NEWS & EVENTS

Belen Jesuit students working on computers in the Roberto C. Goizueta Innovation Center.

Advancing Innovation
The Growth of STEAM at Belen Jesuit

10/20/2026

Peter Pérez | Director of Innovation

The Roberto C. Goizueta Innovation Center continues to drive Belen Jesuit’s expanding STEAM program, made possible through the generous support of The Goizueta Foundation. Over the past year, the program has elevated academic opportunities on campus while establishing Belen as a regional hub for educational innovation—all in service of forming young men who lead Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

 

A cornerstone of this outreach is the Faith Forward Conference, which brought together approximately 500 regional educators for peer-led collaboration & professional development. A second conference highlighted advancements in artificial intelligence, expanding our reach & reinforcing our commitment to serving the broader educational community.

 

On campus, student engagement in STEAM has reached new heights:
 

  • Robotics Excellence: The program celebrated a milestone with the launch of Belen’s first FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, the CyberClaws. Building an industrial-scale robot, the team competed in Tallahassee alongside international peers. This growth is generously supported by NASA, the Motorola Foundation, MWL Engineering, & the HAAS Foundation.

  • Aerospace Breakthroughs: Student aviators in the Aerospace Club are pursuing Junior Rocketry credentials through an inspiring collaboration with Belen alumni leading the University of Florida’s Swamp Launch program.

  • Media & Technology Upgrades: Enhancements to the Conde Media Center will introduce industry-standard media platforms (Unreal Engine, Unity, DaVinci Resolve), virtual/augmented reality, & motion capture unlocking new student certification pathways.

 

To ensure long-term excellence, faculty regularly participate in professional growth opportunities, & the school is preparing to pursue prestigious STEM accreditation through Cognia. Through ongoing events like the Innovation Showcase & the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” series, Belen continues to inspire future leaders in South Florida.

 

A Lasting Legacy of Support

This momentum is anchored by two transformative gifts totaling $4 million from The Goizueta Foundation—an extension of a partnership spanning nearly 70 years that also supports our Catholic Entrepreneurship program.

 

The bond began with Roberto Goizueta ’49, whose time at El Colegio de Belén shaped his commitment to excellence as leader of The Coca-Cola Company. Today, his legacy continues. As Board Chair & CEO Olga Goizueta Rawls noted, the grant aims to inspire students to discover that same lifelong thirst for knowledge fostered by a Jesuit education.

 

(This article appears in the 2025-2026 President's Report. Click here to read the publication.)