HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) — One South Florida school is beaming with pride after some of their graduates are preparing to head to Harvard and other elite universities across the country.
Harvard, Brown and Duke University are just a few big name schools some students at Hialeah High will attend this fall. Their acceptance has brought many reasons for the school to celebrate.
Dozens were honored during the annual Academic Scholarship Signing Day, Friday. “The path to your future starts here,” Hialeah High Principal Heriberto Sanchez said to the student body.
That path continues to Harvard University for Jessie Rodriguez. “I sacrificed a lot of sleep, and I definitely put a lot of work into my studies, but I loved doing it and it paid off,” she said.
Harvard is also the future Ivy League home of Daniela Mateu. “For me, it’s still a dream,” she said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Cynder Rodriguez is destined for Duke University. “I knew I wanted to go to a top school, but I never thought I would get accepted, and it feels really nice,” she said.
And Samanta Carais is Brown bound. “It’s just really exciting, and I’m ready for the next four years of my life at Brown,” she said.
More than 70 students received scholarships to colleges and universities across the nation. “I know that regardless of where they go, they are going to be successful,” said college advisor Alina Grandal.
And these seniors want younger students to know that success is within reach. “Sometimes it’s easy to think that you could come from a low income background, or you come from a place where people don’t achieve such a thing,” Mateu said, “but it is definitely possible.”
And this proud smiling crowd is proof. “When you walk on your new campus, don’t ever forget that you are a T-bred,” Sanchez said.
These super achievers told 7News they worked really hard for this day, but they didn’t do it alone. All of them praised Hialeah High, the teachers and staff for leading them on a path to success.