The Wharton Excessive Class of 2025 will stroll throughout the stage on the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Corridor on Thursday, Could 29, the place they are going to toss their caps and formally go away highschool behind.
Earlier than they go, nonetheless, the longer term graduates are collaborating in lots of traditions and many “lasts,” such because the final examination, the final day of college and one final ceremony to acknowledge essentially the most excellent amongst a sea of profitable college students.
Wharton’s Senior Awards Ceremony was held on Could 7, the place the highest college students in teachers have been honored and dozens of scholars have been acknowledged by particular person departments for being the excellent scholar in a wide range of topics – every thing from math to bodily schooling to artwork.
The ceremony included recognition of the college’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian, together with the opposite eight college students who spherical out the college’s high 10 by weighted grade level common (GPA). They’re:
1. Shruti Mishra, Valedictorian (proper in high left picture), with a GPA of 8.3082. Shruti will attend the College of Florida to review Pc Science.
2. Ananda Ravinder, Salutatorian (left in high left picture), with a GPA of seven.6767. Ananda will attend the College of South Florida (USF) to review Information Science.
3. Ayush Patel
4. Samantha Leyva Suarez
5. Radhika Dhanpat
6. Sean Kwon
7. Jesus Contreras*
8. Aaron Wonderley
9. Gavin Raitt*
10. Nishtha Hirapara
Twelve college students will go away Wharton Excessive with good unweighted GPAs of 4.0. Of these 12, solely two are among the many faculty’s top-10 college students listed above — Jesus Contreras and Gavin Raitt. The opposite 4.0 unweighted GPA graduates are Gina Cocchiola, Shriya Patnaik, Marisol Peak, Isabella Pena, Danielle Pliego, Brady Quinn, Andria Santhosh, Dylan Stamper, Kayla Strocchio and Abigail Welsh earned nothing lower than an “A” in all of their highschool courses.
Margaret Alma (at proper in picture proper) was acknowledged as a Nationwide Advantage Counseled Pupil. Of the 1.3 million college students who took the PSAT screening examination, solely about 34,000 college students nationally (2.6%) have been acknowledged with this honor.
A number of scholarships have been awarded by the college’s Dad or mum Instructor Pupil Affiliation (PTSA). Every of the scholarships required an software, essay and letter of advice. A volunteer committee reviewed the submitted purposes with all private info redacted and scholarships have been awarded to the highest-scoring college students.
Tampa Metropolis Councilman Luis Viera introduced two of the scholarships, together with a brand new one launched this 12 months known as the PTSA CTE (Profession & Technical Training) Award, particularly to honor college students pursuing a vocational profession after commencement.
“The CTE scholarship was one thing I launched this 12 months as a result of I’m passionate concerning the trades,” mentioned Shannon Briones, PTSA president. “Our winner fully embodied the idea behind the scholarship, as somebody who was taking one of many nice commerce courses supplied at Wharton, discovering that keenness, after which happening to pursue that commerce on the subsequent stage at a neighborhood faculty in our neighborhood.”
Christian Perna (with Viera in picture above ) earned a $1,000 award in the direction of his upcoming enrollment at Erwin Technical Faculty, the place he’ll proceed finding out culinary arts, as he did at Wharton. Christian was acknowledged as a constant chief in each the kitchen and the classroom, graduating with a GPA of 4.6 and having gained a neighborhood baking competitors.
“It’s nice to rejoice the 4.0 college students and the valedictorian,” mentioned Briones, “and likewise nice to rejoice those that are the service professionals you rent on your residence and automobile, and who work within the eating places and retailers. That’s what makes the neighborhood.” She mentioned she is worked up that the PTSA will proceed to supply the CTE scholarship subsequent 12 months.
Viera additionally introduced the Radiance Orthodontics Group Service Award to Abigail Alt (at proper in picture with Viera). This award acknowledges excellent contributions to the neighborhood, no matter GPA, however Abigail achieved each with a weighted GPA of 6.6 and greater than 120 hours logged serving others by means of native organizations reminiscent of Tampa Parks & Recreation, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, Bay Chapel Meals Pantry, Relay for Life and others. She’s going to attend the College of South Florida and pursue a profession in pediatric nursing.
4 extra PTSA scholarships have been introduced by HCPS Faculty Board Chair Jessica Vaughn to excellent college students.
Samantha Leyva Suarez (proper in left picture with Vaughn), who earned a weighted GPA of seven.60 and was honored by means of the Nationwide Hispanic Recognition Program, will attend USF to pursue a level in medication.
Lucas Sauer, who demonstrated a dedication to teachers, neighborhood service and athletics as captain of the Wharton baseball group, will attend Greensboro Faculty to pursue a level in sports activities administration. Samantha and Lucas every earned $500.
Michael Jensen (at proper in proper picture with Vaughn), who excelled in teachers and was captain of the golf group will attend Mississippi State College in Starkville within the faculty’s PGA Golf Administration program.
Adrianna Castillo, who’s graduating with a GPA of 6.41 and served as senior class president, will attend Florida State College in Tallahassee to pursue a level in well being sciences. Michael and Adrianna every obtained $250.
Wharton principal Taryn Anello introduced her “Turnaround Award” to Adolfo Castillo (under left) and “Golden Wildcat” awards to Cyron Grey (backside heart picture) and Gabriella Hawkins (backside proper).
Congratulations to those excellent college students and the complete Wharton class of 2025!
