The Diaz Cala–Balonek Family Catalyst Fund makes the program possible. It is named in honor of The Honorable Bernie Navarro, U.S. Ambassador to Peru, and The Honorable Kevin Marino Cabrera, U.S. Ambassador to Panama, two Miami leaders whose careers reflect a commitment to public service, international engagement, and expanding opportunity for the next generation.
Nicolás Filet, a second-year student in the Miami Dade College Honors College studying international relations, has been selected as the inaugural Navarro-Cabrera Scholar.
In addition to financial support designed to facilitate student travel to Washington, D.C., to visit key academic and foreign policy institutions, the scholarship is designed to connect students with substantive professional and educational opportunities in South Florida through the World Affairs Council of Miami. These include engagement with diplomats, policymakers, international institutions, and local leaders.
Filet has already distinguished himself through his involvement with both MDC and WACM. As a WACM intern, he has participated directly in the Council’s international programming and recently helped welcome President Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania to Miami Dade College, introducing the president before his foreign policy address to the South Florida community.
“Nicolás represents exactly what we hope this scholarship will encourage: intellectual curiosity, an international outlook, a commitment to public service, and a willingness to take full advantage of the extraordinary opportunities available to students in Miami,” said Aaron Rosen, President and Founder of the World Affairs Council of Miami. “We are deeply grateful to the Diaz Cala–Balonek Family Catalyst Fund for making it possible to invest more intentionally in the next generation of globally engaged leaders.”
The scholarship builds upon a growing partnership between Miami Dade College and the World Affairs Council of Miami that has brought world leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and international affairs programming directly to MDC students while creating opportunities for students to participate in Miami’s increasingly important role as a global city.
Through the Navarro-Cabrera Scholarship, MDC and WACM aim to create a pathway for promising students to develop the knowledge, relationships, and practical experience necessary to pursue careers in diplomacy, public service, international business, and related fields.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is one of the nation’s largest and most diverse institutions of higher education, serving approximately 125,000 students and representing 167 nations and 63 languages. Since opening in 1960, the College has admitted more than 2.5 million students and has become a leading economic, cultural, and civic institution in South Florida.
About the World Affairs Council of Miami
The World Affairs Council of Miami (WACM) is an independent and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting South Florida with the world through public education, international dialogue, and civic engagement. Its programs bring diplomats, policymakers, global leaders, students, and members of the community together to better understand the international issues shaping Miami, the United States, and the world.
Source: Diaz Cala–Balonek Family Catalyst Fund
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