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May 7, 2008 10:11 am US/Eastern
CBS4 Eye On Past Silver Knight Honoree
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
CBS4 is proud to present some of the attendees of this year's Silver Knight Awards and this year, it's a reunion of sorts, celebrating 50 years of remarkable South Floridians.
In the first of a series of stories, our first outstanding South Floridian has inspired young debaters and currently is overcoming his own challenges.
He is Fernando Cutz, who received a Silver Knight Award two years ago. Now 20-years old, he continues to beat the odds.
When he came to America he spoke very little English.
Brazilian born Fernando and his family have worked hard to make it. The champion debater jokes about his biggest challenge, the English language.
"I came here knowing yes and maybe," Fernando told
CBS4'S Jorge Estevez.
But that didn't stop him from winning The Miami Herald Silver Knight Award for speech in 2006. Fernando won because of his work starting the first ever middle school debate competition.
Two years later, Fernandez is facing his latest challenge, a discovery doctors made during his trip home from college during Thanksgiving.
"I had this sharp pain. The doctors gave me an ultrasound and discovered I had cancer," Fernando said.
His road to recovery has included surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy, which he considers bumps in a long road of even more
accomplishments.
Fernando believes that if you do something that you are passionate about, then in the end you have a chance.
He was just named sophomore of the year. He also founded the Student Diversity Initiative, which brings together diverse groups of people at school to talk about hate on campus.
The 50th Anniversary of the Silver Knight Awards Ceremony will take place at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday May 20th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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