Congratulations to the FCSSGA Student of the Month for April... Thalia Canales Santiago from Miami Dade College - Homestead Campus! Thalia was nominated by her advisor, Nicole Bryant.

Here is what Nicole shared with us about Thalia: "Miami Dade College-Homestead Campus is so fortunate as to have such wonderful student leaders. However, in the face of COVID, it became increasingly difficult to engage them. The new normal called for innovative ways to reach our students. Hence, our PTK President and one of SGA’s best senators, Thalia Canales Santiago rose to the occasion. She helped to launch a podcast for students by students that was based on real-life issues in the wake of COVID-19. The podcast has not only engaged students in meaningful dialogue but has also made them feel united knowing that they had each other to lean on. Thalia’s strategy was to focus on the bright spots that the pandemic has brought, while also providing real-world solutions to the most common concerns. The podcast was so successful that it was expanded to high school students to begin the building blocks of peer mentorship while focusing on their futures in college and beyond. As an officer in Cru Club, Thalia further spreads positivity and light through Christian messaging. In addition to the podcast and the work she has done to cultivate a community of believers, Thalia has been one of only a few students to have a speaking role in our Commencement ceremonies for the past 2 years. Hence, when students are studying for finals and trying to pass their classes, Thalia is lending her time and talents to ensuring that our Commencement program speaks to the hearts of our graduates (even though she was yet to be a graduate herself). Indeed, that is what Thalia does – speaks to the heart of students – through PTK, through Cru, and through SGA. On May 1st, she will be amongst the graduates, and I, for one, am very proud of the path that she has paved at MDC!"