After receiving a thousand nominations for Harmony of the Seas‘ new godmother from across southern Florida, three standouts have been selected as finalists. On October 24, a winner will be chosen, and honored during the naming ceremony for the ship on November 10. Royal Caribbean will also award $25,000 to the winner’s school or non-profit organization, funding education initiatives for the community’s youth.
You are encouraged to vote by visiting local10.com/godmother through October 14 to cast your vote for the finalist you feel is most inspiring, and making the biggest impact on South Florida’s youth. The three finalists are:
- Brittany Affolter, Manager, Teacher Leadership Development, Teach for Miami-Dade – Affolter was encouraged by her teachers to leave an unhealthy home, go to college, and become a teacher herself. To pay it forward, she now trains teachers at 14 low-income schools in Miami-Dade County, serving over 500 students. She also tutors, is working to become a mentor for kids in foster care, and is completing her masters in educational leadership – all at the age of 23.
- Katherine O’Fallon, Magnet Coordinator, New River Middle School – O’Fallon has been sharing her passion for marine science with middle schoolers since 2006. She strives to inspire kids to immerse themselves in the underwater world, and apply what they learn in their local community. Katie fosters stewardship and encourages students to be proactive in preserving and protecting their local habitat. She hosts many coastal clean-ups, and organizes field experiences for her students – like snorkeling trips, shark-tagging, and treks to local state parks.
- Anike Sakariyawo, Physical Science Teacher at Miami Norland Senior High School – Sakariyawo has taught various grades for over 13 years, and is currently the physical science teacher lead for the ninth graders at Miami Norland Senigh High School. Her passion for education goes beyond the classroom – she is the founder of Seeking Education Empowers Knowledge (SEEK) – a local nonprofit that aims to empower teens, parents, teachers, and the community. SEEK serves over 1,000 at-risk youth with unique programs such as digital literacy, robotics, coding, electricity basics, and how to create a product and business plan. Each year, she holds the “Get Hip & Fit Fair” on Miami Beach for over 500 local kids, and also works with student volunteers to feed and provide clothes for the homeless each month.
For more information on each finalist, as well as the role that Royal Caribbean’s godmothers serve, visit royalhometownhero.com.
Harmony of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, and features the distinct seven-neighborhood concept that sister ships Oasis and Allure of the Seas offer, as well as the tallest slide at sea, acrobatic performances in the AquaTheater, and a bar with robotic bartenders.
