THIS IS US.

Welcome to the sixth annual issue of our special edition of The Panther, Faces of Palmetto. This issue aims to show the Palmetto community the unique and special people who walk our halls: from the students currently enrolled to the faculty who dedicate their time teaching us and the alumni who spread Palmetto’s positive influence wherever they go. The Panther staff chose 12 people they feel embody the spirit of Palmetto through their stories and impact.

The Panther also hopes to broaden perspectives on the people in and outside of Palmetto, as the 12 featured in this issue have stories not widely known to others. The Panther recognizes their importance and their humanity. Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s “Humans of New York,” The Panther looks forward to continuing this incredible tradition of highlighting the remarkable people walking among us on campus far into the future.

these are our stories.

For more stories written by the Panther staff, visit www.thepalmettopanther.com.

Many high schoolers view volunteering as a requirement to graduate and as an addition to their resume; however, this is not always the case. Miami Palmetto Senior High School freshman Lilah Suarez dedicates her time to her community and works with families of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) out of the kindness of her heart. When a newborn baby has health problems, is born early or endured a difficult birth, they go to the hospital’s NICU for 24/7 intensive care from the hospital’s expert fetal staff until they reach a healthy status.

This past year, Suarez joined ICU Baby — a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to the families of the baby in the NICU.

“I really wanted to help people. And most mothers do not get paid maternity leave, so the organization helps [those families]. So the parents that need either financial information or emotional help can access it [through ICU Baby] because it is hard, especially since you do not get to stay with the baby overnight,” Suarez said.

Suarez’s family friend, Coral Gables Pediatrics Pediatrician and Chair of ICU Baby, Roger Stoudt connected her to ICU Baby and provided her with the volunteering opportunity.

“So I think I was out to dinner actually with [Lilah’s parents] and we are talking about the girls and their daughters. And they brought up that Lilah is interested in becoming a pediatrician one day, and I brought up ICU Baby and [how] we are looking for young people to be a part of the organization and to volunteer and help out,” Stoudt said.