Terrier Spotlight
From Volleyball to Hollywood
By Chandra Persaud
Hollywood, look out! SFC’s very own Feliz Ramirez ’14 will make her TV series debut in Grand Hotel, a show
set to premiere in March 2019 on the ABC network.
R
amirez, who began
auditioning for
commercials at
the age of five, is
absolutely thrilled for this
big break.
“I am so excited that
the show got picked
up by ABC, and I can’t
wait to start shooting
with the amazing cast!,”
shared Ramirez.
The fictional series
showcases the drama that
unfolds as scandals and
secrets surface at the last
family-owned hotel in Miami
Beach. Ramirez will play
Carolina, one of the “evil”
stepdaughters of the hotel’s
owner. With Eva Longoria
serving as an executive
producer of the series, and a
cast that includes big names
such as Roselyn Sánchez,
Wendy Raquel Robinson,
and Oscar-nominated actor
Demián Bichir, the show is anticipated to be a prime time hit.
After graduating from St. Francis, Ramirez starred in a slew of
studio and theater productions, in hopes of turning her childhood
pastime into a career. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, alongside
seven siblings, Ramirez remembers reenacting scenes from favorite
movies. “Even as a child, I loved acting. I loved to play make-believe
games with my siblings. We used to throw all the sofa cushions
(mom hated this) on the floor, pretend there was lava all over
the floor, and we were in The Lion King trying to rescue Simba,”
said Ramirez with a laugh.
As her love for acting blossomed, so did her passion for
volleyball. In fact, it was her love
for the sport that brought her to
St. Francis College.
“I chose SFC because I loved
the location and the volleyball
program,” explained Ramirez. As
the Libero, Ramirez’s leadership role
helped the volleyball team snatch
several wins, and her willingness
to be a team player on and off the
court helped her create some lasting
friendships with her teammates.
“I practiced patience and staying
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | WINTER 2018, VOLUME 82, NUMBER 1
motivated while playing
on the team and this
continues to serve me
well to this day,” said
Ramirez. The entire
Athletics Department,
especially Irma Garcia,
Director of Athletics for
SFC, holds a special place
in Ramirez’s heart.
Ramirez found the
academic environment at
SFC to be just as rewarding
as her time on the court.
As a Communication Arts
major with a concentration
in Film and Broadcasting,
she excelled in courses
such as Television Studio
Production and Creative
Writing. “I loved the film
L E F T: Feliz Ramirez ’14 with Grand Hotel
program. There was so
Executive Producer Eva Longoria.
much equipment I could
use for my projects,” said Ramirez.
She developed meaningful relationships with several
professors, such as Dr. Lynn Jackson, former Chairperson
of the Communication Arts department, and Dr. Dennis
Anderson, Chairperson for the department of Management &
Information Technology. Ramirez also took advantage of the
College's Study Abroad Program and spent a semester in Eastern
Europe, a highlight of her time at SFC. “It was an unforgettable
experience that broadened my perspective,” reminisces Ramirez.
As she prepares for her biggest acting role yet, Ramirez is
especially grateful for the networking skills she honed at the College
and being a part of an environment that inspired her to strive for
success. “There are a lot of hard workers at SFC and being around
people who are just as driven as you is great,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez has recently relocated to California to begin filming
Grand Hotel and she has been
sharing behind-the-scene looks of
the cast and crew on her Instagram:
@feliznyc. As the next leg of her
journey begins, Ramirez knows this
is the start to even greater endeavors
ahead. “You can achieve your
wildest dreams, as long as you never
stop trying,” said Ramirez. ●
The cast of Grand Hotel (left to right)
Feliz Ramirez, Ken Kirby, Demián Bichir,
Justina Adorno, and Roselyn Sánchez
(ABC/Ed Herrera).
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