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Mas Family Program

Our College Recognized, Signature Honors Program

Our College Recognized, Signature Honors Program


The Mas Family Program serves as one of the most academically challenging and culturally enriching experiences in South Florida. Comparable to the International Baccalaureate Diploma, this unique program is designed for the academically gifted and highly motivated student. A balance of rigorous interdisciplinary coursework, enrichment activities, guest lectures, internships, and independent research projects prepare these students for post-secondary success.

Program Expansion

Due to the Mas Family Program’s success and popularity, we are happy to announce that Christopher Columbus High School expanded the program to allow 20% of incoming freshmen classes join the MFP.

The program now has a two-tier structure. Under the Mas Family Program umbrella are the “Mas Scholars” and the “Mas Honors” students. The purpose of our program’s expansion is to offer a rigid curriculum to a larger group of competitive students. Beyond the classroom we offer a plethora of academic and cultural enrichment experiences to all students in the Mas Family Program.

Selection Process

Based on performance in the ninth grade, some students in the Mas Family Program will be invited to become a “Mas Scholar” and begin the College Board’s AP Capstone curriculum sophomore year. Others may choose to remain in the Mas Family Program as a “Mas Honors” student while continuing to partake in the most stringent courses available to them and follow a more flexible set of requirements. See drop down menus for curriculum requirements, respectively.

This new expansion of the program enables a greater fluidity for students to join the Mas Family Program throughout their career at Columbus. This expansion will allow every student striving for academic rigor the opportunity to always have the option to join this signature honors program.

Further Information


Program Contacts

Sylvie Galvez-Cuesta

Sylvie Galvez-Cuesta

Mas Family Program Director/ Silver Knights Coordinator
Adriana Amador

Adriana Amador

Mas Honors Coordinator/ NHS Moderator
Robert Lewis

Robert Lewis

Mas Family Program Counselor/ Squires Club Moderator
Arlene Clute

Arlene Clute

Mas Family Program Administrative Assistant

Sylvie Galvez-Cuesta (Mas Family Program Director)

Recognized by Stanford University for her contribution to the education of high school students throughout Miami-Dade County. She is also a former International Baccalaureate Coordinator for nearly a decade and is well versed in advanced high school academics as both a member and active participant of NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling). Mrs. Galvez-Cuesta is also very familiar with current trends in college admissions and often travels the country visiting universities. She is also well known in the Miami area for her success with the Silver Knight Awards Foundation.

Adriana Garcia-Amador (Mas Honors Coordinator)

19 years of experience in education. Having taught at the gifted and AP level in several states, Mrs. Amador brings in specializations in essay writing, English and Reading. She also worked for a private company that helped place students in higher level institutions of education all over the world. Like Mrs. Galvez-Cuesta, Mrs. Amador is also an active participant of NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling).