Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders. {courtesy}
Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders, a peer-to-peer mentoring and student leadership program, recently inducted a new class of students at Coconut Creek High School, ushering in a new generation of leaders and difference makers.
The honorary ceremony, held on November 19, marked the next step in the program’s mission to promote academic success, mentorship, and community involvement among middle and high school students.
During the ceremony, incoming students were inducted as official members of MTL and assigned leadership roles based on grade level and GPA. Each inductee took an oath tied to their role, a moment that organizers say captures the heart of the program.
“The induction ceremony is when everything becomes real for the students,” Nichole Monteiro, a Life Sciences teacher at Coconut Creek High and co-sponsor of MTL, told Coconut Creek Talk. “They’re committing to leadership, accountability, and supporting one another in a meaningful way.”
The ceremony followed guidelines set by Mentoring Across Broward, which oversees MTL chapters throughout the county. In keeping with those standards, the event was entirely run by student officers.
“Mentoring Across Broward is very specific about how MTL induction ceremonies need to go,” Monteiro said. “Our club officers plan and operate the entire ceremony, and the oaths the students take are written by MAB. That structure helps students understand exactly what is expected of them.”
Students also heard from guest speakers Dr. Tony Dixon and nurse practitioner Tiffany Wilson of Mother Daughter Primary Care, who discussed the importance of education and perseverance in the face of challenges.
“They talked about persevering through adversity and why education matters, even when the path isn’t easy,” Monteiro said. “Those messages really resonated with our students.”
As part of the organization’s commitment to the community, students participated in the 2025 Dare 2 Care Thanksgiving Food Distribution after being invited by Annjeanette Washington-Carter and the Faith Center.
“An important part of Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders is community involvement,” Monteiro said. “This opportunity was completely in alignment with that initiative.”
Through the food distribution, MTL students helped serve approximately 2,500 families across Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
While the induction ceremony took place in the auditorium, another service effort was happening behind the scenes. Coconut Creek High’s men’s basketball team spent the week sorting and packing food donations for the school’s annual Harvest Drive, a Thanksgiving food drive operated out of the campus.
“The Harvest Drive is a joint effort between Coach Wade Edmond and our social worker, Roger Edouard,” Monteiro said. “Every year, we serve between 150 and 200 families.”
Donations for the drive were collected by Mrs. Casanova and Latinos in Action, with the basketball team handling the packing throughout the week. Once distributions began, MTL students assisted with loading the packed food bags into family vehicles.
Monteiro said the induction ceremony and service efforts reflect the broader culture at Coconut Creek High, where multiple clubs emphasize leadership and outreach.
“Our ultimate goal with MTL is to lift up students who are at risk of not graduating on time,” she said. “At the same time, we want to give our higher-achieving students the opportunity to mentor those who need extra academic or social-emotional support.”
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