Meet The Seniors Signing on Fine Arts Signing Day 2025

On May 13th, STA seniors symbolically signed to their chosen colleges, marking their commitment to pursuing the fine arts in higher education. For each student, the arts took a different form: some sang in the chorale, others twirled a baton on the football field, designed buildings, or edited short films. Below are the stories of some of these talented seniors:

Madeline Sadowski – University of South Florida

STA’s two-year National Art Honor Society president, Madeline Sadowski, is headed to the University of South Florida. She will major in Fine Arts with a concentration in Studio Art to continue growing her small business, Madssketchpad. Founded over a year ago, Madeline’s business offers handmade crochet garments, digital illustrations, and hand-carved prints that can be transferred onto shirts or tote bags. “It’s been growing steadily,” she remarked, hoping to continue it into college. Her skills were nurtured under the guidance of Mrs. Maradiaga, the art teacher, and her favorite class was AP 3D Art and Design, where she was able to expand her artistic mediums.

Alexi Arocho – Columbia University

All-star Alexi Arocho is committed to studying Theatre Arts at Columbia University. A powerhouse in athletics, academics, arts, and service, she has been a varsity track athlete all four years of high school. Starting with shot put and discus, she recently added hammer and weight throw, which she will continue at Columbia. When opening the yearbook to her activities section, you’ll find a paragraph full of the many honor societies she’s a part of and the community service she did throughout her high school career. A four-year member of STA’s theater program, Alexi’s favorite performance was The Addams Family, her very first show, which holds a special place in her heart.

Mirlissa Fenelus – University of South Florida

Color Guard captain Mirlissa Fernalus will also represent STA at the University of South Florida. She joined the color guard during her sophomore year after a friend encouraged her to try out. Though she initially felt twirling “wasn’t for me,” color guard quickly “clicked.” Her favorite memories include the football state championship games, when “the energy was most elated,” (STA’s three consecutive wins certainly added to the excitement). But what she remembers most fondly are the post-game rituals, filled with “dancing, music, and enjoying each other’s bonds.” Mirlissa plans to continue color guard in college while pursuing a psychology degree, aiming to become a psychologist. In high school, she also served as president of the Psychology Club and was a leader in the Recycling Club.

Owen Ortiz – Florida State University

Self-taught filmmaker Owen Ortiz will be taking his storytelling to the next level at Florida State University. He began making films using iMovie, creating short videos about Pokémon and Star Wars. From his early fan-made “Jedi School” film to his recent work directing a music video for a local rapper, Owen has significantly expanded his skills. Now proficient in DaVinci Resolve, he reflects, “Every time I edit, I’d ask myself, ‘I wonder if I can do that?’ and just picked up new things over time.” His latest project, Kick Push, named after a Lupe Fiasco song, follows a group of skateboarders in their last summer before college. “I know when I’m done it’s going to be my favorite,” he said. At STA, Owen served as vice president of the Beat-Makers Club and skated outside of school.

Gabriel Sedas – Florida International University

Aspiring architect Gabriel Sedas will attend Florida International University, where he plans to study architecture and continue his passion for music. His musical journey began in middle school choir and progressed to STA’s Chamber Singers, the school’s more competitive ensemble, where he represented STA at competitions and community events. His performance of two songs, one in English and one in Italian, earned him a Solo MPA (Musical Performance Assessment) award. “I wanted to go out of my comfort zone,” he said, choosing Nina by Pergolesi, despite not speaking Italian. Gabriel also challenged himself athletically, joining the cross country team in his junior year and earning the “Rookie of the Year” award. Now enrolled in FIU’s master’s architecture program, he hopes to combine “elements of music and architecture” into his career. 

 

Laura Aluka – University of South Florida

TEDx presenter and Silver Knight award winner Laura Aluka will continue her academic and artistic pursuits at the University of South Florida, studying Urban Design and Architecture. Laura is best known for founding Togo Together, a nonprofit that builds wells in West Africa. Inspired by her scientific research on bioremediation and natural water filtration, her work was showcased in a TEDx talk and received a nomination for the Miami Herald Silver Knights. “I’m excited for tomorrow’s award ceremony,” she unknowingly said; after this interview, she would win the 2025 Silver Knights Science award. Laura is also a leader in STA’s music scene: she’s the Baton Captain of the Raider Regiment, first alto saxophone, lead vocalist for the Raider Jazz Band, and president of several honor societies. At USF, she plans to audition for both the jazz and marching bands.

Grace Finneran – University of Florida

All-American Grace Finneran is sprinting to the University of Florida to study Landscape Architecture. A standout on the cross-country and track teams, Grace has earned numerous accolades, including being named an All-American athlete and the Sun Sentinel’s Cross Country Runner of the Year. Still, she says her proudest moment was finally breaking the school mile record with a time of 4:58, which was “a goal that was a long time in the making.” Beyond the track, Grace served as vice president of Campus Ministry, which she says provided her with spiritual support throughout high school. Her interest in landscape architecture was inspired by her dad’s home garden. “Growing up, we planted mangos, apples, fruit trees—you name it,” she said. In college, she plans to shift her focus from the track to designing outdoor spaces, calling her future major the perfect “blend of nature and design.”

Isabella Peralta – University of Miami

Singer, Isabella Peralta, will be continuing her artistic journey at the University of Miami, majoring in Modern Artistry, Development, and Entrepreneurship. Throughout high school, she was involved in musical theater, choir, and private vocal lessons. She currently sings at three churches, using her talent to serve the community. “I’ve tried classical, musical, and contemporary singing styles, both in English and Spanish,” she said. Her classical skills earned her an honorary distinction in the States in her junior year after traveling with choir teacher Mrs. Drozdovitch. Still, her heart lies in contemporary music, and she hopes to become a Latin-American artist. With its strong academics and location in a Latin-oriented city, she sees the University of Miami as the perfect “hub of the industry I aspire to one day be a part of.”

 

Additional Seniors Included: 

Michael Murray- Florida Atlantic University, Architecture 

Sophia Oganezov- University of Florida, Music

Matilde Quijano Carvajal- IE University, Architecture