Humanities
| Creeping Through the Glades: Invasive Species in Florida | ||
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Adriana Barroso De La Cruz is a second-year student at the Honors College at Miami Dade College, pursuing an associate’s degree in Biology with the goal of continuing to Dentistry School. Passionate about human biology and health sciences since childhood, she later developed a special interest in esthetics and how they shape people’s confidence. She serves as treasurer of the Verba Vitae Book Club at the Padron Campus and participates in a microorganism culture project in the Biology Lab. Beyond academics, Adriana is deeply drawn to art, music, and the study of the human mind. Through her research, she seeks to highlight the importance of contemporary art as a reflection of youth experiences and as a pathway toward emotional healing. |
Alexzander Cano is a second-year student at Miami Dade College Honors, Kendall Campus, pursuing a degree in Business Administration with plans to transition into Finance. Born and raised in Miami in a proud Cuban household, he carries forward his parents’ legacy of being born and raised in Cuba, drawing inspiration from their resilience and determination. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Cano is a recipient of the Honors Fellow Scholarship Award, the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship, and the American Dream Scholarship. Cano serves as President of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a member of the Future Finance Leaders (FFL) and an Honors College Ambassador, where he represents his campus, fosters student engagement, and helps peers grow as leaders. He is also a member of the Diverse Student Organization (DSO), where he supports inclusivity and cultural exchange, and Math4U, a tutoring club where he helps fellow students strengthen their mathematical skills. His competitive spirit and business acumen were showcased when he earned 5th place in the nation at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, a recognition of his ability to excel at the highest level. Beyond campus involvement, Cano works in the banking industry, beginning as a Loan Administration Intern at Interamerican Bank before advancing into a part-time professional role in loan operations. This professional experience has strengthened his expertise in finance, compliance, and client service, while aligning with his long-term goal of a career in wealth management and corporate finance. For Cano, leadership is about building meaningful relationships, empowering others, and striving for excellence. With |
Alfredo Benites is a sophomore in the Honors College at Miami Dade College, pursuing Computer Science with a focus on software engineering and building scalable systems. He recently completed a summer internship at the Air Force Research Laboratory, where he developed core game logic and user interface systems in Unity to support national defense simulations. At MDC, Benites serves as President of INIT Kendall where he leads workshops, organizes career-prep initiatives, and supports members in building technical and professional skills. He previously volunteered with INIT Ignite mentoring high school students learning JavaScript through a collaboration with CodeArt. Beyond tech, he enjoys exploring personal finance topics such as credit cards and investing, and he actively volunteers at local beach cleanups and environmental nurseries. Whether in a classroom, meeting, or community event, Benites approaches every opportunity with curiosity, purpose, and a drive to make a difference. |
| Advancing Recidar: Strategic Insights and Data-Driven Pricing for Sustainable Secondhand Retail | The Challenges of Miami’s Transportation and Their Impacts on the City’s Residents | Social Influences on Modern Western Diet Culture |
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| Allison Huambachano | Amanda Torrecilla | Christine Coleau |
| Allison Huambachano is a proud MDC Honors College student at the Homestead Campus. Majoring in pre-pharmacy, she is working hard to earn her PharmD in the near future. As a member of Phi Theta Kappa, she always aims to maintain a 4.0 GPA and be involved in my community. As a volunteer at Finn's Pet Pantry for almost a year now, she supports the Animal Welfare Club at Homestead Campus. She has recently also been volunteering at Baptist Health South Florida, assisting with the administration and patients. Because of the pride she takes in serving her community, she is extremely grateful for this opportunity to travel abroad and perform research with professors Sarah Jacobs and Darrell Arnold. As a Peruvian born in the United States, Allison believes it is important to learn more about Peru's culture and immerse myself in a new global perspective. Working with Recidar's field partners and the Emzingo Team has fostered a deeper understanding of cultural differences and diverse backgrounds. She will forever cherish this unique academic achievement and personal enrichment gained from this research program. | Amanda Torrecilla is a first-year student at the Honors College at Miami Dade College, where she is pursuing a chemistry major with the goal becoming a pharmacist. She is a recipient of the Miami Dade College Honors Fellowship Scholarship Award as well as the Florida Academic Scholars Award. Torrecilla was a research intern at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for two years, studying endangered Red Mangroves affected by a widespread infection caused by the fungal pathogen Pestalotiopsis. Upon joining the Honors College, she became an active member of the Changemaker Education program, volunteering at numerous events hosted by the department. She currently serves as Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Society, and as Secretary of Math4U. She is also a two-time participant in the IREX Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge. In addition, Torrecilla is an Honors College Ambassador at Miami Dade College, and as part of her role, she leads the Sharks Guiding Sharks program, which supports incoming students in their transition into the Honors Program, their classes, and extracurricular involvement. She is the founder of The Chemists’ Circle, a student-led club at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, as well as the Leadership Learning Center Initiative, a program designed to give Miami Dade College students the opportunity to help K–12 children develop skills that will benefit them in the future. In 2025, she participated in the South Florida Research Consortium’s Undergraduate Research Internship Program at the University of Miami, where she studied cell nuclei using photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) with photoactivatable compounds. She continues this work as a volunteer researcher. Torrecilla’s long-term goals after earning her A.A. in Chemistry include attending pharmacy school, pursuing research in alternative medicines, and helping reduce drug addiction rates. | Christine Coleau is a junior at Miami Dade College. She is currently working on completing her AA in Anthropology and hopes to transfer to a public university to complete her BA in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. Ms. Coleau plans to apply for a fellowship at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. upon completion of her master's degree. She eventually hopes to become a college professor. |
| Silver Green Cemetery Research Project | The Natural Way of Us | Urban Green Spaces |
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| Juliet Rodriguez | Madeleine Wagshul | Maria Almarza |
| My name is Juliet Rodriguez, and I am an Honors College freshman at Homestead's MDC, majoring in Biology. Through my IDS1911 research, I studied those buried at Silver Green Cemetery. I thought conducting research would be simple, but I was mistaken. Research can be surprising and even emotional at times. One of the most challenging things was trying to research individuals with common names or few or no records, especially those from repressed groups. It felt like I was leaving some behind, but it also made me want to continue researching and maybe tell more of their stories one day. Learning about people like John Thomas Byrd and Riley Perry showed me that history is not just facts in a book, it is about real people and their lives. This experience changed the way that I look at research, allowed me to gain confidence in my work, and allowed me to grow academically, personally, and overall as a human being. | Madeleine Wagshul is a Miami native currently studying art and technology as an undergraduate at New World School of the Arts. She plans to pursue a dual degree in sociocultural anthropology, with an emphasis on global cultures and genocide prevention. Her artwork explores power dynamics, anthropological concepts, history, politics, and literature. After graduation, Madeleine aspires to attend graduate school to further her interdisciplinary interests. | Maria Victoria Almarza is completing her Associate of Arts in English at the Miami Dade Honors College. She has scored independent short films, participated in the NYU Film and Video Game Scoring Workshops, and currently serves as Vice-President and Composer for StoryBytes. Her leadership includes roles as Co-President of the Letter Exchange for Progress and Awareness, Cross-Cultural Relationship Manager for the IREX Sustainability Challenge, and Social Media Manager for genCLEO under The CLEO Institute. In 2025, she attended The Washington Center’s Presidential Inauguration Seminar in Washington, D.C., gaining firsthand perspective on national policy, governance, and advocacy. Passionate about sustainability and environmental advocacy, she applies her creative and political insights to fight for climate justice. |
| Nietzsche on Self-Overcoming – The Key to Academic Excellence | Fate: A Slave to Relativity and Circumstance? | Exploring the Effects of Culture on Beauty Standards & Body Image Satisfaction Amongst Latina Students |
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| Marina Cavalleiro | Mario Licor | Michelle Lopez |
| Marina Cavalleiro is a senior at Miami Dade College pursuing a bachelor’s in Film, TV, and Digital Production. She holds an associate’s degree in Motion Pictures and Television Production and a technical degree in Assistant Directing from the International School of Film and TV in Brazil. An international student, she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and The Honor Society, a Dean’s List honoree, and a recipient of the COD Succeeds Scholarship and the Exceptional Undergraduate Research Award. Her research on self-improvement reflects her dedication to personal growth and excellence, driving both her academic achievements and her contributions to the entertainment industry. | Born and raised in Miami, Florida but spent 7 years in Colorado, where I taught snowboarding to children and adults. After recently returning home to Miami I enrolled at Miami Dade College where I'm now working on completing a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. | Michelle is a 1st year marketing student at the Miami Dade Honors College, Homestead Campus. She is deeply passionate about understanding consumer behavior and the different sociological factors which influence it, including culture and the media. |
