Purpose, Passions & Pathways
Whether they choose to deepen a passion, follow an idea over several years, take on a new challenge, or share their work with a wider audience, students can shape an experience that reflects their own interests, goals, and sense of purpose.
Diploma Endorsements
Arts Diploma Endorsement
For students ready to make a sustained commitment to their artistic development through advanced study, portfolio or performance work, service, juries, and a culminating presentation.
At a glance:
- Advanced arts coursework
- Portfolio development
- Service learning
- Semester juries
- Culminating performance, recital, presentation, or exhibition
Global Studies Diploma Endorsement
For students interested in developing a deeper understanding of cultures, communities, and global issues through language, experiences beyond the classroom, community engagement, coursework, and a culminating project.
At a glance:
- World language study
- Travel or approved global experience
- Community engagement
- Globally focused coursework
- Global project
Impact Studio Diploma Endorsement
For students who want to connect their interests with interdisciplinary study, field-based learning, professional experience, and the creation of meaningful work.
At a glance:
- Impact Studio electives
- Field-based learning
- Internship
- Portfolio presentation
The Capstone Journey
Reflect & Research
Students consider their values and voice, investigate a concern in the world, study the advocacy already taking place, and begin thinking about how they might contribute.
Explore & Propose
Students move from identifying an issue to considering possible responses. Through writing and persuasive speaking, they develop an action plan and pitch an idea for potential Capstone work.
Act & Create
Students can build on their earlier work and bring an idea to life with support from the Capstone Committee. Projects can take many forms, including advocacy, service, exhibitions, education, research, presentations, and other student-designed responses.
Capstone Honor Society
Students who design and implement meaningful projects addressing community needs through sustained advocacy and awareness can be recognized through the Capstone Honor Society.
Evening of Storytelling
At Capstone’s culminating event, seniors share the stories behind their work—what inspired them, what they created or changed, and the legacy they hope to leave.
Learning Through Challenge,
Collaboration & Experience
Think Globally. Speak Up. Find Common Ground.
Model United Nations gives students the opportunity to navigate the complexities of international diplomacy—researching global issues, representing diverse perspectives, negotiating with other delegates, building consensus, and speaking before an audience.
Students learn by doing. They prepare for and participate in conferences, work alongside students from different backgrounds and schools, and strengthen their ability to communicate thoughtfully and confidently.
The experience extends beyond conference committees. MCDS students have learned from diplomats and subject-matter experts, engaged with university-level Model UN programs, and participated in conferences at the local, national, and international levels.
EI² Honors Society
For students who want to pursue independent work in innovation, the EI² (Entrepreneurship, Invention, and Innovation) Honors Society offers three areas of focus:
- Programming & Robotics
- Entrepreneurship & Invention
- Educational Development
Students develop independent work in their chosen area and culminate their experience with a senior-year presentation at the Spring Symposia. Students who complete the program graduate with EI² Honors distinction.
Cyber Spartans Robotics
The GCI is also home to the Cyber Spartans, MCDS’s FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Team for students in Grades 9–12.
Students put engineering, coding, strategy, collaboration, and problem-solving into practice as they design and compete together. Beyond competition, team members participate in outreach, mentoring, and community initiatives that extend their work beyond robotics itself.
In only their third year, the Cyber Spartans won the South Florida Championship.
TEDxMCDS gives selected students a platform to develop and share ideas rooted in their interests, research, experiences, service, and convictions.
Students move through a sustained process of writing, reflection, revision, individual coaching, and presentation preparation before delivering their talks.
Student topics have explored areas including cultural preservation, coral conservation, gender equity, adolescent digital wellness, global healthcare access, service through athletics, and music as a bridge to the Deaf community.
MCDS celebrates students whose scholarship, leadership, service, and accomplishments distinguish them within the school community and beyond.
CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
As a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, Miami Country Day School can formally recognize Upper School students for exceptional scholastic achievement.
The Society’s ideals—Excellence, Justice, Honor—connect naturally with MCDS’s own commitment to scholarship, character, and purposeful learning.
The Silver Knight Awards recognize South Florida high school seniors whose accomplishments are distinguished not only by achievement in their field, but by sustained service, leadership, character, and impact.
MCDS has a Silver Knight tradition extending back to 1992.
- 133 Nominees since 1992
- 13 Silver Knight Winners
- 29 Honorable Mentions
An interest can become a deeper course of study. A question can grow into years of research and action. A classroom idea can become advocacy, innovation, service, a public presentation, or work that earns recognition beyond MCDS.
Upper School gives students room to discover what matters to them—and ways to take that work further.
