Stephanie Torres is the Coral Gables High Silver Knight nominee in the category of New Media.
She has been volunteering for Portal Vista, an online vision care magazine targeted at Latin America and Hispanic communities in the U.S. She began as an assistant researching vision care products and services and now does design work.
“I got involved in 2010 when it was transitioning from a magazine to a digital magazine,” she says. “As I got more involved, I taught myself how to use the program so I could help more.”
Torres puts in an hour or two a day on the magazine, which has added up to approximately 1,000 hours over three years.
While that keeps her busy, she still also volunteers at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish School in the school’s office, collecting canned goods, toys and baby items to be distributed to impoverished families.
She also has volunteered as an assistant soccer coach and tutored two students in English and math. Over the summer, she worked with Breakthrough Miami at Ransom Everglades.
At Gables, Torres is the recording secretary for the International Baccalaureate Honor Society. And she heads the Entertainment Committee for the IBHS Bridge 4 Peace Walk fundraiser scheduled for Mar. 2.
“We’re working for a school in Jamaica,” Torres said. “Each year we adopt a new sister school and we raise money. Mainly the money goes to building the school.”
Her involvement in Bridge 4 Peace means that she can’t compete in the Future Business Leaders of America competition this year. Last year her team took first place at the district level, which qualified her for the state tournament.
Torres also is in the French Club. The members are trying to build up the club so it can become the French Honor Society. She has taken French for seven years, starting in sixth grade at Carver Middle School.
— Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
