Diana Hughes is a senior at Coral Reef High School in Miami. In 2022, through her involvement with her school’s Parent Teacher Student Association, Diana learned of foster kids at her school who were struggling with access to school supplies and uniforms. As a former foster child herself, Diana was compelled to address this issue, among others her peers were facing, and founded the Cuda Care Pantry (CCP) within the walls of Coral Reef Senior High.

The Cuda Care Pantry provides nutritious snacks, school supplies, personal hygiene items, and second-hand uniforms to students at no cost, weekly serving more than 200 students. In response to the success of the CCP, Diana founded the Student Pantry Coalition in 2023, creating a network that fosters collaboration between students, parents, faculty, administrators, and non-profit organizations to support new and existing school pantries. Currently, nine different Miami-Dade high schools and middle schools are members of the coalition, having served more than 15,000 youth and families to date.

A 2024 Silver Knight Awards nominee, Diana has received a Safe in the 305 grant from Miami Dade County to create and support school pantries, has been recognized by the City of Doral on Human Rights Day, nominated for the 2024 Children’s Trust Excellence in Youth Leadership Award, and has received a scholarship from the Miami Music Project to attend Interlochen Academy of the Arts Summer Camp for violin.

“Monica and I continue to be amazed by the leadership and social responsibility displayed by young people throughout our community, and Diana is at the forefront of this movement,” said Jason Taylor. “She not only addressed a need on her school’s campus, but had the vision and desire to rally students and adults from other schools to take initiative of their own. We are thrilled to add Diana to the Community Hall of Fame Class of 2024.”