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Harmony of the Seas godmother is local Teach for America leader

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Brittany Affolter from Teach For America Miami-Dade
Brittany Affolter from Teach For America Miami-Dade has been selected to serve as godmother for Harmony of the Seas during naming festivities at Port Everglades Nov. 10.

Affolter, 23, was among three finalists chosen from nearly one thousand nominations from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Finalists were selected and voted on by the public to help choose a South Florida hometown hero in education.

'We were exceptionally impressed by the passion she has for empowering our youth to believe in a better world and brighter future. She is wise beyond her years, and we can only imagine the accomplishments that she will continue to achieve,' Royal Caribbean president and ceo Michael Bayley said.

Affolter overcame a difficult background with the help of inspiring teachers and has been working with Teach For America Miami-Dade since 2014. She engages classrooms in schools across the county that meet the needs of at-risk and low-income students and trains teachers at 14 high-need schools, serving more than 500 students. In her spare time, she tutors students, is working to become a mentor for children in foster care and is completing her master's degree in educational leadership.

Affolter hopes her selection as godmother can 'help give a voice to all the hard-working teachers that give so much of themselves to make a meaningful difference.' She said her priority is helping kids understand that 'no matter what is going on in their lives, they can reach the dreams they have for themselves.'

Royal Caribbean will award a $25,000 grant to Teach For America Miami-Dade, funding education initiatives that further Affolter's mission to inspire the community's youth.

World's largest cruise ship Harmony of the Seas is scheduled to arrive at its new year-round home, Port Everglades, on Nov. 5.