The moment the entire FIU Online team unboarded two buses at the entrance of Miami Edison Senior High School on December 14, 2018, for a biannual team meeting, clusters of FIU Online employees reminisced over their own high school experiences.
FIU Online visited Edison High as part of their commitment to community service. The plan? Furnish a computer lab, enrich a lunchroom, and paint FIU-inspired designs on classroom and hallway walls. The hope? That students are daily encouraged to pursue lifelong learning.
An FIU Online Pep Rally
Before breaking a sweat, the team filled the school auditorium in matching tees to catch up on FIU Online’s recent successes and future direction. Following Principal Leon Maycock’s warm welcome, leadership delivered motivating presentations. Topics ranged from FIU Online’s rapid growth to the future of learning technologies.
The session closed with a funny but moving video compiling FIU Online team members’ answers to a simple question, “Why do you love working at FIU Online?” They soon devoured lunch and gathered in groups dedicated to specific tasks in their project to help Edison High enhance their school.
Showing Your Work
With only about five hours left in the day, the FIU Online team gathered paint buckets, brushes, rollers, and Ikea assembly packs, and got to work. As groups organized themselves for efficiency, exchanged supplies, and put individual talents to good use, the team-building was palpable.
Wrapping up, the team was grateful for the opportunity to give back the community while also tightening their bonds. The best part was surprising students as they observed their work between bells. As Project Manager, Edward Duran said, “It was great to see the excitement on students’ faces as they saw their lunchroom transformed right before their very eyes.”
A Higher Purpose
Nothing is more satisfying than applying our skills and energies to serve the greater good. That’s why FIU Online always seeks out new ways to impact the community. Learn more from FIU News about FIU’s partnership with Miami Edison High School.