Mater Academy Charter Middle and High School, located in Hialeah, is the home school of two local Silver Knight Winners – Ashley Gomez and Luis Miguel Rodriguez. The recipients of the prestigious award were recognized during a ceremony at the James L. Knight International Center by The Miami Herald.
Gomez won her scholarship in the Business category and Rodriguez won for Mathematics. Both were honored as part of the 15 winners and chosen over nominees county-wide. Nominees from all schools were interviewed by a panel of judges and the winning Silver Knights received $2,000, a statue, and a medallion presented by American Airlines.
Gomez's Silver Knight project was born from the economic hardship she and her classmates faced. After teaming up with her school's Future Business Leaders of America chapter and with Regions Bank, Gomez spearheaded money management seminars for her peers. She ranks among the top two percent of her class and won a Congressional Award, a Student of the Year Award, and a Brown Book Award.
Rodriguez began the project Bright Lights to help middle school students learn to read in English. Rodriguez understands the hardship behind adapting to a new language and culture, having only immigrated to the states in sixth grade. Rodriguez and his peers visit classrooms to re-enact scenes from books that students may have trouble understanding. A noted AP Scholar with Distinction, Rodriguez has been on the Principal's Honor Roll for five years.
The honorable mentions in the Silver Knight program featured 45 students in various categories. Local students Veronica Heredia from Hialeah Gardens Senior High for the Social Science category, and Sukie Hernandez from Mater Academy were among those honored.