Impressed with a Mater Academy graduate who was awarded a full scholarship to study theoretical mathematics and aerospace engineering at a prestigious institution, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz recently sponsored a resolution to encourage the growth of STEM careers at schools in Miami-Dade.
The resolution calls for the county’s administration to continuously pursue opportunities for partnerships, programs and grants that will lead to expanding educational and career opportunities in the STEM’s field for students, including girls and young women.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Last year, Diaz sponsored a similar resolution to partner with local schools to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers.
Diaz said he sponsored the resolution after reading a newspaper article featuring Mater Academy graduate, Dayme Delgado, who is headed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a full scholarship to study theoretical mathematics and aerospace engineering.
“We need to inspire more young people like her,” Diaz said. “STEM careers are the way of the future, and I want to see this community do everything it can to foster young talent to pursue this lucrative field, which will also benefit our local economy.”
Delgado finished high school with a 5.2 GPA and two associates degrees.
The daughter of two Cuban immigrants, she struggled to learn English at an early age, but she understood math and excelled in the subject.
Delgado was the president of Mater Academy’s chapter of the math honor society Mu Alpha Theta and helped tutor classmates struggling in college-level algebra and statistics courses.
Diaz is hoping his resolution would encourage more students to follow in Delgado’s footsteps.
Local schools with STEM programs include Barbara Goleman and Hialeah Miami Lakes high schools; Miami Lakes Educational Center; Country Club and Lawton Chiles middle schools; Miami Lakes K-8 Center and Bob Graham Education Center.