Of the 32 senior students in Miami Dade County Public Schools in the Carnival mentoring program, 17 lucky scholars won the Carnival Scholarship. Four of those competing were part of our own Sting family: Arletthe Marrero, Jose Hernandez, Angie Betancourt, and Jamilee Yern. Two of them won the prize- seniors Angie Betancourt and Jamilee Yern.

The Scholarship

The Carnival Scholarship is only for students who have been part of the Heat Academy Program, an afterschool program that begins when students are in elementary school. The scholarship covers tuition only. It’s from Florida Prepaid College, and it is a 2+2 plan, meaning it serves two years in a community college and two years for a four-year university.

Jamilee Yern plans on using her scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville. Angie plans on staying here in Miami attending MDC for the first year and later transferring to FIU for the remaining 3 years.

The requirements for the scholarship are: maintain a good GPA, have good attendance, do not get into trouble, and attend monthly field trips or “site visits” to the Carnival Cruise Lines headquarters where students are updated on everything regarding the scholarship and the mentors check up on students to make sure they are on the right track and to give them motivation.

Mentors

Everyone in the program has a unique mentor who was matched with the student the summer before freshman year. “I went through an interview with Ms. Hilda Aviles, child social worker, who came over to my house and asked me a lot of personal questions to get to know me and match me with the right person,” said scholarship winner Angie Betancourt, who was matched with the Vice President of the Miami Heat Corporation Ashley Ruchty. “She definitely impacted my life in a positive way. We’ve grown together and have so much trust in one another. Not only has she given me advice on school, but on personal life situations as well.”

Scholarship winner Jamilee Yern’s mentor was Ynelim Carillo, who is the director of sales strategy and operations at Carnival Cruise Lines. “She has motivated and helped me build more confidence in myself. I used to have a problem where I would always doubt myself, but thanks to my mentor, I don’t anymore.”

Application Process

To win the scholarship, Angie and Jamilee first needed to submit an application with a written essay and two teacher recommendation letters. Then, a panel reviewed their application and later interviewed them to get a better understanding of who they were as people.

On February 20, Angie and Jamilee received an acceptance letter through FedEx. “It was a surreal feeling; I was mixed with many emotions. I was happy, relieved, and amazed. I screamed when I first read ‘congratulations’. My first reaction was to call my parents and let them know about it,” said Angie.

“Words can’t even describe how ecstatic I was. I worked so hard since elementary school, and I finally won!” said Jamilee.

To officially receive the scholarship, Angie and Jamilee were invited to a Miami Heat basketball game on March 19, where they were on live TV during halftime along with the other 15 Carnival Scholarship recipients.

When Jamilee Yern was walking to receive her certificate and shake everyone’s hand, she was nervous and excited. “Mostly nervous because I was on live TV, and I didn’t want to mess up, but overall I was happy that all my friends and family were going to watch me and that I was going to represent Miami High,” she said.

“I was shaking the whole time, but overall it was an amazing experience. It felt great to be famous for a second,” said Angie Betancourt.

Benefits and Memories

Although some students didn’t win the scholarship, there are many benefits from being in the Carnival mentoring program. Senior Jose Hernandez said, “Through this program I matured and learned how to step outside of my comfort zone.”

Senior Arletthe Marrero said, “The program has many connections to other people who can help with a career in the future.” Both Jose and Arletthe agreed that meeting their mentor was also a benefit to the program.

Many memories were made during the four years of field trips to the Carnival Cruise Lines headquarters. Jamilee Yern’s favorite was, “During my junior year, Dwayne Wade came and rewarded me with the award for Junior with the Highest GPA.”

Arletthe Marrero also enjoyed meeting Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. “I couldn’t believe they were real. It felt like a dream,” she said.

Angie Betancourt enjoyed the free Heat game tickets they were gifted every season. Jose Hernandez said, “My favorite memory would have to be all the laughs I had with my group all four years.”