The founders of a subscription jewelry business who have ties to Miami Lakes are offering a chance for a low income or minority student to win a MacBook computer and an internship. The contest, which also comes with an annual $2,000 grant for textbooks, is accepting applications from college-bound seniors or recent high school graduates until July 15. Ylette Luis launched XIO By Ylette. Members who pay $60 per month receive a box...

BankUnited in Miami Lakes joined the Miami Heat Charitable Fund to award $25,000 in scholarships to five high school graduates. The seven-year partnership has helped students who excel at academics and community service, the bank said. Lisa Shim, the bank’s executive vice president and head of consumer and small business banking, called the Class of 2020 “resilient” and said it was important that “we continue to come together and find...

Diana Maria Alonso, 26, of Miami Lakes, graduated in May from The GeorgiaInstitute of Technology in Atlanta.She earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.Alonso was in the Class of 2012 at Barbara Goleman Senior High School. Photo courtesy of Alonso.Alexa Cruz, 22, of Miami Lakes, graduated in May from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.She earned a Bachelor of Science degree.Cruz is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas...

Two teachers in the bilingual department at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes retired at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Shown is Barbara Jimenez, who worked for Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 39 years. And Elvira Marquez-Lardies, who taught for 14 years, the school said.
Photos courtesy of the school.

Daniella Ramirez doesn’t own a car, but her creations – brightly colored balloon bouquets that have brought happiness to her customers during the pandemic – are getting around, with the help of Instagram and her mom, who delivers them. Last spring, Ramirez, 19, of Miami Lakes, was a house-bound senior at Mater Lakes Academy doing distance learning when she decided to turn her hobby of making inflatable arrangements into a home business....