FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2000


Nine valedictorians head list of 2002 FHSAA Academic All-State honorees

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Activities Association has announced the 2000 FHSAA Academic All-State Team, which features nine valedictorians, one salutatorian, six future Ivy Leaguers, ten potential medicine doctors and a potential rocket scientist. Twenty-four student-athletes – 12 boys and 12 girls – were chosen from among 224 qualified nominees from the Association’s 543 member high schools. To be eligible for selection to the team, a student must be a graduating senior, must have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or better, and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during his or her junior and senior years.

Each honoree will receive a $500 award, as well as a commemorative medallion, from the FHSAA for being selected to the team. From among the 24 recipients, two Scholar-Athletes of the Year, one boy and one girl, will be announced at the Sixth Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet to be held Friday, June 16 in Tampa. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the most prestigious honors conferred by the Association, will receive an additional $2,500 each in scholarship funds, as well as trophies.

Here are the members of the Sixth Annual FHSAA Academic All-State Team:

Girls

• Sara Elizabeth Abrams, Fernandina Beach High School, Fernandina Beach – Sara is the daughter of Cynthia Holota. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 272 students. Sara earned varsity letters in golf and soccer in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pre-medicine.

• Ashley Rose Bast, Pensacola High School, Pensacola – Ashley is the daughter of Stephen and Sandra Bast. She has a 3.9 grade point average and is ranked 13th in a senior class of 298 students. Ashley earned varsity letters in soccer and volleyball in her junior and senior years, as well as softball her junior year. She plans to attend Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and will study biology in preparation for pre-medicine.

• Vail Bloom, Douglas High School, Parkland – Vail is the daughter of Stanley and Cynthia Bloom. She has a 3.94 grade point average and is ranked 11th in a senior class of 705 students. Vail earned varsity letters in cross country and track & field in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, and will study architecture.

• Victoria Borchers, Pace High School, Pace – Victoria is the daughter of Allen and Peggy Borchers. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked fourth in a senior class of 346 students. Victoria earned varsity letters track & field and swimming & diving her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and will study chemical engineering.

• Kathryn Joyce Gille, Osceola High School, Seminole – Kathryn is the daughter of Don and Vicki Beckman. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks third in a senior class of 268 students. Kathryn earned varsity letters in soccer and track & field in her junior and senior years, as well as volleyball her senior year. She plans to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and will study English.

• Stacy Renee Hartman, Astronaut High School, Titusville – Stacy is the daughter of Gerald and Rebecca Hartman. She has a 3.96 grade point average and ranks fourth in a senior class of 300 students. Stacy earned varsity letters in volleyball and soccer in her junior and senior years. She will attend Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, and will study business.

• Kathleen Scott O’Reardon, Bishop Moore High School, Orlando – Kathleen is the daughter of Francis and Susan O’Reardon. She has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks 28th in a senior class of 228 students. Kathleen earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pre-medicine.

• Lisa Michelle Porter, Island Christian School, Islamorada – Lisa is the daughter of Wayne and Tina Porter. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 16 students. Lisa earned varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and softball in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and will study athletic training and exercise science.

• Stacy Rosen, Piper High School, Sunrise – Stacy is the daughter of Ellen Rosen-Spector. She has a 3.69 grade point average and is ranked 19th in a senior class of 735 students. Stacy earned varsity letters in volleyball and softball her junior and senior years, as well as soccer her junior year. She plans to attend either Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, or the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pre-veterinary medicine.

• Nicole Paulette Vickers, Trenton High School, Trenton – Nicole is the daughter of John and Paulette Vickers. She has a 3.98 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 66 students. Nicole earned varsity letters in basketball and softball in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend either Leniore-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina, or Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and will study pre-medicine.

• Kimberly Jerri Watson, Chiefland High School, Chiefland – Kimberly is the daughter of Jerry and Elizabeth Watson. She has a 3.96 grade point average and is the salutatorian in a senior class of 91 students. Kimberly earned varsity letters in volleyball and basketball in her junior and senior years. She plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and will study pre-medicine.

• Shelly Whaley, Kathleen High School, Lakeland – Shelly is the daughter of Michael "Keith" and Wanda Whaley. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 271 students. Shelly earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and tennis in her junior and senior years. She will attend Flagler College in St. Augustine and will study deaf education.


Boys

• Connor Fitzpatrick Duffy, St. John Neumann School, Naples – Connor is the son of Kevin and Cynthia Duffy. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is in the highest quintile in a senior class of 54 students. Connor earned varsity letters in basketball and baseball in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and will study business.

• Jonathan Feig, Taravella High School, Coral Springs – Jonathan is the son of Nancy Feig. He has a 3.65 grade point average and ranks 32nd in a senior class of 568. Jonathan earned varsity letters in football and soccer in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and will study engineering.

• Laredo Ginn, Rutherford High School, Springfield – Laredo is the son of Malcom and Kathy Ginn. He has a 3.88 grade point average and ranks 12th in a senior class of 396 students. Laredo earned varsity letters in football, weightlifting and track & field in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will study aeronautical engineering.

• William Adam Hammond, Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville – Adam is the son of William and Lynda Hammond. He has a 3.86 grade point average and is ranked 11th in a senior class of 295 students. Adam earned varsity letters in wrestling and cross country in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and will study pre-medicine

• Evan E. Hentschel, Jesuit High School, Tampa – Evan is the son of Gregor and Linda Hentschel. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 114 students. Evan earned varsity letters in swimming & diving and track & field in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and will study history in preparation for pre-medicine.

• Michael Latimer, Plant City High School, Plant City – Michael is the son of Linda Latimer. He has a 3.76 grade point average and ranks 14th in a senior class of 500 students. Michael earned varsity letters in football and track & field in his junior and senior years, as well as wrestling his junior year. He plans to attend Columbia University in New York City, New York, and will study mathematics.

• Elan "Lonny" Levy, Miami Country Day School, Miami – Elan is the son of Drs. Tom and Jodi Moskowitz. He has a 3.57 grade point average. Elan earned varsity letters in basketball and baseball in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and will study pre-medicine.

• Gordon T. Markham, Boone High School, Orlando – Gordon is the son of Barbara Markham. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian of a senior class of 553 students. Gordon earned varsity letters in football, weightlifting and track & field in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and will study pre-medicine.

• Vijay J. Mehta, Bartow High School, Bartow – Vijay is the son of Dr. Jitu and Ila Mehta. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 226 students. Vijay earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will study business law.

• Nicholas R. Nestle, Mainland High School, Daytona Beach – Nicholas is the son of James and Janice Nestle. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is the valedictorian in a senior class of 380 students. Nicholas earned varsity letters in soccer and tennis in his junior and senior years, as well as swimming & diving his senior year. He plans to attend either Massachuetts Institute of Technology or Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will study engineering.

• Thomas Erwin Pauly Jr., Episcopal High School, Jacksonville – Thomas is the son of Tom and Marta Pauly. He has a 3.92 grade point average and ranks fifth in a senior class of 120 students. Thomas earned varsity letters in swimming & diving and baseball in his junior and senior years. He plans to attend Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, and will study pre-medicine.

• Cory Presnick, Citrus High School, Inverness – Cory is the son of Tom and Debra Presnick. He has a 3.88 grade point average and ranks 10th in a senior class of 234 students. Cory earned varsity letters in cross country, soccer and track & field his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and will study pre-dentistry.


Contact:
Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
roberth@fhsaa.org