Nayeli Lomeli/Staff Writer
This year’s Children’s Holiday Celebration will bring 84 high performing and economically disadvantaged students from 14 of Miami-Dade’s Title 1 elementary schools to FIU.
A Title 1 school is a school that has a large concentration of low-income students and receives supplemental funds to assist in meeting student’s educational goals.
“FIU is not just in Miami, but of Miami. As such, investing in the development of our schools and the well-being of our children is in our nature,” said Phillip Lloyd Hamilton, the Director of Outreach & Program Development in FIU’s Office of Student Access & Success.
The celebration will include an interactive toy workshop, campus tours, lunch and a holiday showcase competition.
Each participating school was asked to prepare a performance, such as a skit or a musical arrangement, focusing on this year’s theme of “The Polar Express: Bound for College.”
Six students from each participating school will present their piece to a panel of FIU student judges.
The two winning schools will be invited to perform during the afternoon’s luncheon in front of the guests.
“The event’s purpose remains to celebrate the academic achievement of local children and to expose them, from a young age, to college and what it has to offer in the hopes that one day they will become Panthers,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton said that early exposure to the university environment gives young students an opportunity to picture themselves in college.
“Many students whose parents may not have had an opportunity to attend college seldom envision themselves as eligible for post-secondary education. Our mission is to normalize post-secondary education in the dreams our children have for their futures,” said Hamilton.
Proceeds from the event will support student scholarships and the general operational needs of the Office of Student Access & Success, including academic enrichment programming for historically under-represented, low-income and first-generation students.
This year’s participating schools are Archcreek Elementary, Charles R. Drew K-8, Coconut Palm K-8, David Lawrence Jr. K-8, Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary, Dr. William Chapman Elementary, Florida City Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, Jesse J. McCrary Elementary, Liberty City Elementary, Phillis Wheatley Elementary, Phyllis R. Miller Elementary, Robert Ingram Elementary and Scott Lake Elementary.
The Children’s Holiday Celebration will take place on Tuesday in the GC Ballrooms from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is open to faculty and staff, alumni and the general public.
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