News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2000


Governor's Cabinet honors 2000 FHSAA Academic All-State Team

GAINESVILLE – Tom Gallagher, Florida's Commissioner of Education, sponsored a resolution during Tuesday's (July 25) Cabinet meeting honoring the 24 student-athletes who were selected as members of the 2000 Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA) Academic All-State Team.

The resolution also honored Nicholas Nestle, of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, and Lisa Porter, of Island Christian School in Islamorada, who were selected as the FHSAA's Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

"Being named to the Academic All-State Team and as Scholar-Athletes of the Year are tremendous accomplishments," Gallagher said. "These students exemplify the best in academics and athletics. It is a privilege to honor each of them here today."

Seven of the 24 team members were present for the ceremony. Nestle thanked Gallagher, Gov. Jeb Bush and the other cabinet members for the recognition on behalf of the team and the FHSAA. The FHSAA was represented by Director of Communications Jack Watford and Assistant Director of Communications Robert Hernberger.

"The FHSAA is deeply gratified at this gesture by Commissioner Gallagher, Governor Bush and the entire Cabinet," said FHSAA Commissioner Robert W. Hughes. "The members of the Academic All-State Team are most deserving of this honor. The FHSAA has applauded the accomplishments of these outstanding student-athletes for six years now. We are elated that our state leaders are now taking note of their accomplishments as well."

The resolution adopted by the Cabinet read as follows:

    "WHEREAS, on April 9, 1920, a group of high school principals founded the Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA) at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida and designated this Association as the governing body for interscholastic activities in the State of Florida; and

    WHEREAS, the mission of the Florida High School Activities Association is to promote participation and sportsmanship by developing good citizens through interscholastic activities which provide equitable opportunities, positive recognition, and learning experiences to students while maximizing the achievement of educational goals; and

    WHEREAS, in 1994, the Florida High School Activities Association Academic All-State Team was introduced to recognize and award scholarships to selected graduating senior student-athletes who have achieved excellence, both in the classroom and on the athletic field; and

    WHEREAS, on April 24, 2000, twenty-four athletes – twelve males and twelve females – were chosen from among 224 qualified nominees from the Association's member high schools as the 2000 Florida High School Activities Association's Academic All-State Team; and

    WHEREAS, to be eligible for selection to this prestigious team, a student must be a graduating senior, have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during their junior and senior years, and have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or better; and

    WHEREAS, the Florida High School Activities Association's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is regarded as the most prestigious award the Association bestows on a student-athlete and bext exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship and academics.

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby recognized and congratulate

    Sara Elizabeth Adams from Fernandina Beach High School
    Ashley Rose Best from Pensacola High School
    Vail Bloom from Douglas High School
    Victoria Borchers from Pace School
    Connor Fitzpatrick Duffy from St. John Neumann High School
    Jonathan Feig from Taravella High School
    Kathryn Joyce Gille from Osceola High School
    Laredo Ginn from Rutherford High School
    William Adam Hammond from Stanton College Preparatory School
    Stacy Renee Hartman from Astronaut High School
    Evan E. Hentschel from Jesuit High School
    Michael Latimer from Plant City High School
    Elan "Lonny" Levy from Miami Country Day School
    Gordon J. Markham from Boone High School
    Vijay J. Mehta from Bartow High School
    Nicholas R. Nestle from Mainland High School
    Kathleen Scott O'Reardon from Bishop Moore High School
    Thomas E. Pauly, Jr. from Episcopal High School
    Lisa Michelle Porter from Island Christian School
    Cory Presnick from Citrus High School
    Stacy Rosen from Piper High School
    Nicole Paulette Vickers from Trenton High School
    Kimberly Jerri Watson from Chiefland High School
    Shelly Whaley from Kathleen High School

    as the 2000 Florida High School Activities Association's Academic All-State Team and congratulate them on a job well done.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby recognize and applaud Nicholas R. Nestle from Mainland High School and Lisa Michelle Porter from Island Christian School for being selected as the 2000 Florida High School Activities Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee on this 25th day of July, 2000.

    JEB BUSH, GOVERNOR
    KATHERINE HARRIS, SECRETARY OF STATE
    BOB BUTTERWORTH, ATTORNEY GENERAL
    ROBERT F. MILLIGAN, COMPTROLLER
    BILL NELSON, TREASURER
    BOB CRAWFORD, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
    TOM GALLAGHER, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION"


To be eligible for nomination to the FHSAA Academic All-State Team a student must be a graduating senior, must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during his or her junior and senior years, and must have achieved a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or higher. A total of 224 qualified nominees were considered for selection to this year's team, the sixth since the FHSAA began the program in 1995.

The Florida High School Activities Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of 615 middle, junior and senior high schools.

Contact:
Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
roberth@fhsaa.org
Members of the 2000 FHSAA Academic All-State Team are presented with a resolution adopted by the Florida Cabinet at its meeting Tuesday (July 25) in Tallahassee. From left, Cabinet members Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture; Katherine Harris, Secretary of State; Robert F. Milligan, Comptroller; Jeb Bush, Governor; Tom Gallagher, Commissioner of Education; Bob Butterworth, Attorney General; Bill Nelson, Treasurer; Academic All-State Team members Connor Duffy, St. John Neumann High School; Victoria Borchers, Pace High School; Nicholas Nestle, Mainland High School; Kimberly Watson, Chiefland High School; Gordon Markham, Boone High School; Kathryn Gille, Osceola High School (Seminole); and Evan Hentschel, Jesuit High School.