CUBA SPAIN BELEN COLLEGE JHS MEDAL FROM 20's

THIS IS AN INTERESTING EXCELLENCE MEDAL FROM THE 20's OF BELEN SCHOOL, THE MOST FAMOUS COLLEGE IN CUBA IN THAT EPOCH.  3.5  INCHES INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL RIBBON, GOOD CONDITION.

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic high school in Miami, Florida. It was established in Cuba by the Jesuits in 1854, but moved to the United States after the communist government of Fidel Castro, himself an alumnus, took power ^[1]. Its current principal is Fr. Marcelino Garcia, S.J.^[2] Independently operated by the Jesuit order, it is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.

Belen is one of the four all-male schools in greater Miami-Dade, along with Mesivta School Of Greater Miami, Yeshiva Toras Chaim, and Christopher Columbus High School. It has been named three times in a row as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States by the Catholic High School Honor Roll.^[3] Belen received special recognition in the academic excellence and Catholic identity categories, and was also designated as having a "highly selective" admissions policy. Each student must take an admissions test and once admitted must maintain an excellent academic standing.^[3]

Belen Jesuit annually provides over $1.9 million in need-based grants to students; the money is raised by the annual Tombola fair, and private donations.^[4] The school prides itself in its various community services projects, including its annual trip to the Dominican Republic^[5], and its other service projects across the greater Miami area.

In late 2006 Belen and Ocean Bank created the Agape Scholarship specifically to promote diversity at the school who's population is mostly Hispanic. $1.2 million shall be committed in the following ten years for this new scholarship program. In addition to covering the student's tuition, books, and other expenses, the school has created a new scholarship committee with the goal of insuring the success of the students.

Belen's time in Cuba

Colegio de Belén (1854-1925)

Colegio de Belén "The Palace of Education" (1925-1961)

• March 2, 1854 - Queen Isabella II of Spain issued a royal charter founding the "Colegio de Belén" in Havana, Cuba. Belen School began its educational work in the building formerly occupied by the convent and convalescent hospital of Our Lady of Belen, hence the name of the school.
• 1925 - Sixty acres of plantations and several buildings in Havana Cuba were donated to Belen School. The complex is later known as "The Palace of Education." As of 2008, the complex still stands, now called the Instituto Tecnico Militar (Military Technical Institute).

 Belen's American history

• September 18, 1961 - Belen Jesuit School was established in the United States. The fourth floor of the Gesu Elementary School in downtown Miami became the first site of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. In 2008 this building no longer exists and in its place stands the parking lot of the Gesu Church.^[7] The faculty, like many other priests and religious, had been expelled from Cuba by the government of Fidel Castro.^{[citation needed]} The school's property was ultimately taken over by the government.
• October 22, 1962 - Belen Jesuit Preparatory School acquired its own building and moved to a new site on the corner of S.W. 8th Street and 7th Avenue in Miami.
• 1973-1981 - "Operation Coke"^{[citation needed]} Students were asked to make personal sacrifices and contribute money that would normally be spent on snacks and beverages for new school facilities.
• October 17, 1980 - Ground-breaking ceremony were held for a new building on a 30 acre-site located in west Dade County, opened the following year; Enrollment was 598 students
• November 1996 - Belen Jesuit received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.^{[citation needed]}
• From 1992 to 2002 marked a period of expansion for the school. The library was renovated, multiple computer labs were built as well as an athletic center and the number of classrooms were increased.
• 2004 - Belen marked its sesquicentennial. Belen inaugurated the Ignatian Center for the Arts which included new classrooms, a choir and orchestra practice room, a stagecraft workshop, an amphitheater, the Olga & Carlos Saladrigas Art Gallery, and the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Theater with a 662 patron capacity.
• 2005 -2006 - Belen won its first ever District Championship in football, sending three players to the Ivy League and one to Northwestern.^{[citation needed]}
• 2006 -2007 - The 2006-07 school year was met with recognition in academics and athletics. The Catholic School Honor Roll named Belen Jesuit as one of the top 50 Catholic high school in the U.S. Belen Jesuit was recognized in two categories, Academic Excellence and Civic Education. Belen Jesuit was also the only Florida school on the Honor Roll noted to have a highly selective admission policy. The swimming team, cross country team and track & field team all won state titles in their respective divisions.^{[citation needed]}
• February 3, 2007 - The Inaugural Sports Hall of Fame Class was inducted at the Roberto C. Goizueta Athletic Center. Its members included Luis Botifoll '25, Ernesto Smith '36, Alfredo Porta Bolaños '47, Julio J. Bordas '48, Felix P. Perez-Majul '55, Eduardo Sowers '56, Rene Walker '69, Julio Campa '71, Jorge M. Cabrera '72, Eric Alvarez '85, Hector Ortiz '86, Michael J. Covert '91, Edward Acosta '99, 1995 Cross Country Team, Coach Otilio "Cappy" Campuzano, and Athletic Director Coach Carlos Barquin.
• 2007 - 2008 - The schools main building was named after entrepreneur Miguel B. Fernandez. This celebration was initiated by a pledge from the Fernandez Family for $2.5 million, the largest single private donation received by the school in its 46 year history in Miami.^{[citation needed]} The Catholic School Honor Roll named Belen Jesuit as one of the top 50 Catholic high school in the U.S. for a third consecutive year. Belen Jesuit was recognized as a category leader for its strength in two areas: Academic Excellence and Catholic Identity.^[8] Belen Jesuit was again one of three schools considered highly selective in its admission policy.^[9] Construction began on the new administrative building. A bronze statue of Jesus was erected.