Drive One 4 UR School

June 3, 2013 – Miami, Florida - Sincere appreciation to Gus Machado Ford as they presented Coral Reef Senior High School with a $6,000 check for participation in a Drive One 4 UR School event held on April 10, 2013. This is a large fundraising community service and good will event promoting Ford Motor Company in the community. The Coral Reef event was coordinated by Ms. Deb Margolis, Athletic Director.

The Ford Motor Company’s highly successful Drive One 4 UR School test-drive program, which brings together local dealerships and neighborhood high schools to raise money for extracurricular activities. The program got its start in 2007 and has become Ford’s most successful test-drive initiative ever, with some 1,500 events held in 49 states since then, garnering approximately 255,000 test drives—and raising more than $5 million for before- and after-school activities across the country. The event works with Ford bringing 10-15 new Ford cars and trucks to the school along with a full staff of salesmen. During the event parents, students and members of the community can test drive a vehicle without the high pressure of a sale. After the testdrive a short questionnaire is completed that helps give Ford feedback on their vehicles. For each test drive the school receives a donation.

2013 Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange Scholarship

May 31, 2013 – Washington, D.C. - Congratulations to Hanna Pustejovsky, a graduating senior in the International Baccalaureate Academy, as she is the recipient of the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange Scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The Congress–Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) for high school students offers German and American students a fully-funded academic year abroad. Participating students develop critical intercultural skills while learning what it is like to live and attend school in Germany. Hanna Pustejovsky was selected from 130 applicants submitted nationwide. Of that number, 25 finalists were selected for this scholarship. She is the only selection from Miami-Dade County.

After completion of this program Hanna will be attending Middlebury College.

2013 Congressional Art Competition

June 1, 2013 – Miami, Florida - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School’s Chris Kiener as he is the winner of the Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s 2013 Congressional Art Competition. Chris is a sophomore in the International Baccalaureate Academy and a member of the Class of 2015. Each year, the art of one student per participating congressional district is selected to represent the district at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Chris’ winning piece will be hung in the Capitol complex for one full year and listed on the House of Representatives website.

The Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus, was started in 1982 to encourage and recognize the talents of young constituents. Since its inception, more than 650,000 high school students nationwide have been involved.

In addition, Alex Kiener has earned second place in the competition. Alexander also is in the International Baccalaureate Academy and a member of the Class of 2015. His piece will be hung in the Congresswoman’s District of Columbia office.
Chris and Alex were recognized at a special recognition reception by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s District 27, Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Miami Senior High School.

Attached photo: left to right – Alex Kiener and Chris Keiner

2013 Congressional Art Competition

May 30, 2013 – Miami, Florida - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School’s Lee Pivnik as he is the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition! Lee is in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy and a member of the Class of 2014. Each year, the art of one student per participating congressional district is selected to represent the district at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.. Lee’s winning piece will be hung in the Capitol complex for one full year and listed on the House of Representatives website.

The Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus, was started in 1982 to encourage and recognize the talents of young constituents. Since its inception, more than 650,000 high school students nationwide have been involved.

In Florida’s 26th district, student’s talents deserve to be proudly displayed whenever possible. For that reason, this year’s competition will be a little different as a dozen winners to represent Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys were selected. Lee, as the first place winner will be hung in the Capitol. In addition, Tiffany Zambrana also in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy and a member of the Class of 2014, was a top ten winner.

Lee and Tiffany were recognized at a special recognition reception by Congressman Joe Garcia (FL-26), Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Florida International University, Graham Center, Room 243.

Coral Reef Teacher Receives National Recognition

May 30, 2013 – Washington, D.C. – Congratulations to Dr. Claire Oueslati-Porter, a teacher at Coral Reef Senior High School, as she has been selected as a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholar, supported by NEH. The Endowment is a federal agency that, each summer, supports these enrichment opportunities at colleges, universities, and cultural institutions so that teachers can study with experts in humanities disciplines.

Dr. Oueslati-Porter will participate in an institute entitled “Roots of Arab Spring.” The three-week program will be held at the University of California, Davis and directed by history professor Omnia El Shakry and The History Project.

The twenty-eight teachers selected to participate in the program each receive a stipend of $2700 to cover their travel, study, and living expenses.

Topics for the 24 seminars and institutes offered for teachers this summer include African history, African-American literature, Diversity, unity in the Pueblo world, China and India, Mind, meaning, and morality, Turkish history and culture, Thomas Jefferson, John Steinbeck, Native Americans of New England, Political and constitutional theory, Appalachian culture, Gilded Age and Progressive Era, Roots of the Arab Spring, South African history and culture, American history through song.

The approximately 528 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these programs of study will teach almost 66,000 American students the following year.

DO THE RIGHT THING AND UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL!

May 24, 2013 – Miami, Florida - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School graduating senior in the International Baccalaureate Academy, Joany Lamur, for DO THE RIGHT THING AND UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL! She was nominated by Glenn Steinberg at Colonial Drive Elementary School. Joany was one the winners (from the group of 10 winners) for the month of April and in additon receives an all expenses paid trip to New York City in the fall.
The purpose of Do The Right Thing of Miami, Inc. (DTRT) is to recognize and reward Miami youth for their exemplary behavior, accomplishments and good deeds. The DTRT Awards Program distinguishes exceptional school-age children who choose to be drug and crime free, exhibit non-violent behavior, do well in school, make a difference in their communities and demonstrate turnaround behavior. Each month of the school year, parents, police officers, teachers and other adults nominate up to 1,000 children for “doing the right thing.” A selection committee reviews the nominations and selects ten finalists for the month.
Joany will be attending Hamilton College.

Peninsula Community Foundation

May 23, 2013 – Newport News, Virginia - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School graduating senior Melanie Orejuela, as she is the recipient of a $6,000 college scholarship from Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Melanie is in the International Baccalaureate Academy.

This scholarship was established in 2007 to assist students whose parents are part of the Ferguson “family.” These students must have a commitment to community service, school activities, honors and awards, a personal essay defining what character means to them, and a good grade point average. This year Melanie was one of ten outstanding applicants selected out of 81 applicants.

Melanie will be attending the University of Florida majoring in General Health and Behavior.

Herff Jones Believe in You Scholarship and Principal’s Award

May 23, 2013 – Miami, Florida - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School graduating senior Lucia Baca as she received the Herff Jones Believe in You Scholarship and Principal’s Award. Lucia was recognized with a personalized engraved Student Achievement Medal. Each medal is engraved with the student’s name and year of the award.

Lucia will be attending Yale University in the fall.

National Achievement Scholarship Program Winner

Evanston, Illinois – May 23, 2013 – Congratulations to the 2013 National Achievement® Scholarship Program winner, Raivo Andrian from Coral Reef Senior High School. Raivo is a graduating senior in the International Baccalaureate Academy. This program is open to Black American high school students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Raivo will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall.

National Merit Scholarship Winner

May 23, 2013 – Evanston, Illinois - Congratulations to Coral Reef Senior High School graduating senior, Prudhvi Lokireddy, in the International Baccalaureate Academy. He has been named a National Merit Scholarship recipient and receives a $2500 Scholarship! Prudhvi intends to use his scholarship reward towards the University of California, Berkeley. He intends to major in Mathematics and Finance.