Being accepted into one of the nation’s most prestigious universities is no small feat, however being the first member of your family to even go to college truly is noteworthy. Claudia Cabral, graduate of Suncoast Community High School, was recently accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A 2017 High School Summer Research Program intern at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), the acceptance to MIT is an incredible next step in her interest in science. Dr. David Fitzpatrick, CEO and Scientific Director of MPFI thoughtfully remarked that “I don’t believe that the brief few months working in the labs at MPFI are the main reason our interns were accepted to such prestigious universities, the students were already exceptional to begin with. We just know how to pick them.”
In addition to a busy academic schedule, Claudia is president of not one but two charitable organizations focusing on local and extended community outreach. The first named “Hugs and Kisses Club” raises money to assist local cancer patients and the second, which she is also the founder, named “Two Feet Club” tackles a diverse set of social issues in creative ways. Through the combined efforts of these two organizations, Claudia has raised money and promoted awareness for issues like foster care, Syrian refugees, victims of domestic violence and people with mental disabilities to name a few.
Moving forward with her education at MIT and beyond, Claudia sees herself as a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist, innovating technology to help treat people with movement disorders like Parkinson’s, ALS and essential tremor – a passion that was spurred in her hometown community.