An Emerging Leader

Krystal Stephanie Diaz, 12th grade, recently became the recipient of a very honorable accolade: The Mayor’s Shining Scholar Award - otherwise known as The Emerging Leader Award. This award recognizes the valuable contributions that Krystal has made to her community through hard work and devotion.  As a reporter, I am convinced Krystal deserved this award, as she is an active member of many clubs and programs and is always ready to help others in any way that she can.

Outside of participating in school clubs such as National Honor Society, Krystal is a Homeland Security Explorer, a Teen Court Youth Attorney, and a member of the Customs and Border Protection Explorers, through which she has attended Law Enforcement Explorer conferences, training, and competitions around the state. Krystal is also passionate about music and performs in the Miami Springs Senior High Marching Band and Winter Drum Line.

Krystal enjoys serving her community and does so by volunteering with the FIU Reading Explorers program, which addresses summer learning loss and aims to improve the reading skills of children who are identified as struggling readers. For the past two years, she has also volunteered at an Assisted Living Facility where one of the residents nominated her for this award.

This mystery nominee reports that Krystal has “always shown love and compassion for the elderly residents and staff, and that Krystal is genuinely interested in helping others, which she proves by providing service in a consistently positive and helpful manner”. To this very day, Krystal has no idea who her nominee was but would love to know the identity of the person that recognized all of her dedication.

Mayor Tomás Regalado, Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, Krystal’s family, and friends were all present at the Government Center in downtown to watch Krystal receive her award. Krystal said she was initially confused when she realized that she had won this award because she had no idea that she was even a candidate! Krystal said was ecstatic when she found out that she was the recipient of the highest award of the three that were being given out that day.