‘A reminder that there is hope.’ Key West teen will be a guest at State of the Union address
A 16-year-old from Key West will be among the nation’s top dignitaries at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech Tuesday evening at the U.S. Capitol.
Marsella Munoz, a junior at Key West High School and a scientific research diver-in-training, will attend the annual presidential address as the guest of U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Miami.
“Your efforts, love and dedication in advocating for the environment are impressive and a great example to not only our community in Congressional District FL-26, but the country,” reads the invitation from Mucarsel-Powell, who represents a district that includes western Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys.
“Young activists like Marsella are our present and our future,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement. “She is a reminder that there is hope, and that we must listen to our children and take action now to protect our environment and address climate change.”
Munoz said she was honored by the invitation.
“My goal is to share my experiences as a science student and advocate for the protection and preservation of the continental United States’ only coral reef ecosystem,” Munoz said.
“In the four short years that I have been scuba diving, I have observed a rapid decline in the health of the reef and am here to ask for your help protecting this critical natural resource,” Munoz said.
Munoz’s mother, Antonina Smirnov, posted the news on her Facebook page, writing, “She will be rubbing elbows with the US president and dignitaries in US! She is awesome, smart and well informed and I’m super proud of her!”
“We are immensely proud of Marsella for all her hard work and dedication that has gained her this honor and recognition,” posted the Monroe County School District in a Facebook post Friday.
Munoz plans to study marine science and biological oceanography in college and hopes to attend Duke University, said DiveN2Life, a nonprofit mentoring organization that posted about the invitation.
Munoz is currently working on a research study that focuses on macro-algae, water quality and coral settlement with DiveN2Life and other scientific agencies.
