Miami Dade College

As Florida observes Victims of Communism Day, Miami Dade College’s Freedom Tower brings our history to life. At the Pedro Pan Gala, survivors who found freedom in the U.S. gather with generations who will tell their stories, honor their sacrifices and keep their legacy alive.

Through the Employer Provided Innovation Challenge (EPIC), MDC students are gaining hands-on experience solving real business challenges for South Florida companies, while building the skills and connections that lead to career opportunities. Led locally by Miami Tech Works, EPIC has connected more than 100 students with 25 companies on projects ranging from applied AI and web development to marketing and data analytics. One of those students, Bruno Acosta, developed a bilingual AI assistant for Canela Media that reduced weekly data-search time from 15 hours to just 30 minutes. His work took him to Washington, D.C., where he presented the project, and ultimately led to a job with the company. That's the kind of impact we're working to scale: connecting classroom learning with real industry needs and creating pathways from college to careers. Read more: news.mdc.edu/an-epic-bridge-…

Congratulations to MDC alum @BryanAvilaFL on his election as Florida’s next Lieutenant Governor, serving alongside Governor-elect @ByronDonalds! 🎉 @BryanAvilaFL graduated from MDC in 2004 and served as Student Government President at our Wolfson Campus. He continues to stay involved with MDC and regularly returns to speak with our students, most recently at this year’s Student Government Association induction ceremony. Congratulations to Governor-elect Donalds and Lieutenant Governor-elect Ávila! Bryan, we’re proud to call you a Shark! 🦈

Polls close at 7 p.m.! 🗳️ If you haven't voted yet, there's still time. As Democracy’s College, we’re proud to serve as a polling place at our Kendall and Homestead Campuses, where more than 6,500 voters have cast their ballots during early voting and on Election Day thus far. Every vote counts! Go out there and vote!

Congratulations to our Women’s Volleyball team for winning the @TheFCSAA State Championship! Go Sharks! 🦈 🏐

The Latin Builders Association @LBA has recognized Miami Dade College with its 2026 Education Award! South Florida’s construction industry is experiencing double digit growth and creating new opportunities for skilled workers across our region. At MDC, we’re helping prepare the workforce to meet that demand. Through our Construction Trades Institute, currently at North Campus and now expanding to Homestead Campus, we're investing in hands-on training in fields ranging from general contracting to HVAC, plumbing, electrical work and fiber-optic infrastructure. Thank you to the Latin Builders Association for this recognition and for its continued work supporting South Florida’s construction industry and the next generation of skilled professionals.

A big congratulations to MDC Shark Tania Li, named a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar! 🎉🇺🇸 This is one of the highest honors a high school student can receive in the United States. This year, just 161 students nationwide were selected from more than 6,700 candidates. The recognition celebrates exceptional academic achievement, leadership, character and service to others. Tania attended our School for Advanced Studies (SAS) at our Wolfson Campus, where she earned her Associate in Arts degree along with her high school diploma. Tania is now at MIT studying an interdisciplinary major in both Chemistry and Biology. But what makes Tania especially remarkable is how she uses her talents to help others. She founded Animal Wishes, a nonprofit that brings art and pet therapy to hospitalized patients, helping them create portraits of their beloved pets while raising funds for animals in local shelters. Her work earned her the 2026 Miami Herald Silver Knight Award in Art. Tania, congratulations on this extraordinary national recognition! We can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish next. Once a Shark, always a Shark! 🦈💙

On #NationalFirstRespondersDay, we recognize the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, paramedics and other emergency personnel who serve and protect our communities every day. 🚒🚓🚑 At MDC, we’re helping prepare the next generation of first responders through our School of Justice, Public Safety and Law Studies and our Emergency Medical Services programs. From training at our Fire and Police Academies to hands-on emergency medical training, our students develop the skills to respond to emergencies, save lives and keep our communities safe. Today, we thank all first responders, including the many MDC alumni serving across South Florida, for the work they do every day. 💙🦈

MDC Fire Academy student Bryan Monzon has been awarded the Zeke Urrutia Endowed Firefighter Scholarship, established in memory of Fire Academy alumnus Zeke Urrutia to carry forward his passion for helping others. Through this scholarship, Zeke’s legacy lives on, supporting aspiring firefighters as they prepare to serve and protect their communities. Congratulations to Bryan, and thank you to the Urrutia family for their generosity and commitment to honoring Zeke’s impact and inspiring the next generation of first responders. 💙

We’re partnering with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to create new opportunities for graduates of MDC’s School of Justice to continue their education and advance their careers in public safety. Graduates of our Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Class can now apply 27 credits toward MDC’s Bachelor’s in Public Safety Management, giving them a head start on earning their degree while building on their law enforcement training. Thank you to the @MiamiDade_SO and @Sheriff_Rosie Cordero-Stutz for working with us to strengthen educational and career pathways for those who serve and protect our community.

Miami Dade College and the City of Miami Gardens are launching a one-year registered apprenticeship to prepare the next generation of 911 dispatchers. The program combines paid work experience, hands-on training and classroom instruction to strengthen South Florida’s public safety workforce. Thanks to MDC Alumni Hall of Famer @ChiefNoelPratt for her partnership on this initiative, and to @MayorRHarris and MDC alum @RLStephens3_ for their continued leadership and support.

🏆 Our MDC Sharks brought home 1st place in the @FLCollegeSystem Cybersecurity Competition! 🦈 Competing against 16 other teams, our students tested their skills identifying, responding to and mitigating cyber threats. Congratulations to our students and the faculty who helped prepare them! 💙 #CybersecurityMonth

Congratulations to Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart on receiving the @NEDemocracy 2026 Champion of Freedom Democracy Award! 🇺🇸 It was an honor to host this gathering at @mdcollege historic Freedom Tower, a place that has welcomed generations seeking freedom and the promise of democracy in this country.

Campus safety and responsible AI-enabled innovation were central to today’s Board of Trustees meeting. Our team shared progress on implementing HB 757, including the ARMOR Act, to strengthen campus safety planning, threat management and emergency preparedness. We also highlighted our implementation of @EducationFL’s Rule 6A-14.0719, establishing clear guidelines for responsible AI use across the College. Both efforts reflect our commitment to putting state policy into practice thoughtfully, with our students, faculty and staff at the center.

Congratulations to our newest class of Honors College Scholars! 350+ scholars across five MDC campuses were officially welcomed into the Honors College during our annual Induction and Pinning Ceremony. MDC’s nationally-renowned Honors College brings together some of our most talented and driven students, offering rigorous academics, personalized faculty mentorship, research opportunities, study abroad experiences and internships, all while preparing them to transfer to some of the nation’s top universities. Through the generosity of donors to the MDC Foundation, our Honors College students have access to these academic, co-curricular opportunities as well as specialized career and transfer advisement. We can’t wait to see all that our Honors College scholars will accomplish at MDC and beyond!

If you’ve ever met MDC alum, Silvia Rios Fortun, you know she brings an incredible energy and enthusiasm into every room she enters. But behind that energy is a deep commitment to giving back, a relentless work ethic and a belief in the power of helping others. As President of the Guardian Angels Luncheon Committee at @JHF_Jackson Silvia has helped raise more than $44 million for Holtz Children’s Hospital, making a difference in the lives of children and families across our community. She’s also been a longtime supporter of MDC’s @MiamiFilmFest and an active member of our Miami Film Society, helping us connect audiences with world-class films and filmmakers from around the globe. Through her involvement with ArtesMiami, she has also championed opportunities for local filmmakers, including support for the Miami Film Fund, which provides grants to emerging filmmakers with ties to our community. Earlier this year, she was inducted into the MDC Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to our community. Silvia, we’re proud that you are MDC! 💙