Pilot program in conjunction with Miami Metrozoo and the Zoological Society of Florida
that aims to instill an understanding of the world’s wildlife and appreciation for the photographic arts

Coral Gables, FL - May 05, 2010

More than 300 Miami-Dade County Public School students recently converged at Miami Metrozoo to participate in the first-ever Mercantil Commercebank Zoolens^SM Photography Project. A partnership between Mercantil Commercebank, Miami Metrozoo and the Zoological Society of Florida, the Zoolens^SM Photography Project is a photography contest designed to foster a deeper understanding of the world’s wildlife among Miami-Dade County Public School students, while also broadening their artistic expression and appreciation for the beauty of nature through photography.

Students had the opportunity to enjoy a field trip to the Zoo and were given digital cameras to take pictures of the animals. They also had the unique opportunity to learn from experts such as Miami Metrozoo’s Director of Communications and renowned wildlife expert Ron Magill, and New World School of the Arts Visual Arts professor and curator, Rosario Martínez-Cañas, who offered tips on how to best photograph the animals.

The participating schools included: ASPIRA – South Youth Leadership Charter School; Doral Academy Preparatory School; Hammocks Middle School; John F. Kennedy Middle School; Madison Middle School; Miami Lakes Middle; Ponce de Leon Middle; and West Miami Middle School.

A panel of renowned photographers that include Magill and Martínez-Cañas will judge the photos, selecting three overall winners. The winning students will be eligible to receive Mercantil Commercebank Savings Accounts among other prizes, while participating schools will receive a monetary donation for their art department. The panel of judges also includes internationally acclaimed photo-artist María Martínez-Cañas, Miami Herald photographer Suzanne Lee Mast, and Alex Gort, Jr., one of Miami’s best known photographers.

“It is great to see the business community come out and support art and technology education for the students,” said Ana Medina Fernandez, a teacher at West Miami Middle School. “Some of our students had never even been to the Zoo before, so it was doubly exciting for them.”

“It was a really fun experience learning about each animal and seeing how they live,” said Ponce de Leon Middle School student Marisen Liebl. “Taking the animals’ pictures really inspired me.”

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the first-ever Zoolens Photography Project to public schools in our community,” said Millar Wilson, President & CEO of Mercantil Commercebank. “The responses from the teachers and students have been extremely positive and we greatly appreciate their support in piloting this program with us. Providing students with the chance to experience the Zoo and interact with wildlife in this manner has been exceptionally rewarding for all of us at the Bank,” added Wilson.

Additional partners in the pilot program include Olympus Imaging America, Inc. and the
North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA).

The long-term goal of the Zoolens Photography Project is to broaden the number of participating schools, allowing an increasing number of Miami-Dade County Public School students to participate in this innovative program.

ABOUT MERCANTIL COMMERCEBANK:
Mercantil Commercebank N.A. is one of the largest banks in South Florida serving its community for 30 years. Mercantil Servicios Financieros (MSF), a Venezuelan company, beneficially owns the Bank through U.S. bank holding companies. MSF is the largest provider of financial services in Venezuela with more than 85 years of experience. Mercantil Commercebank has assets of $6.0 billion. The Bank is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida and has 17 Banking Centers - 15 located in South Florida; one in Manhattan, New York; and one in Houston, Texas. The Bank offers a wide variety of domestic, international, personal and commercial banking services, including investment, trust, and estate planning through its subsidiaries, Mercantil Commercebank Investment Services, Inc. and Mercantil Commercebank Trust Company, N.A. For more information, please visit www.mercantilcb.com.

Editor’s Note: There’s another bank in South Florida whose moniker includes the word ‘Mercantile.’  Please note that we are MERCANTIL COMMERCEBANK. Thank you.