Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

2026 Silver Knight Nominees Announced

Dolores Toledo | Silver Knight Coordinator
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School proudly recognizes nine exceptional seniors as nominees for the 68th Annual Silver Knight Awards. These students have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service, positively impacting communities both within and beyond Miami-Dade County.

For more than six decades, The Miami Herald has honored high school seniors from Miami-Dade and Broward counties who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and selfless service.

Since November, Belen’s nominees have worked diligently to compile comprehensive portfolios highlighting their volunteer efforts and achievements. These submissions will be evaluated by judges on Judging Day in April.

“I am very proud of our Silver Knight nominees,” said José E. Roca ’84, principal. “They embody our Grad at Grad principles by being open to growth, intellectually curious, religious, loving, and committed to social justice. I wish them continued success throughout the competition.”

Silver Knight Nominees for the 2025–2026 Academic Year:
  • César Aguado – Athletics
  • Raúl Gómez-Pina – Science
  • Anthony Kiami Giménez – Vocational Technical
  • Yunier Martínez – Journalism
  • Joaquín Otero – Speech
  • José Romano – Mathematics
  • Matthew Vila – Music and Dance
  • Michael Vila – Digital and Interactive Media
  • Ian Wolstenholme – Social Science
These students exemplify what it means to be men for others and serve as role models within and beyond the classroom. Independent judges will select one Silver Knight and three Honorable Mentions in each category.

Winners will be announced at the Silver Knight Awards ceremony on May 14, 2026, at 7 p.m. Silver Knight recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship and a statue, while Honorable Mentions will each receive $500 and a plaque.
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BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain.  The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline.  In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty.  The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.