Three MDC Students Hired by FIFA After Eight-Week Internship
Miami, Dec. 3, 2024 – Miami Dade College (MDC) students are making an impact at FIFA’s World Cup 26 headquarters in Coral Gables, where 23 students earned internships this year. Three have already secured full-time positions, highlighting MDC’s commitment to career success.
The 23 MDC interns were selected from 879 applicants to complete an eight-week internship. Sofia Iglesias, Edith Navarro, and Ashley Alvarez were recently hired as full-time employees in the areas of Sustainability, Human Resources and Logistics, respectively, while 11 others had their internships extended. A second FIFA internship for MDC students is in the works for the Spring 2025 semester. The internship is part of a collaboration between MDC and FIFA that includes the first-ever FIFA exhibition in the U.S. to be housed inside the College’s National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower celebrating its centennial in 2025.
“FIFA’s partnership with Miami Dade College has shown how a global organization can make a meaningful local impact by integrating the community into its mission, creating pathways for growth and connection on an international stage,” said Iglesias, a business administration major who was hired as a Sustainable Supply Coordinator. “This opportunity has allowed me to pursue my passion for the sports industry while driving positive change through social and sustainable initiatives, all thanks to an internship that became a full-time role in one of the most iconic events in sports history. I’m honored to be part of a tournament that will leave a lasting legacy.”
Ebonee Bradley, Senior Manager of Recruitment at FIFA, said working with MDC interns has been an experience beyond gratifying.
“It has been an incredible honor to lead this groundbreaking partnership between FIFA and Miami Dade College. Together, we have created significant opportunities for local talent to contribute to the world’s most beloved sport while gaining invaluable professional experience,” Bradley said. “The success of our inaugural internship program, culminating in full-time roles for Sofia Iglesias, Edith Navarro, and Ashley Alvarez, is a testament to the outstanding caliber of MDC students and the strength of this collaboration. As we look ahead to the Spring 2025 cohort, we remain committed to fostering local talent and building a lasting legacy through this partnership.”
Only in Dade, the local social media giant with nearly two million followers, retained eight MDC interns out of 150 aspirants for a 12-week internship this year. Students held roles in digital marketing, film production and journalism. The investment firm Altura Capital selected four MDC students out of 26 applicants for a 10-week internship as private credit analysts. A second internship is also in the works for spring of 2025.
MDC students have also benefited from opportunities at NASA, Bloomberg LP, Carnival Corporation, PortMiami and Baliawear, among others.
Computer Science major Nicolás González spent his summer at the prestigious NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where he assisted with software automation for the Payload and Mission Operations Planning and Analysis Division at the Operations Support Center. He was tasked with analyzing the metrics for payload stowage to create an automated process that was previously done manually.
Anthony Propescu, who is finishing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership and Innovation, also spent the summer in New York working on a highly competitive internship at Bloomberg L.P. supporting sales teams and providing fund managers with critical analytics via Bloomberg Terminal, a sophisticated software system essential for financial market monitoring and electronic trading activities. Among other highlights of his stint at Bloomberg, Propescu met the company’s owner and former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
Juan Jose Serna Tabares, a first-generation college student working on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management, interned at PortMiami where he conducted detailed analyses of international port data using specialty software. Among other things, he deciphered economic trends and their causes and examined cargo logistics, commodities and shipping routes.
These two MDC students transformed their summer internships into full-time employment. Valerie Vasquez, working on a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, interned at Carnival Corporation where she worked on two major projects involving ship security and an internal safety alert system that indicates cyberbreach. Fashion Design student and aspiring entrepreneur Stephanie Duque interned at Baliawear, a Miami-based fashion line inspired by the tropical styles of Bali, where she learned every aspect of the business.
“At Miami Dade College, our mission extends beyond the classroom to ensure our students have access to real-world opportunities that shape their futures. These internships demonstrate the remarkable talent of our students and the strength of our community partnerships. We are incredibly proud to see MDC students not only excelling during their internships but also transforming these experiences into full-time careers. This is the essence of MDC’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators,” said Dr. Maryam Laguna Borrego, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
The deadline to apply for Spring 2025 internships is Dec. 6. Students can apply for and learn more about internships, jobs and workshops and receive free resume and interview preparation through MDC WORKS Career Studio, a resource for degree-seeking students currently enrolled at MDC. There are three internship seasons in the year: spring, summer and fall. For more information visit https://www.mdc.edu/mdcworks or contact MDC Works at MDCWORKS@mdc.edu or 305-237-9675