We recently announced the fantastic news that some of our Upward Bound and Digital Wave students had been finalists for some prestigious scholarships. We are so proud to report that we officially have 2 winners of the Dell Scholars Program, and 1 winner for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program! These are not your everyday scholarships. These are like hitting-the-jackpot type of scholarships.

The Dell scholarship includes: $20,000 towards college expenses, technology equipment, a private scholar networking community, and mentoring support throughout college. The Gates Millennium scholarship provides a full ride for college expenses, opportunities to renew the scholarship if academic progress is maintained, leadership development programs, and even funding for graduate school in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and science.

So who are our academic all-stars who earned the jackpot?

Gregory Hyppolite, winner of the Dell Scholars program, plans to attend the University of West Florida. At the Museum, he has participated in the Upward Bound program since ninth grade as well as the Digital Wave program. He is a member of the Museum’s Youth Advisory Board and holds a position as Explainer to help supplement his family’s income. At school, he is a member of the Leadership Team and has earned an internship position with the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County, Alberto M. Carvalho. Greg is a natural leader, ambitious, and as any other student will tell you, is always willing to lend assistance to anyone in need.

David Green, believe it or not, has earned both the Dell AND the Gates scholarships! David has also been a long-time participant in the Museum’s Upward Bound and Digital Wave programs. Graduating as valedictorian this year, he plans to attend the University of Florida. He has been actively involved in his school’s robotics team, tutors other students, has helped develop the Overtown Cookbook, all while holding a steady part-time job. Quick, thoughtful, and encouraging to his peers, he believes that “education is my refuge in adversity.”

Here is an opportunity for YOU to help some amazing high school students get started in college!

The senior class of this year’s Upward Bound Math & Science Program is another group of exceptional high school students who represent the first in their families to attend college. It is always with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to these students who have become part of our Museum family. We are sad to see them leave, but we are also incredibly proud of them. This year, all 17 active program participants are graduating and have been accepted to colleges all over the country. We also have 3 Posse Scholar finalists (which provides full tuition and mentoring throughout college), 3 Dell Scholar finalists (which provides $20,000, a Dell computer and printer, and mentoring), one Gates Millennium finalist (which includes a full ride for college and graduate school), and one Coca-Cola Scholars finalist (for a full ride to Emory University).  At this point, the students have collectively earned over $30,000 in scholarships to cover their expenses for college.

The transition from high school to college can be intimidating, so we provide College Readiness classes, which teach skills in organization, time-management, prioritizing, studying, and networking – we even connect the students to other Upward Bound alumni who can share experiences and offer advice. The last component to our seniors’ successful transition to college is the College-Starter Basket.  Each active participant has worked very hard and is rewarded with a personalized basket containing an assortment of household supplies, school supplies, and technology equipment.  This is where you come in! Each basket contains $570 worth of materials, and only through your financial contributions to the Miami Science Museum Youth Programs, will we be able to provide our students with this last component.

Please help support our outstanding youth by contributing to our College-Starter Baskets at: https://www.miamisci.org/www/annualappealform.html.  To ensure that the Youth Programs Staff receive your tax-deductible donation, please put “youth programs” in the comments section of the online form. You can also send a check (include “youth programs” in the memo line) to:

Miami Science Museum
Attn: Youth Programs
3280 S Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33129

If you have any questions please contact Amy Rubinson, Upward Bound Math & Science Director, at 305-646-4295 or arubinson@miamisci.org.

Miami Science Museum was the first science museum in the nation to become an Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Center in 1999. The Museum’s youth programs focus on providing low income students with training, mentoring, work experience, academic enrichment and technology skills, while improving their communication skills and self-confidence.

Miami Science Museum is proud to recognize Geraldine Placide, Geslande Belus, Sainte-Fanie Jean-Baptiste, Rose-Laure Jean-Joseph, and Yolandy Michel, five students from the Museum’s Upward Bound Math & Science program, as new members of the Dell Scholars Program. Additionally, Geraldine Placide is both a Dell and a Gates Scholar, and Viodie Douceur is a Chabela Foundation Scholar.

“Each of these young women has been an active member of the Miami Science Museum Upward Bound Math & Science Program, which has contributed to development of their leadership skills, academic excellence and widened their horizons through exposure to multiple career opportunities,” said Gillian Thomas, President and CEO, Miami Science Museum. “We are very proud of these young women and look forward to learning about their continued success in the future.”

In order to apply for the need-based Dell scholarship, students must have at least a 2.4 GPA, participate in a college readiness program for at least two years, and intend to attend an accredited institution of higher education in the fall after their high school graduations. This year, 300 out of the 6,534 applicants were awarded scholarships.

Geraldine Placide

Geraldine Placide was awarded both a Dell Scholarship and a Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS) Program, which is administered by UNCF—the United Negro College Fund. Students may be considered for the Gates Millennium Scholarship if they: are an ethnic minority; have a GPA of 3.3 or higher; intend to enroll in an accredited university the Fall after their graduation from high school; have acted as leaders in the community; and demonstrate significant financial need. Geraldine’s continuous drive toward bettering herself has allowed her to graduate from Miami Edison Senior High School as the sixth in her class with an EMT certificate. In the fall, she will attend the University of Florida, where she plans to major in Biochemistry with a minor in Business.

Geslande Belus

Geslande Belus joined the Miami Science Museum Upward Bound program as a sophomore from North Miami. Her continued commitment to the program is a result of the continuous exposure to new opportunities on Saturdays, introductions to new people, and the emotional and academic support. After she graduates from the Health Academy of William H. Turner Technical Institute, she plans to attend either Florida State University or Florida International University.

Rose-Laure Jean-Joseph

The summer before she started high school, Rose-Laure Jean-Joseph eagerly jumped off the school bus when it arrived at the Museum because she was excited about the journey she was about to embark upon. This excitement is what has kept her an active member and a leader within the program. Additionally, she has benefited from the helpful and engaging nature of the mentors and program activities. After her graduation as the Valedictorian at Miami Edison Senior High School, she plans to attend the University of Florida and major in a science field.

Sainte-Fanie Jean-Baptiste immigrated to the United States just before high school began. Initially, she joined the program because she was new to the country and anticipated needing help navigating through the American high school experience. As she states: “the mentors and my friends show that they support us and make it a priority to ensure that we succeed.” In May, she will graduate from the Finance Academy of William H. Turner Technical Institute and plans to attend university in Florida where she intends to major in Business and Hospitality Management.

Yolandy Michel and Sainte-Fanie Jean-Baptiste

Yolandy Michel’s initiative and community impact is most seen in the organization that she founded to educate young women in Miami, FL and Malawi, Africa about each other’s cultures. After being in the program for two years, she states: “Now I can officially declare that without this program, I wouldn’t have had the experiences, the opportunities and the love that I share with those in my UB family.  Most importantly, I wouldn’t be who I am without it.” She recently graduated from the School for Advanced Studies with an Associates Degree and plans to attend the University of Florida, where she will major in Music while completing the prerequisite courses required for medical school.

Viodie Douceur

Viodie Douceur received a scholarship from the Chabela Foundation, which provides full scholarships to students in financial need. Students are eligible to apply for this scholarship if they: have at least a 3.5 weighted GPA; plan to attend a four-year college in the fall proceeding their high school graduation; have a minimum 28 ACT score or 1920 SAT score; present evidence of financial need; demonstrate dedication to community service; and do not yet possess a degree from a two- or four-year institution. Viodie is extremely resourceful and has been an active participant of the youth programs for three years, using the academic and emotional guidance provided by the program staff.  She is truly focused on her future and will contribute greatly after she graduates from Young Women’s Preparatory High School and pursues an International Studies degree at the University of Miami in the fall.

For more information on Miami Science Museum’s Youth Programs, contact Amy Rubinson at: (305) 646-4295 or arubinson@miamisci.org