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MIAMI, FLORIDA - November 4, 2009 – With great pleasure and admiration, The Reef proudly congratulations its 15 Silver Knight nominees for jobs well done. Representing Art is Juliana Dearr. With extensive volunteer service at her synagogue, Juliana worked with youth group programs to strengthen and develop lasting values. In addition her photograph “Freckles” was selected by the nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is being displayed for eleven months in the tunnel that leads to the U.S. Capitol.   For Athletics, Samantha Depriest-Capparelli not only has volunteered teaching water safety and drown proofing skills to young and handicapped children, but she also reaches out and participates in school sponsored activities. She is a member of Best Buddies, National Honor Society, and FFA.  Myckaella Lopes, representing the Business category, helped to create a Spend for Ed organization linking the South Florida  business community to education and working closely with the partners at John Hancock as well as with Best Buddies an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Amy Rauchwerger is the nomination for Drama. Active in creating technical theatre by  promoting festivals,

Top row: (Left to right) Alexandra Levy, Amy Rauchwerger, Juliana Dearr,  Natalie King, Leangelo Hall, Melinda Agraon, Myckaella Lopes, and Monica Merel Bottom row: (Left to right) Mrs. Elise Kugler, Silver Knight Coordinator, Caroline Ramos, Nicholas Maas, Andrew Maxwell, Rachel Gonzalez, Samantha Depriest-Capparelli, Schuyler Polk, Michael Cisneros, and Mrs. Adrianne Leal, Principal.

garage sales, and extracurricular performances.  She  also does fundraising charity events to save the arts. Active in the Holocaust Theatre and Camp at Sunset, Alexandra Levy is the nominee for English and Literature.  She is a natural writer as well as a active in youth organizations and sports. General Scholarship and Melinda Agron go hand-in-hand. In addition to superior academics, Melinda’s community service includes leadership in her synagogues youth group, being a camp counselor, acting in a Holocaust remembrance-themed play, and serving on the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Board of Directors. Schuyler Polk with her numerous publications, well represents The Reef in Journalism. She is involved with Impact Theatre as a writer, director, producer, and  actress and her articles have been published often in Teen Vision magazine as well as a contributor to Elysium. Mathematics nominee Andrew Maxwell links his love for the subject area with coaching sports elementary school students and tutoring through the mathematics honor Society Mu Alpha Theta.  He is active in his church as well as tutoring through National Honor Society and an active member of DFYIT. Nicholas Maas represents The Reef for Music. Creating and serving as webmaster for Where Every Child is a Star, Inc., that promotes music throughout the community, volunteering at Miami's Children’s Theatre, Homestead Junior Civitan Club, First Baptist Church of Cutler Ridge, the Kiwanis Club of Homestead, and previously worked with Greater Miami Youth Symphony as well as being an accomplished musician.  With the establishment of the One Cool World Summer Film Program, Michael Cisneros, selected for New Media  gives children in the Coconut Grove area an opportunity to learn about cinematography. In addition, he is on staff of Elysium Coral Reef’s award winning literary/art magazine designed to showcase student creativity and directs the school’s Cinematic Arts Commission. Representing Science, Leangelo Hall began Save Cans Can Save, benefitting Farm Share, a non-profit food bank, soup kitchen, disaster relief, for recovery and distribution of surplus assistance food for hungry people. Furthermore Leangelo has been awarded for his participation in the Florida Engineering/Science Fair, the top seed on the Reef’s tennis team, and the founder of a tutoring program at Frank C. Martin K-8 Center,  as well as participating in environmental activities. Mónica Merel, nominee in Social Science, is working to empower Honduran children in El Hogar de Emanuel Orphanage and through her project, she travels there periodically to work the children there in spite of the political turmoil. In addition, Mónica is a tutor at a K-8 Center, an officer in Best Buddies and National Honor Society, participates in Model UN, and volunteers at the her church.  Representing Speech, Rachel González is active in Miami Children’s Hospital’s VACC Camp working with disabled youngsters. She is a competitive Public Speaking and Debate winner and very passionate about helping others. The Reef's nominee in the VocationalTechnical category Caroline Ramos,  serves in the Miami-Dade County Fair Agricultural Program, as well an officer in FFA, FBLA, and NHS. Through the "Agricultural Ambassador Program," she introduces the community to the field of agriculture. World Language nominee, Natalie King, began her project as a Girl Scout Gold Award, gathering volunteers to assist at the Community Partnership for the Homeless.  She is an outstanding pianist, a competitive fencer who qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championship, as well as the Outstanding Delegate in the 2009 Boston Invitational Model United Nations Conference.