Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez launches Mayor’s Shining Scholars Awards highlighting local young achievers

(MIAMI, September 3, 2013) – Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will present three local high school students with the Mayor’s Shining Scholars Awards at the inaugural presentation on September 4, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers at the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Second Floor, in Miami, prior to the Board of County Commissioners Meeting.

As part of Actively Investing in Miami-Dade – the A.I.M. Initiative –, the Mayor’s Shining Scholars Awards aims to showcase the talented young people in our community by recognizing those students who strive to improve themselves and achieve more.

Each month, one student will be selected for each of the following awards: “The Pursuer of Excellence,” “The Unstoppable Scholar,” and “The Emerging Leader.” High school students from public, private, and charter schools throughout Miami-Dade County are eligible for nomination. Students are nominated by their teachers, coaches, employers, mentors, etc.

The award recipients for the month of September are the following:

Briana Miranda
The Pursuer of Excellence Award
South Dade Senior High School, 12th grade

Christopher Naranjo
The Unstoppable Scholar Award
St. Brendan Catholic High School, 12th grade

Sofia Santa-Cruz
The Emerging Leader Award
School For Advanced Studies- South, 11th grade

“Our community is blessed with talented young people who are excelling in the classroom, knocking down barriers to success and pursuing their dreams,” said Mayor Gimenez, “so it’s important that they be recognized for their hard work. We want to fully engage these students in their community now and give them the encouragement they need to take on leadership roles and build successful careers here in Miami down the road.”

For more information on the Shining Scholars Awards and to nominate a student, please visit http://www.miamidade.gov/mayor/shining-scholars.asp.

Actively Investing in Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez announced Actively Investing in Miami-Dade – the A.I.M. Initiative – on May 31, 2013. The A.I.M. Initiative is focused on developing, recruiting, and retaining the future workforce needed to make Miami-Dade a top global community. The A.I.M. Initiative is a comprehensive strategy that coordinates Miami-Dade County’s efforts in the areas of talent development and retention. For more information on the A.I.M. Initiative, please visit www.miamidade.gov/aim.