Class of 2029: Sophia Navarro-Montes, aspiring marine life scientist

Sophia Navarro-Montes is passionate about penguins.

There’s something intriguing, irresistible – unflappable – about these black-and-white birds who fly not in the sky, but underneath the waters of the world.

This fall, Navarro-Montes starts at FIU as a marine biology major ready to launch into research.

“I want to become a scientist,” Navarro-Montes says. “I’ve become really passionate about penguins and would like to study penguins in the Galapagos Islands in the future. My friends joke with me that when I’m meeting a new person, I ask them what their favorite animal is just so I can segway into talking about penguins.”

She credits her mom, a microbiologist, with inspiring her to pursue science. “My mom is a huge influence on me,” she says. “Since I was little, she would show me stuff from her work through a microscope. It gave me an appreciation for science. In science, there’s always more to explore, more to learn.”

Navarro-Montes is a National Merit Scholar who graduated from Freehold Township High School in New Jersey.

She took 10 AP classes, including human geography, biology, physics, Calculus AB and microeconomics. She received an AP Scholar award, which recognized her for earning a score of five (the highest score) on nine of those AP exams, and a four on one.

Devoted to her faith, Navarro-Montes has volunteered in various ways at her church. She served as a teacher’s assistant for a third grad CCD (catechism) class, which prepares children to receive their First Communion, and worked with children at additional events, teaching them about essential aspects of the Catholic faith. Separately, through an organization called Just4Kixs Soccer, she helped young people with special needs learn how to play the game.

“Action is the way I express my faith,” says Navarro-Montes of her service activities.

While she was searching for her ideal college, she visited FIU — and she was sold.

“The campus just feels so nice. I loved the facilities, I loved being close to the ocean in Miami. I’m looking forward to getting a dorm at the BBC campus next year. I’m really excited for the marine sciences program at FIU.”

Another reason she chose FIU: because of the recognized marine researchers that call the university home — researchers she is excited to learn from, she adds. 

Navarro-Montes will be living on campus and studying as part of the FIU Honors College.

Like her beloved penguins, she’s ready to dive into her new adventure at FIU.