MIAMI – During a socially-distanced check ceremony, the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women awarded the “Young Woman Achiever” scholarship to Stara D’Haiti from the Young Women’s Preparatory Academy. The $1,000 scholarship will help pay for college expenses. Four other young women from Women of Tomorrow's mentorship and scholarship program are receiving $500 scholarship towards college expenses. Yajaira Reyes from Miami Jackson Senior High, Trisha Taluy from Biotech Senior High, Nathalie Cruz from Miami Lakes Educational Center, and Yalin Valladares from Miami Springs Senior High will be recognized at separate check presentations in the upcoming weeks. Commissioners Eileen Higgins, Joe A. Martinez, and Jean Monestime sponsored the 2020 scholarships.

D’Haiti will be attending Stanford this fall and is interested in environmental engineering. She resides in Commissioner Jean Monestime’s district and she received a congratulatory letter from him lauding her achievements. The other four young women are keeping their talents in #OurCounty and will attend Miami-Dade College and Florida International University.

“For the sixth consecutive year our board has been able to assist promising young women with a portion of their college expenses and we have the great confidence in the success of the ones selected this year,” said Commission for Women Chair Sharon Kendrick-Johnson. “They have proven their tenacity and focus on education which is the best indicator of the future academic triumphs.”

The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the improve their quality of life. Follow Miami-Dade County Commission for Women on Facebook and on Twitter @MiamiDadeWomen.

For more information, please contact Miami-Dade County Commission for Women Director Monica Skoko Rodriguez at 305-375-4967. For high resolution photos, contact Press Officer and Community Liaison Griselle Marino at 305-375-1585.

The Office of Community Advocacy, under the Board of County Commissioners, oversees eight advisory boards and the Miami-Dade County Goodwill Ambassadors Program. The Office is charged with making Miami-Dade County "One Community" that embraces our diverse and unique population. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @AdvocacyMDC on, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.