Kiahna Roberts, a recent graduate of Pembroke Pines Charter High School, is set to join Florida International University (FIU) this fall as an architecture major. Her journey to excelling in mathematics was not straightforward. “It made me want to do better in math,” Roberts says. “I kept with it, taking harder math classes. It wasn’t until junior year when I took AP Calculus AB that I really got into math. Calculus was so interesting, and it was something I really understood.”
Roberts became active in her school’s chapter of the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta, first serving as historian and later as director of events. She managed the club’s social media accounts and organized events such as a Math Scavenger Hunt and a Pi Bee, which tested students on how many digits of pi they could recite.
Her academic record includes successful completion of several Advanced Placement courses across computer science, government, calculus (both AB and BC), and environmental science. She participated in the Cambridge program at her high school and graduated in the top 10% of her class with an AICE Diploma.
Outside academics, Roberts volunteered each summer at the Broward Humane Society since her freshman year, primarily caring for cats. “A lot of the cats would come in distrusting humans,” Roberts says. “So I had to help socialize the cats so they could be adopted in the future. I would care for them, make sure they were doing ok and were well fed. I would try to earn their trust and play with them.” She plans to adopt a cat herself one day.
FIU has been part of Roberts’ family history; her grandmother Brenda Jones earned a bachelor’s degree from FIU in 1988, while her sister Kaiya recently completed both undergraduate studies in computer science at FIU and is now pursuing graduate work there.
“I really like what the FIU experience is like,” Roberts says. “Hearing my sister talk about Panther Camp, F1rst Night, the places at FIU, being inside the 8th Street Campus Kitchen, all the stuff that happens the first week of school, it sounded great.”
Roberts will enroll in an accelerated program that enables freshmen to complete both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture within five years—an option she said influenced her decision to attend FIU over other state schools.
“With that program, I feel that FIU is giving me the best chance from all the other colleges in the state to pursue architecture and stay in Florida,” Roberts says.
In addition to academics and service work, Roberts enjoys crocheting gifts for friends and baking during her free time. “I love to crochet,” Roberts says. “Right before my friends and I left to go to college, I made all three of us star-shaped crocheted pillows as gifts. I’m really proud of that project.”
Looking ahead to campus life at FIU—including attending F1rst Night festivities—Roberts said: “I’m really excited about forming new connections at FIU and making new friends,” she says. “And I’m excited to get a feel for my classes.” She also looks forward to visiting The Salty Donut during study breaks.
Continuing a tradition important within her family is another point of pride for Roberts: “I’m proud to keep up the Panther legacy,” she says,“especially after seeing how [FIU] has helped my family.”
