Published June 12, 2025
By : Staff Writer
June is National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to recognize the contributions of Caribbean immigrants to the United States.
Among the largest groups of Caribbean ancestry in the U.S. are Puerto Ricans, West Indians, Cubans, Dominicans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Trinidadians and Tobagonians, Barbadians, Belizeans, Bahamians, and U.S. Virgin Islanders.
One notable American with Caribbean heritage in STEM education is Anike Sakariyawo, a native of Opa-Locka, Florida.
Anike began her pioneering career as a kindergarten through third-grade teacher in Title I schools in Miami-Dade County.
A dedicated lifelong learner, she holds degrees from Bethune-Cookman University and Cambridge College, and she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computing and Engineering at Florida International University.
Anike has received both local and national recognition for her contributions to STEM education.
For instance, she has received a BEYA Community Service Award, which honors individuals who demonstrate leadership through outreach in and beyond their professions, and a Visionary Award at the WOC STEM Conference.
Anike was recognized for her efforts to create innovative content and provide minority youth, parents, and educators with equal opportunities to engage with real-world science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) tools, thus enabling them to compete in an ever-evolving world.
"I was drawn to education and entrepreneurship at an early age," she shared with the audience at the conference. "I played school with my sister, who is autistic and has a mental disability, teaching her how to write her name. My grandmother inspired me; she taught me how to braid hair, and I began practicing with my best friend, negotiating prices for hair braiding starting at age 12 until college."
Anike leverages her entrepreneurial background to run S.E.E.K., the educational nonprofit she founded in 2012.
S.E.E.K. has hosted student-led youth STEM summits where K-12 students showcase their skills in esports, virtual worlds, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
S.E.E.K.'s programs are anchored in three pillars: education, health and fitness, and community involvement, equipping young people with critical thinking skills, public speaking abilities, and self-confidence.
The organization teaches children aged 5 to 18 how to design and build STEM products after school, exposing them to opportunities in STEM careers.
Her unwavering commitment to education and community empowerment continues to drive S.E.E.K.'s mission forward.
In 2016, Royal Caribbean aimed to honor a hometown hero in education to celebrate the homecoming of Harmony of the Seas, which was making its U.S. debut at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale in November of that year.
The South Florida-based company sought an exceptional candidate who positively impacts the community’s youth and received nearly 1,000 nominations.
Anike was among the finalists and gained significant support from residents and educators in South Florida.
Royal Caribbean launched this initiative to capture the essence of mentorship by honoring women whose life lessons and achievements exemplify the courage, dedication, and determination that inspire others.
At a recent groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion project by the S.E.E.K. Foundation, Anike expressed her amazement on social media at how far she had come since leaving her full-time teaching position.
More recently, she announced that S.E.E.K. had been awarded $496,125 in funding from the Florida Department of Commerce's Digital Connectivity Technology Program for the Two-Gen Digital Connectivity Program.
This program will enable S.E.E.K. to continue educating community members on digital literacy, provide technology devices to those in need, and help close the digital divide in Opa-Locka, where Anike was born and raised.
She noted on social media that neighborhoods like hers have hidden talent, and when provided with access and opportunity, that talent can flourish.
S.E.E.K. has also recently secured a $4 million grant to establish Opa-Locka's first SMART Tech Health Hub.
This hub will empower young minds and foster a healthier, more educated community by providing access to cutting-edge technology and comprehensive health resources.
This initiative marks a transformative step forward in healthcare, integrating STEM education, community engagement, and health and well-being initiatives for children aged 3 to 18.
