On Saturday, Romeo Umana will be walking across the stage at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) North Campus Commencement ceremony in recognition of earning his associates in arts degree. What is of particular mention is that Umana is a senior who will be graduating from high school in June.
Umana attends the School for Advanced Studies at MDC’s North Campus, which allows students to concurrently earn their associates degree while attending high school. Umana has now completed his first two years at MDC and has been admitted to Stanford, Princeton, Harvard,Yale and MIT on a full scholarship.
Umana plans on majoring in computer science with the goal of becoming a software engineer. “I think computer science is a powerful tool in any way you can imagine,” stated Umana. “. It is definitely useful in helping the community,” he adds.
Google is aiding him to reach that goal with a $10,000 Google Generation Scholarship and the opportunity to participate in the Google Computer Science Summer Institute, a three-week introduction to computer science for graduating high school seniors with a passion for technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“Romeo is a courageous and resilient student who inspires and motivates those who are fortunate to work with him,” said Omar Monteagudo, principal for the School for Advanced Studies. “His ability to overcome adversity, keen intellect and his impeccable work ethic was, no doubt, a contributing factor to the accolades he has deservedly received and the fine universities to which he has been admitted.”
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Umana lost his father in a car accident when he was twoyears- old. Umana and his Colombian-born mother, Diners Arboleda, moved to Aventura shortly after the accident. Umana admires his mother for overcoming extreme economic and personal challenges. She became his role model for developing determination and persistence in his own life.
For more information about educational opportunities at MDC’s North Campus call, 305-237-1149 or visit www.mdc.edu/north
