Over 400 high school juniors from the 14 Miami-Dade County Public Schools that operate Academies of Finance visited the College of Business at Florida International University (FIU) in November and December for an up-close look at academic study and the doors it can open.

During the two seminars, organizers revealed to the students that FIU Business Dean David R. Klock had donated two iPads as prizes for the student in each session who produced the best written or video impression of the day.

Liurys Alvarez, a student at Booker T. Washington High School, and Erica Reira, who attends Coral Reef High School, paid close attention to the sessions, which were filled with practical information, question and answer opportunities and technology demonstrations. They heard from Klock, department chairs, faculty members, FIU Business graduates and current students. They absorbed the message of the “I am C²—College and Career Ready” event: start preparing now for internships and college, and the opportunities will follow.

And then, they put their creativity to use.

As a result, Alvarez’s video and Reira’s essay were chosen as first prize winners. Each received an iPad from Klock at the College of Business on January 18th.

Dean welcomes students and their families to FIU.

At the presentation ceremony in his office, Klock welcomed the students and their families to the college and discussed their academic ambitions, which now include the study of business. Milagros R. Fornell, chief academic officer for Miami-Dade Public Schools, also attended the iPad presentation.

“The College of Business has an excellent reputation, and we want our students to understand how they can become engaged in all it has to offer,” said Lupe Diaz, the county’s director of schools of choice, who offered guidance on careers and internships at the educational event.

Flavio Carrillo, director of the State Farm Financial Literacy Lab and a former Miami-Dade teacher, organized the FIU Business portion of the career readiness event.

“Everything we have accomplished,” he told the students, “we owe to education.”

The State Farm Financial Literacy Lab provided financial support for the event. It was also funded through a $5,000 grant from the National Academy Foundation, which focuses on college readiness activities for academy students, with support from the Citi Foundation.

Among the highlights cited by students’ essays and videos were tours of the State Farm Financial Literacy Lab, and the opportunity to use its sophisticated Bloomberg financial terminals, which are Wall Street mainstays.