Events
Mater Rise Up is active in both our school and local community. Below, you can find the events we have hosted or participated in, along with some pictures displaying our participating members.
Future of Education Technology Conference
January 2025
Mater Rise Up officers had an incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Future of Education Technology Conference with Mater Academy's Genius Squad. As part of the event, Mater Rise Up officers and members represented the Verizon VILS Program, delivering a presentation on “Emerging Technologies & Student Leaders.” This experience allowed officers and members to share their insights on the evolving role of technology in education and how student leaders can drive innovation in their schools and communities. Engaging with educators, industry professionals, and tech enthusiasts was inspiring, and it reinforced our officers and students passion for leveraging technology to create meaningful change in education.
Mater Alumni Week(s)
December 2023, December 2024
Mater Rise Up hosted our first Alumni Workshop. We hosted Mater Academy alumni, both via zoom and in-person, to share their stories and offer personal advice to Mater Academy students. The event was a great success and attendees were able to gain insight about the college application process and the college experience.
Christopher Mederos| UF Medical and PhD Student, Mariangel Arrieta|Student at Case Western Reserve University, Paula Valenzuela |Student at Florida State University, Megan Bonne| Student at Duke University, Cynthia Sofia| Student at Johns Hopkins, and Adonis Serrano| Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2023)
Mecca Mickens Malik | Florida A&M University, Lissy Martinez| University of Florida, Jade Leonor Gonzalez|University of Florida, Victoria Pino|University of Florida, Leah Silva| University of Pennsylvania, Cynthia Sofia| John Hopkins University, Megan Bonne| Duke University, Ruben Diaz| John Hopkins University (2024)
Teacher Appreciation
May 2024
For Teacher Appreciation Week in 2024, Rise Up celebrated our teachers, college counselors, and advisers by sharing treats and thoughtful gifts. In 2024, we embraced a Pixar Movie "Up" theme, offering sweet cookies to our teachers and presenting our Club Advisor, Mrs. Macho, with a special gift bag. These efforts reflect our gratitude for their dedication and support.
Community Service Walks
October 2023, September 2024
Mater Rise Up united officers, members, students, and families in support of various service intiatives.Together, we participated in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and encouraged donations to the cause. Additionally, Mater Rise Up organized a team for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Miami, raising $100 to support the foundation’s mission. Members not only earned community service hours but also had a meaningful and enjoyable experience contributing to important causes.
Harvest Festival
November 2023, Novemner 2024
Mater Rise Up officers and members hosted our own booth at Mater Academy's Harvest Festival in order to raise funds for our club and share resources. In our October Instagram series, we shared resources on scholarships students can apply for. At the harvest festival, we handed out brochures that shared even more scholarship opportunities!
Officer Training & Bonding Events
August 2023, August 2024
To promote collaboration and teamwork, Mater Rise Up officers joined in on an officer training and officer bonding event. For two years in a row, the Mater Rise Up officer team spent a day together learning how to empower students and reach our goals while also connecting with each other through fun officer bonding activities such as bowling and enjoying a trampoline park.
Curriculum and Club Fairs
2023-2025
Mater Rise Up has participated in the school's annual club fair for nearly 3 years, recruiting students and sharing their mission while handing out treats. Officers and members also hosted a College Readiness booth at the Middle School Expo and Curriculum Fair, guiding parents and students on their high school and college paths. Additionally, they promoted Mater Rise Up’s work and college readiness resources at these events. Collaborating with the Mater Academy college center, Rise Up helped organize a career fair, connecting students with professionals to explore various career opportunities.
Adopt-A-Family
December 2023, December 2024
Adopt-A-Family is an event hosted yearly at Mater Academy by Mater Key Club, focused on helping low-income students enjoy a fun holiday season.For two years now, Mater Rise Up collected toys for our student and joined the Adopt-A-Family Event to make our student feel extra special!
Summer Program Workshops
February- March 2023, January-March 2024
Mater Rise Up hosted summer program workshops to guide students at Mater Academy in discovering and applying for enriching summer opportunities. Our officer team held "office hours," where students received personalized guidance and were paired with officers who had previously attended summer programs. This allowed students to gain firsthand insights into the application process and how to make the most of their experience.
Additionally, we organized a workshop for the Class of 2026, covering the importance of summer programs, the types of opportunities available, and how to navigate the application process. Through these sessions, students learned how to find programs aligned with their interests, strengthen their applications, and take advantage of valuable summer experiences.
Miami Civic Excellence Gala
May 2024
Mater Rise Up had the opportunity to invite our officers and members to the Miami Civic Excellence Gala hosted by Virtutem Populo. All four of our attendees were awarded at the Gala! Gabriela Gonzalez was an award finalist for "Youth Advocate of the Year", Isabella Paez as an award finalist for "EdFed's Community Catalyst", Mecca Mickens-Malik was an award finalist for “Justice Defender", and Valeria González as an award finalist for "Diplomatic Leadership".
Service Drives
August 2023, February 2024
Mater Rise Up hosted a month-long toy drive to spread love during the Valentine's season, collecting donations from students at Mater Academy and a local daycare where parents could contribute. After gathering over 100 toys, we donated them to Miami Mission Hope, bringing joy to homeless children in Miami, Florida.
Additionally, in 2023, we organized a Back-to-School Drive in support of Kristi House, collecting school supplies to help children in need start the academic year prepared and confident. Through these initiatives, Mater Rise Up continues to make a meaningful impact by supporting children and families in our community.
Miami Dade Shelter Doggie Date
December 2024
Mater Rise Up, in collaboration with Mater FBLA and Mater Academy’s Animal Welfare Club, hosted a "Doggie Date" event with Miami-Dade Animal Shelter and Services. Students and parents had the opportunity to take a shelter dog out for the day and enjoy a #PawVenture, promoting pet adoption and animal welfare.
College Readiness Workshop
January-February 2024, March-April 2025
To promote college and career readiness, Mater Rise Up hosted a LinkedIn workshop to introduce students at Mater Academy to the platform and guide them step by step in setting up their accounts. Our presentation was also featured on the Mater Academy Genius Squad Website and YouTube, expanding its reach to even more students.
Additionally, we hosted a resume workshop, where students exchanged resumes, provided feedback, and learned how to refine their professional documents with the help of our presentation. This workshop aimed to equip students with the skills to create strong resumes that effectively highlight their experiences and accomplishments.
To further support students, we conducted a three-session college workshop specifically for juniors. These sessions covered the step-by-step college application process, key information to know, and how to prepare for the journey ahead. We also hosted a Common App workshop, offering guidance on completing college applications and strengthening personal statements to help students put their best foot forward.Through these initiatives, Mater Rise Up continues to empower students with the tools and knowledge needed for their academic and professional futures.
Doral College Graduation
June 2023
Mater Rise Up members attended the 2023 Doral College Graduation as volunteers. In collaboration with other students, they worked together to help set up the event and later usher parents and graduates to their seats in an organized manner. Overall, the graduation went smoothly!
Love for Our Elder Card Crafting
November 2024
Mater Rise Up hosted a heartfelt card crafting event in support of Love for Our Elders, bringing students together to create uplifting and encouraging cards for senior citizens. Participants designed and wrote personalized messages filled with warmth and positivity, aiming to bring joy to elderly individuals who may feel isolated or in need of extra support. This initiative not only allowed students to give back to the community but also fostered a sense of empathy and connection across generations. Through this effort, Mater Rise Up helped spread kindness and remind our elders that they are valued and appreciated.