Miami-Dade Youth Fair-Making A Difference


Making a Difference: Local students win Youth Fair awards for community service


The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition recently hon-


ored six middle and high school students for their outstanding community service. “Community service is a fundamental part of The Youth Fair’s


core, and we are honored to be able to recognize such outstand- ing young people for their service. Such a commitment to others less fortunate makes them the unsung super heroes of our com- munity,” said Robert Hohenstein, president and CEO of The Youth Fair. Two of the students, Anilegna Nuñez Abreu from South Miami


Senior High School and SaiLasya Munamarty from Archimedean Middle Conservatory, were selected to receive the Walter B. Ar- nold Jr. Youth Hall of Fame Community Service Award. The Youth Fair awarded $1,000 to each of them. The four other finalists were: Abigail Colon from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School April Rubin from Coral Reef Senior High School Anabelle Ballate from Lawron Chiles Middle School Paulina Almada from G.W. Carver Middle School Each of the students received a $100 check at the May 31 din-


ner ceremony at the Fairgrounds attended by family, school ad- ministrators, Miami-Dade County Public School region administra- tors, school board members, and Youth Fair board members. The Youth Hall of Fame Community Service Award was created


in 2001 in honor of the man who had the vision to take a small 4-H Fair and turn it into one of the most respected fairs in the United States. The late Walter B. Arnold Jr. (1914-2000) had a 41-year history of selflessly leading The Youth Fair, including as general manager and president. He believed in young people and their potential and wanted to help them achieve their dreams. He created the exhibits category that allows students from across the county to showcase their achievements. In fact, with 63,461 student exhibits, The Youth Fair is home to the largest student exhibits in the USA. Hall of Fame Inductees: SaiLasya Munamarty SaiLasya, a seventh-grader at Archimedean


Walter B. Arnold, Jr.


Middle Conservatory, found her inspiration to stop child exploita- tion in an assignment at her school’s philosophy club. SaiLasya summarized the group’s findings on sex trafficking, child labor, organ trafficking, and drug trafficking then launched a Change.org petition to raise funds for organizations fighting these. She enlisted community support by speaking at schools, the Hindu Society of Miami, and Rotary clubs. Her efforts garnered 200 petition signa- tures, hundreds of dollars, and accolades from the Miami Police Department and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Although she admits that bringing about change can be difficult, SaiLasya says: “One change can help change the world.” Anilegna Nuñez Abreu Anilegna Nuñez, a senior at South Miami Senior High School,


founded H.E.L.P., her school’s tutoring and mentoring program, with a peer. When she tutored a schoolmate with autism, the posi- tive experience opened her eyes to just how much of an impact the program could have. At least 56 students have been tutored through H.E.L.P., with another 40 involved in the program’s men- toring component. Students who have attended 10 or more tutor- ing sessions have scored a 100 percent passing rate compared to 79 percent for those who have attended fewer than 10 sessions. Finalists: Abigail Colon Abigail, a senior at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School, found-


ed Creatures Helping All Maximize Peace (C.H.A.M.P.S.), a non- profit organization focused on animal-assisted therapy to help


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children cope with mental illnesses and isolation. Abi- gail plans to continue C.H.A.M.P.S. when she goes to college, hoping to bring therapy sessions to ill children and their families through Ronald McDonald House. Anabelle Ballate Anabelle, an eighth-grader at Lawton Chiles Middle School, sees


her work as founding president of her school’s Lead2Feed club especially rewarding, for herself and those she has served. Through her efforts to fight famine locally, Abigail said that she learned the importance of making an impact in your community. She coordinated the promotion, collection, and donation of food to local charity Feeding South Florida. In addition, the soon-to-be freshman hopes to introduce Lead2Feed at her new school. Paulina Almada Paulina, an eighth-grader at G.W. Carver Middle School, discov-


ered her voice through art and promotes “the importance of giving children the opportunities, guidance, and materials to express themselves thorough art.” As a volunteer assistant to Marlon Zuni- ga, the art teacher at her alma mater, G.W. Carver Elementary, she answers students’ questions about painting techniques, cleans up the classroom, and helps manage Little Carver’s art club. Next on her project list: organize a fundraiser to provide more and better art supplies for the club through an exhibit to show parents their children’s artwork. April Rubin April, a senior at Coral Reef Senior High School, is the lead writ-


er of Alper JCC’s Holocaust Impact Theater as well as an actor and producer. She auditioned for the company and its mission— engaging teens in writing, producing, directing, and performing original scripts on tolerance—as a freshman. April since has penned works on such topics as immigration, foster care, homo- phobia, and the forced sterilization of Holocaust victims. She plans to continue her work while studying communications in college.


Photo Credit: Chris Cutro/The Youth Fair The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition recently honored six middle and high school students for their outstanding community service. SaiLasya Munamarty from Archimedean Middle Conservatory (left) and Anilegna Nuñez Abreu from South Miami Senior High School (right) were selected to receive The Walter B. Arnold Jr. Youth Hall of Fame Community Service Award. The Youth Fair awarded $1,000 to each of them. Senior High School; April Rubin, Coral Reef Senior High School; Anabelle Ballate, Lawron Chiles Middle School; and Paulina Almada, G.W. Carver Middle School.


FAIRCRACKER-FALL 2018


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