3 from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Roberto Alonso Community Center, 16500 NW 87th Ave. in Miami Lakes.
Athletics
Dylan Diaz, Fifth grade
Miami Lakes K-8 Center
Dylan plays flag football and basketball.
Abraham Salomon
Eighth grade
Miami Lakes Middle School
Abraham is a young teen with autism who has overcome all challenges this year.
Amanda Saiz, 12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Amanda plays volleyball and will graduate summa cum laude and in the top 1 percent of her class.
Business
Bryan Romero, 12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Bryan is vice president of Future Business Leaders of America.
Community
Melody Santiago, Fifth grade
Bob Graham Education Center
Melody always helps other students.
Fernando Oramas
12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Fernando belongs to several clubs and helps with toy drives and food drives.
English
Anabella Estopinan
Fifth grade
Bob Graham Education Center
Anabella has been an exemplary student throughout the year and is willing to help others.
Maryann Vega, Eighth grade
Bob Graham Education Center
Maryann is an excellent student and takes Language Arts seriously, asks interesting questions and is very dedicat-ed to her studies.
Fine Arts
Alyssa Diaz, Eighth grade
Miami Lakes K-8 Center
Alyssa’s artwork was displayed and her teachers submitted to the Hispanic Heritage contest, the Everglades artwork contest and the Earth Day contest.
Mia Cabrera 12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Mia was nominated for her dedication to a competitive dance team and for earning a 4.0 GPA.
Local advocacy
Christa Curry, 12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Christa is a young philanthropist who has performed more than 1,000 hours of community service and created her own non-profit, Christa-Cares.com.
STEM
Kylie Lichaj, Eighth grade
Bob Graham Education Center
Kylie dedicated three years to her robotics team in the Robocats STEM academy.
Kaitlyn Landrove, 12th grade
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Kaitlyn participated in the AP STEM Capstone program and in various clubs and groups.
Outstanding Educator of the Year
Ana Soto-Gonzalez
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Recognized for dedicating two decades to teaching and her community.