Maurits Acosta wins PTA award, $10,000 college scholarship

      Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School junior Maurits Acosta attended the United States Senate Youth Program in Washington D.C. in March. 

     One of two students chosen to represent the state of Florida, he was among 103 students from around the county. He worked with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Naples. 

     A week of intensive studies provided insight into the political process in the Capitol. The Program awarded Maurits, 17, an aspiring lawyer, a $10,000 college scholarship.

     The National PTA recognized him as Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year. He received an Uber gift card and will join an Uber student panel this summer. 

     At home, Maurits advises the Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board; is vice president of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools District Student Government Association; vice chair of the Miami-Dade Youth Commission and student representative to the Miami-Dade County Council of Parent Teacher Associations/Parent Teacher Student Association. 

     He founded Virtutem Populo, Inc. a non-profit dedicated to creating a civically engaged society.