MIAMI LAKES – Millennials: Uninformed? Disinterested? Apathetic? Miami Lakes Educational Center students continue to disprove these superficial stereotypes.

On the eve of the gubernatorial election, students hosted a mock debate.

Two students, Mario Font and Elizabeth Martinez, represented the candidates – Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist. And, Stephanie Brito, a junior moderated the debate.

Journalism students conducted an extensive election project. After researching the candidates, issues, amendments, and reporting on the three governor’s debates, students decided to bring the issues to school.

“People think that teenagers don’t care about the issues, but nothing could be further from the truth,” said Elizabeth Martinez, junior class President that represented Charlie Crist in today’s debate.

In fact, all the questions asked by the moderator to the candidates were submitted via Twitter by MLEC students. The questions varied from environment funding to social issues, and were answered in the style of the actual gubernatorial debates, which aired all throughout October.

“Give students an opportunity to speak, to show that they care, and they will,” said journalism adviser, Ms. Neyda Borges.

The mock debate represented the views of the candidates, not the views of the students themselves. All questions were answered from information gathered from official sources – such as previous debates, and affiliated websites.

At the end of the debate, students had the opportunity to cast their vote. 

The winner, with 73% of the vote was Charlie Crist, Democrat. Now, MLEC students will wait, along with all Floridians, to see who will represent the state of Florida.

Follow along with the debate using our hashtag.