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Established in 1958, Miami Palmetto Senior High School has a reputation for producing notable graduates.
MPSH has raised leaders who prioritize giving back and improving the lives of those around them. MPSH alumni Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham and Pinecrest Council Member Katie Abbott are examples of Panthers dedicated to public service.
For Cunningham, MPSH was a pivotal chapter in her life. Starting there as a sophomore marked the beginning of her journey rooted in the South Florida community.
Yet, Cunningham found herself struggling in classes, and unsure how to adapt to her new life. She credits her teachers who aided her through these challenges.
“There were several teachers that I felt very connected to who in my opinion took me under their wing a little bit,” Cunningham said. “Somebody that you probably wouldn’t remember was Coach McKinney. She passed away a few years ago, you can go back and look, she was very beloved.”
Before taking office, Cunningham worked at United Teachers of Dade and as a first-grade teacher, two roles centered around public service and inspired by her past mentors.
“From that perspective… I think a lot of those teachers that looked after me when I was brand new [at MPSH] struggling a little bit, gave me that thought that maybe I wanted to be a teacher too,” Cunningham said. “So there is that connection in some way, they were great role models. They definitely connected me to teaching in public school.”
As Mayor, Cunningham has been able to reconnect with her community. Attending school events such as debate club meetings has allowed her to inspire the new generation of Panthers.
Simultaneously, she has formed new relationships with past classmates through her work with the MPSH Alumni Association, working alongside them to give back.
“I would say [getting inducted to the MPSH Hall of Fame is] the pinnacle of my career because going to school… I wasn’t the bright spot every month,” Cunningham said. “People weren’t like… ‘Oh, my goodness, she’s going places’… My message when I got inducted was if I can do it, anybody can do it. You just really have to find what it is you enjoy and be open to wherever the path is going to take you.”
Similar to Cunningham, Abbott takes pride in her involvement with the MPSH Alumni Association as a board member. Having attended Palmetto Elementary, Middle and High, Abbott resonates with the school’s community and spirit.
“I think Palmetto has the incredible ability to graduate students who are very self-motivated, very creative,” Abbott said. “What’s the secret sauce, right? … You have to admit, Palmetto kind of goes above and beyond the average graduate.”
While attending MPSH, Abbott participated in various school activities that inspired her public service position today.
“Although there’s not a direct correlation, I think my foundations of serving and being on Student Council [at MPSH] and being a leader definitely affected the direction of my life and where I am now,” Abbot said. “We used to have a law class that was incredible, and [our teacher, Mr. Beverly] would take us to mock trials. I still remember it must have been a district championship and there were real judges who were judging us, and they said that we did better than most of the attorneys who were in front of them. It was such a special moment.”
As a Councilmember in Pinecrest, where MPSH is located, Abbott reflects on the future of her community and the importance of public service.
“It is so worth serving and representing your community, and it is so important that we have people, no matter what your background is, people who care and want to be there and want to make their community better,” Abbott said.
Abbott believes this diversity is a component that has allowed MPSH graduates to continue onto amazing careers with a strong sense of community behind them. For her, whether it was through debate club or Student Council, the long-lasting friendships and memories she made along the way encouraged her to help her community so that others can do the same.
Gabriella Alvarez is a student writer, editor, and reporter based in Miami, FL. She is a Junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
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