Padrón Campus Student Selected To All-USA Academic Team

Mateo Fabian Medina, a biomedical engineering student in the Honors College at Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, was selected to the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Academic Team.

He is one of 20 students nationwide to receive a $5,000 prize for academic excellence, leadership and service. 

Medina, who was born in Peru, was also named a New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for receiving the highest All-USA Academic Team application score in Florida. That distinction comes with a $2,250 award. 

“When I arrived [in the United States], I was like, ‘Wow, there are so many opportunities I have never seen in my life,’” he recalls. “Coming from a place like Peru, you get used to seeing poverty, people starving. But now I can do something to help those that are less fortunate and in need.”

At Padrón Campus, Medina served as the president of the PTK chapter from April of 2023 through March of 2024.  

During his tenure, he led A.R.I.S.E. Through Play, a project that seeks to improve the mental and physical health of children and seniors in Little Havana.

As part of the initiative, the club organized approximately 15 food distributions—delivering about 9,022 meals to elderly throughout Little Havana. 

They also hosted monthly events at the Smathers Plaza, a housing center for low-income seniors, playing games like bingo, cards and dominoes to lift seniors’ spirits. 

Additionally, the team raised $24,000 to support the Overtown Youth Center’s Super Saturdays, a program aimed at providing athletic opportunities and academic support to children.

The 20-year-old, who is slated to graduate in April, hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. He aspires to become a neurosurgeon. 

“I know that life happens and I don’t know where I’m going to be,” Medina said. “But I know that no matter where I am, I want to serve others; I want to help people.”