Alex Penelas visits St. Thomas University and Speaks to High School Students about Leadership and Hard Work.

A group of high school students studying at St. Thomas University during the summer as part of the Miniaci Family Lead Now Program, not only have the opportunity to earn college credits and be eligible for a scholarship, but also to meet leaders who share their stories of struggle and success and inspire them to accomplish their goals. 

This week, the young students had the opportunity to hear from one of the most influential leaders of Greater Miami: former Miami Mayor Alex Penelas, who spoke to them about his story of humble beginnings, hard work and leadership.

Penelas, who graduated from St. Thomas University in 1981, when it was called Biscayne College, comes from a working family of Cuban immigrants. He was accepted to St. Thomas in 1979 and graduated top of the class, which earned him a scholarship to continue his studies in law at the University of Miami.

At a young age he ran and won a seat at the Hialeah City Council, and then ran for County Commission, which he also won. At age 34, he became Mayor of Miami, a position which he held for two consecutive terms. He talked about the obstacles he overcame; especially against people constantly telling him that he was not going to be able to accomplish his dreams. 

 “Don’t let anybody tell you that because of where you come from, because of your social status or because you speak with an accent that you can’t accomplish what you want,” Penelas said to the students, who come from different Dade-County high schools. “Those are all excuses because the only person that can keep you from doing something is yourself.”

Since Penelas left politics he has become involved with St. Thomas University and teaches a criminal justice class at Biscayne College. 

“It makes me so happy to come here and see this program that I helped create providing an opportunity for students like you to learn about leadership and about going to college, this is a program that should serve as a model for other universities,” Penelas said. “It is such a powerful statement that you are here taking time from your summers to get ahead, it is all about that hard work and sacrifice and I commend you for that.”

Students who participate in The Miniaci Family Lead Now summer Institute for High Potential Students, earn six preparatory college academic credits, receive leadership training, create a professional e-portfolio and become eligible to receive annual scholarships for St. Thomas University.

The high school juniors and seniors who complete the program and choose to attend St. Thomas University, also become Fernandez Fellow. As a Fernandez Fellow at STU, they follow the regular curriculum, but have the opportunity to receive mentoring by business leaders during their years at the university. This year the program started June 23 and the completion ceremony will take place August 2nd, the program takes two summers to complete.

South Miami Senior High senior, David Valdera, said he entered the program because he wanted to see what it felt like to be in college and see if he liked it.  

 “I wanted to experience what it was like to be in college and I have been really feeling like if I was in college already and I really like it” said 18-year-old Valdera, who wants to be a pharmacist. .

The second speaker of the day was St. Thomas University’s Biscayne College Dean Dr. Guiyou Huang, who spoke to the students about the importance of education and direction.

“The earlier you earn your degrees the earlier you will achieve your goals,” Dr. Huang told the students. “If you know what you want to do when you are young, then each step that you take will be towards the same direction of cultivating yourself and becoming who you want to become.”

Monsignor Pace senior Ana Maria Guerrero, said up to now she had learned a lot from the LEAD NOW program and that she would recommend it to any students interested in learning about leadership and college life.

“I think this is a great program for high school students because it helps us understand more clearly what college life is about,” Guerrero said. “I also learned a lot about leadership: that it is very important to be a leader to succeed in any career, and I think Mr. Penelas was a great example of someone who used leadership since the beginning to succeed.” 
For more information about this program please contact Prof. Marcela Moyano-Rosero
School of Leadership Studies Institute for Communication, Entertainment & Media

Phone Number: (305) 474-6840 E-mail Address: mmoyano@stu.edu