We are thrilled to announce that a team of seniors from Margarita Muñiz Academy has been named one of the three national 1st Prize winners of the prestigious Aspen Challenge! As part of their award, the students will travel to Colorado to meet and collaborate with other top student teams from across the country.
The Aspen Challenge offers students a powerful platform to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our world. At Muñiz Academy, over the course of eight weeks, a team of eight dedicated seniors came together to address a challenge close to their hearts: gun violence and its devastating impact on schools and young people.
Driven by compassion and urgency, the students created a multifaceted campaign that focused on raising awareness and sparking conversation. They were determined to highlight how sudden and destructive gun violence can be—and how essential it is to act before tragedy strikes.
Their thoughtful recommendations include:
To bring their vision to life, the students developed a community survey and organized a powerful panel discussion featuring Boston Police Commissioner Henry Santanna, City Councilor Jerry Robinson, and a representative from the Boston Public Schools District. They also produced a compelling video and a comprehensive “playbook” of strategies—resources now being distributed throughout the district and shared with local partners.
We could not be more proud of these remarkable young leaders. Their courage, creativity, and commitment to making a difference have not only earned them national recognition—they’ve inspired a movement for change.
Congratulations to our students, and thank you to everyone who supported them on this journey! Colorado, here they come!
