Miami, Sept. 22, 2025 – Miami Dade College (MDC) graduate Daniel Yantani Coto has been named a 2025-26 Newman Civic Fellow, the nation’s highest honor for student engagement leadership. Earlier this year, he was awarded a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly competitive award that provides up to $55,000 annually to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Coto, who graduated from MDC in May, is now pursuing a degree in economics with minors in political economy and applied and computational mathematics at Princeton University. He will join 151 Newman Civic Fellows from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico as part of the 2025 cohort, who are nominated annually by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors.
“MDC and the service opportunities it provided shaped my aspirations,” Coto said. “It is an honor to serve as the 2025 Newman Civic Fellow representing Miami Dade College. This recognition belongs to many. I am deeply grateful to the Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy, the Homestead Campus, Campus Compact, and to the mentors, advisors, professors, and fellow students who made my journey possible.”
Born and raised in rural Costa Rica, he grew up in a low-income, single-parent household where his mother worked multiple jobs to support the family. Shaped by this perspective and his challenges, he set out on a mission to make the world a better place. At MDC, he excelled academically, maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the rigorous Honors College, while conducting research with faculty on regulation and banking stability.
Coto served as president of the Homestead Campus’ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, where he led the award-winning Honors in Action project with the Neva King Cooper Educational Center. In addition, he was a Peer Advisor with the Institute for Civic Engagement & Democracy, an active member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and President of the campus’ Special Smiles Club, which advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
His civic leadership record is equally impressive, with more than 540 hours of service completed—earning him the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award. He achieved bronze, silver, and gold levels on MDC’s “Civic Action Scorecard,” and served as a peer advocate for MDC’s “Poll Workers Are Heroes” campaign. Coto also participated in the Unify America College Bowl, played a leadership role in a local School Board campaign, interned with the City of Homestead’s City Manager, and volunteered 60 hours with Special Olympics. Through programs such as Net Impact’s Up to Us, he further expanded his civic engagement portfolio.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program recognizing students with strong leadership potential and a deep commitment to creating positive community change. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides participants with learning and networking opportunities to foster their personal, professional, and civic development. The program emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and prepares Fellows to drive large-scale positive change. To learn more, visit www.compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.
About Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. As the largest national higher education association focused solely on campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact supports institutions by strengthening their ability to improve community life and educate students for civic and social responsibility. The organization provides professional development for faculty and administrators, facilitates national partnerships, pilots innovative teaching and engagement models, and cultivates student civic leadership. Learn more at www.compact.org