MIAMI, MAY 7 – The Miami HEAT announced today the five recipients of its 2014 HEAT Scholarships presented by BankUnited: The Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship, the Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship and three HEAT Scholarships. In its 18th year, the HEAT Scholarships offer $25,000 in funds to high school seniors attending school in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach counties. The scholarships, valued at $5,000 each, are awarded based on excellent academic performance, outstanding community service, and an unmet financial need. HEAT Legend Alonzo Mourning and Executive Director of The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund Steve Stowe will host a special halftime ceremony to honor the 2014 HEAT Scholarship recipients during tomorrow’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The scholarship recipients are as follows:
Jasmine Rose is the recipient of the Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship. As a senior at Miami Central Senior High School, she maintains a 4.7 GPA. During high school, she served as president of the Student Government Association and captain of the varsity volleyball team. She was also involved with other school clubs such as Future Business Leaders of America and National Honor Society. Rose volunteered 800 hours by working with local organizations such as The Church on the Way Congregation and the Claude Pepper Park Optimist Football and Cheer Program. She also spends her time serving as a youth commissioner for the City of North Miami and as a student advisor to the advisory committee of the Florida High School Athletic Association. She is also the founder of “Ignorance Isn’t Bliss,” an organization within Miami Central Senior High School, which focuses on the education of student leadership, financial literacy, and adversity of the urban community. This organization has membership of over 50 students and has assisted with the school’s overall increase in graduation rate. She will be attending Florida State University, majoring in business administration.
Laura Garcia is the recipient of the Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship. Garcia attends Mater Academy Charter High School and maintains a 6.0 GPA. She was involved in several high school activities, including Model United Nations Program and Rho Khappa – National Social Studies Honor Society, serving as president for both groups. She is also an active participant in the school’s Law Society, National English Honor Society, and the Creative Writing Club. She volunteered over 1,000 hours to her community and with the Thumbelina Academy in Hialeah, assisting with the “UpSide to Down” program geared towards the education of children with special needs and helping teachers that accommodate to their specific needs. She also assists with designing lesson plans for the students and recruitment of volunteers. She will be attending Brandeis University majoring in history.
Justice Collier is a recipient of one of three awarded HEAT Scholarships. Collier is a senior at Robert Morgan Education Center and maintains a 4.4 GPA. Throughout high school, she has been involved in many extracurricular activities, such as Ebony Club, Rho Khappa National Social Studies Honor Society, and the Veterinary Assistant Magnet Academy. She devoted 2,400 total community service hours during her high school tenure mainly working with Sweet Vine Youth Center, tutoring first and second graders in the areas of math, reading, science and social studies. She will be attending the University of West Florida majoring in marine biology.
Michelle Fried is a recipient of the second of three HEAT Scholarships. Fried attends Boca Raton Community High School and maintains a 4.1 GPA. She was involved with her school’s Health Ocupations Students of America Club where she organized a school project which helped train her fellow classmates how to perform CPR. She also volunteered over 1,000 hours of hertime with organizations such as The Ruth and Edward Taubman Early ChildhoodCenter in Boca Ration and the Luteran Medical Center in Brooklyn. Fried will be attending the University of Massachusetts majoring in pre-medicine.
Christy Charnel is a recipient of the third of three HEAT Scholarships. Charnel attends School for Advanced Studies—North and maintains a 6.3 GPA. During high school, she was involved in extracurricular activities and clubs including Health Occupations Students of America, Future Business Leaders of America, FutureEducators of America, Key Club, Women of Tomorrow, National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society. She volunteered her community service hourswith Jackson Memorial North’s Emergency Department and with His HouseChildren’s Home. She is also the founder of Loving Bonds Foundation, a religious organization that brings together children from different socio-economic backgrounds through music, counseling, and mentorship. She will be attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in either theology or biology.
“In partnership with the Miami HEAT, BankUnited congratulates these five high school seniors andcommends them for their outstanding service to their communities, and theirdedication to academic achievement,” said John Kanas, BankUnited chairman, president and CEO. “We fully encourage all students to take advantage of every opportunity to further their education and pursue their dreams, and are pleased the Miami HEAT does its part to help us emphasize the importance of education.