‘I just follow (Jesus’) mission, and it brings me so much joy’ 

By Priscilla Greear - Florida Catholic

PRISCILLA GREEAR | FC

MIAMI | Seniors Maria Jose Araque and Christopher Inguanzo have both striven to be a light of faith and practical compassion in their high schools of the Archdiocese of Miami, following Christ’s footsteps and finding their voice in driving collections to clothe and shod the marginalized.

Inguanzo, a student at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, has coordinated a drive collecting over 50,000 pairs of shoes for Camillus House homeless shelter since 2019, and established a school Be the Light Club for volunteer opportunities—logging over 1,000 service hours no less and near miraculous perfect school attendance. Likewise, Araque has shined Christ’s light at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale as campus ministry co-president, serving at archdiocesan confirmation retreats and teaching a pre-Communion class. Naming her service project “Nunca Solas” (Never Alone), she has delivered hundreds of clothing items from onesies to winter coats for patients at Perseverancia, Santa Clara and Maternal and Child hospitals in Bogota, Colombia, and expanded her reach to help children unable to afford swim lessons in Broward County.

The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) honored Araque and Inguanzo with 2025 Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Awards for their exceptional faith, leadership and dedication to serving others. They were among 10 students recognized out of the 1.69 million Catholic elementary and high school students nationwide as exemplars of virtues, courage and foresight. The awardees received an NCEA Medal of Honor and Certificate on Jan. 8 at McCarthy and Jan. 27 at St. Thomas Aquinas coinciding with Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 26 to Feb.  1.

Jim Rigg, superintendent of archdiocesan Catholic schools, praised both teens for their kindness and impact. 

“They are each doing wonderful things to better their community and the lives of those around them. Each student is already busy with their studies, families, and extracurricular activities, but are making the time to genuinely help others, modeling Christ’s calling to selfless love and compassion,” he said.

Walk in his shoes

Inguanzo got called to the principal’s office and thought he was “in trouble” only to learn the good news.

“I’m really honored to win. I know that I’ve done a lot of service to the community. So I’m proud that it’s paid off and that I won this super prestigious award,” he said. “I think about Jesus and how he always pushed the extra mile to help people. That’s who I always think about when I do stuff.” 

In seventh grade Inguanzo first assisted his two older sisters Sophia and Susanna in the Loving Soles shoe charity project and then in high school eventually took the lead. Each January he and others contact schools and municipalities to collect new and gently worn shoes to donate to homeless residents at Camillus House, and in March pick up donations and sort them at his home in Miami Lakes for distribution.

“It’s amazing knowing what I’m doing is helping all these homeless people change their lives,” said Inguanzo, who visits Camillus about five times yearly. “We love giving back to the community, so it’s been like my number one priority.”

Feeling inspired, as a junior he then established a Be the Light school club with projects like the Suits for Success to collect clothing for Camillus. Inguanzo is also a member of the National Honor Society and several other honor societies and has played on his school tennis and football teams. He lobbied government officials to designate the portion in front of the school as Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School Way. Additionally, he also was selected to participate in the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Program and Youth Leadership Broward.

Inguanzo also teamed up with his sisters to help design and install a timeline for the school’s 25th anniversary.

“It’s like basically right in the entrance of the school so I walk by it each day. It’s really nice to see something that I and my family have made.”

Inguanzo said his dad has pushed him to be a better student, athlete and leader.

“It’s something I’ve grown into. I used to be like super shy when I was younger but over time through practice I’ve gotten better,” said Inguanzo, who plans to pursue a career in dentistry.

Superintendent Rigg called Inguanzo an outstanding young leader who works hard and seeks academic excellence.

“He treats others with respect and Christian care and has a true heart for service to his community. He is a wonderful example of the values at the heart of a Catholic education.” 

Pray for a way forward

In 10th grade, Araque began exploring ways to act on her passion for serving the marginalized. Her aunt, who had worked in health care, told her about the needs of abandoned elderly at Bogota hospitals. Araque prayed for God’s guidance and anxiously launched her first clothing drive at her school. She collected about 375 clothing items like shirts, shorts and jackets to take on a family trip to Colombia. 

“For me getting into high school was a big change and I felt the desire and passion to help," said Araque, who felt very lost initially. “But I feel God always puts people in my path in my life to help me through different challenges especially when it comes to service.”

As a junior, she then launched another drive through the Future Healthcare Professionals Club for single mothers and newborns at the Maternal and Child Hospital in Bogota.  She collected about 700 clothes items, including onesies, socks, blankets, towels, and hats. These single mothers “don't have money to buy clothes and formula because it's gotten very expensive, and the job opportunities are not very good," Araque explained.

An aspiring physician, Araque realized a need to help children locally who can’t afford swim lessons after learning that Florida is among the top states for drowning. After several business rejections, she partnered with Swim with Mr. Blue in Coconut Creek and held a fundraiser with classmates to sponsor children for an intensive swim course.

“That keeps me going because I helped somebody,” she said.

She is inspired by Catholic social teaching on preferential option for the poor. “In Colombia how many people are dying from cold weather because they don’t have clothes or they are dirty and get infections and people just don’t care for them?”

Araque also partnered with Baptist Health in Plantation for Aquinas students to shadow doctors and explore medical careers. As a senior, she has collected 12 backpacks of school supplies for centers in Cuba through the Piarist Fathers.

“It’s the joy they see (in the children) with just  a crayon and notebook and being able to draw like any normal child - they don't have that reality and go to bed hungry," said Araque.

The enterprising scholar is also president of the National Spanish Honor Society and a Silver Knight nominee. She is a Eucharistic minister at her school and at St. Anthony's Church in Fort Lauderdale.  

Ana Diaz, director of campus ministry at  Aquinas, said Araque is very helpful in assisting in confirmation retreats at 15 parishes.

"The leadership she has is rooted in Christian values of service to others, as Jesus taught us. She will do it as good as she can. She puts a lot of emphasis on hard work," said Diaz.

Diaz described Araque as a "super kind" community unifier. “It’s not only about faith but it’s also to be a good human being with values of honesty, caring for each other,” she said.

Araque feels empowered in ministry through the NCEA recognition. “It definitely encourages me. I’ve always had a passion to serve others and help any way that I can,” she said. “I just follow his mission and it brings me so much joy.”