{"id":339482,"date":"2026-07-14T11:35:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/339482\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T11:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:35:10","slug":"miami-dade-students-turn-project-into-growing-movement-inspiring-others-on-and-off-the-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/339482\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami-Dade students turn project into growing movement inspiring others on and off the court"},"content":{"rendered":"

A group of students from Coral Gables Senior High<\/a> is getting national recognition for turning inclusion into action.<\/p>\n

Their student-run business, Hoops 4 Hope<\/a>, has been named a finalist for Junior Achievement USA<\/a>‘s Company of the Year competition.<\/p>\n

What started as a classroom project has grown into a movement that’s inspiring students both on and off the court.<\/p>\n

“A few years ago, I decided that I wanted my students to be more engaged in the classroom and become more innovative and have more business experience with our project-based learning,” said business education teacher Niki Brown.<\/p>\n

\"cbamiami-hoops-for-hope-1.jpg<\/p>\n

Through Junior Achievement, students built a business from the ground up.<\/p>\n

Their idea \u2013 Hoops 4 Hope. It’s an inclusive basketball event designed to bring the entire school community together.<\/p>\n

“Hoops 4 Hope isn’t just an event, it’s a movement,” student Carolina Planes said. “It’s a way we can further our community and give back.”<\/p>\n

The event pairs varsity basketball players with players who have special needs on the same team, creating an atmosphere focused on inclusion instead of competition.<\/p>\n

The project impressed judges, earning a spot as one of Junior Achievement Miami<\/a>‘s top student companies and a chance to compete on the national stage in Boston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Hoops 4 Hope is a special team. They put a lot of heart into the work they do,” said Vanessa Valle, with Junior Achievement of Greater Miami. “Not only do they promote inclusivity, but they also have a soft touch in that they look out to build partnerships that have collaborations with community leaders such as the Special Olympics.”<\/p>\n

Students said the goal has always been bigger than basketball.<\/p>\n

“The reason Hoops 4 Hope exists is to drive this impact. Not just within our school, but everywhere,” Planes said. “It’s a movement and people are meant to replicate it. To go with it because that is how inclusion comes to be.”<\/p>\n

The students don’t just create the company, they also pitch it to investors, gaining real-world experience and the confidence to one day launch businesses of their own.<\/p>\n

In:<\/p>\n