Humanities Edge Undergraduate Research Symposium | Fall 2022

Ricardo Salazar is a twenty-year-old foreign language student at MDC. He is very passionate about language learning and culture. He discovered this from an early age while learning English as a second language in his country of origin, Venezuela. As an infant, he was diagnosed with a congenital eye disease known as LCA. This condition deteriorated his sight progressively. Today, he only has approximately 30 percent of usable vision left in both eyes, meaning that he is legally blind and visually impaired. Thanks to a great amount of support from family, friends and institutions as well as his positive attitude and dedication, he has been able to overcome many obstacles along the way and is on his way to get his AA degree at MDC.

Apollinaire S. Mendoza is a history student at The Honors College in Miami Dade College. He hopes to earn a scholarship while attending an accelerated master's program at a top-ranking university. He is supported by his Cuban immigrant family who with their love pushed him toward museums of various subjects to find his interests. He found his passion in the paintings and stories of the figures that dotted the halls of natural history museums. While on television he found the world of diplomacy and politics with the speeches of Barack Obama and the geopolitics of China's Belt and Road. Apollinaire aims to make events, figures, and the story behind them more accessible to youth to create a more globally sensitive generation in the future. Apollinaire now works as an English tutor assisting students with their academic papers and essays.

Terrill Smith is native of Miami Florida, and a first-generation African American college student. Terrill, a second-year graphic design and commercial arts major at Miami Dade College North Campus, will pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university after graduating from MDC in the spring of 2023. He aspires to work in the media services industry. Terrill is the treasurer of the North Campus Student Government Association. As a student leader and member of the inaugural class of the Rising Black Scholars program, Terrill has represented Miami Dade College at academic conferences in Tampa, Jacksonville, New York City, and Pittsburgh.

Hillary Valentina Grullon is an undergraduate student at Miami Dade College where she is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in Foreign Languages. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, which has allowed her to engage in research on Cultural Identity and how the conflict has impacted first-generation immigrants, working alongside her mentor and library liaison. In her studies, Hillary focuses on international relations, and intercultural communication while furthering her linguistic abilities in Foreign Languages and different cultures. Her interest in Foreign Languages stems from her goal of creating a bridge and aiding others in crossing cultural and linguistic borders. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she intends to apply to graduate school to further her knowledge of foreign languages focusing on Asian studies, and progress toward a career as an interpreter and cultural ambassador.

Oriana Dos Santos is a second-year student at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus. She is majoring in graphic design with plans to transfer to the University of Central Florida to pursue a bachelor's degree in graphic design and advertising. She has explored her creativity via activities such as dance, art, and photography. She is an illustrator for The Reporter, the student newspaper at MDC.