Tampa Bay Area’s Top Thirteen STEM Students Honored at Sunshine State Scholars Conference
May 21, 2018
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Tampa Bay Area’s Top Thirteen STEM Students Honored at Sunshine State Scholars Conference
Tallahassee, Fla., May 21, 2018 – The Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation recognized 13 of the Tampa Bay area’s highest-achieving eleventh grade STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students at the Sunshine State Scholars conference held May 17-18. The two-day conference, presented by Lockheed Martin, celebrated the accomplishments of Florida’s elite students and provided a unique venue for the state’s colleges, universities and employers to recruit their talents.
“I am delighted to honor these Sunshine State Scholars for their outstanding academic accomplishments and congratulate them on being selected to represent their school districts,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “During the two-day conference, they had an opportunity to explore the many higher education and career opportunities available right here in Florida. I sincerely hope they elect to pursue their postsecondary dreams in the best state in the nation to get a good education.”
Listed below are the scholars in the Tampa Bay area who were recognized as the highest-achieving eleventh grade students.
- Citrus County
- Vaishnavi Karanam, Lecanto High School
- Hernando County
- Nathaniel Toler, Springstead High School
- Hillsborough County
- William P. Kirby, Newsome High School
- Aaron J. Pendino, Bloomingdale Senior High School
- Sean Williams, H.B. Plant High School
- Pasco County
- Eugenia Alexeyeva, Gulf High School
- Chin Chin Choi, Wiregrass Ranch High School
- Pinellas County
- Caitlyn Coleman, Countryside High School
- William Kline, Lakewood High School
- Elizabeth Nguyen, Dixie Hollins High School
- Polk County
- Katie Achinger, Harrison School of the Arts
- Maria de Jesus Gonzalez, Bartow High School
- Jessica S Luongo, Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School
Event sponsors for this year’s Sunshine State Scholars program include Lockheed Martin, AT&T, Universal Orlando, Blue Man Group, Florida Lottery, Helios Education Foundation, Kyra Solutions, SeaWorld Parks & Resorts, Florida Department of Education – School Choice Office, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, University of West Florida, Polytechnic University, New College of Florida, and Saint Leo University.
For a list of scholars and more information about the event, visit Sunshine State Scholars.
About the Florida Education Foundation
As a valued partner to public education, the Florida Education Foundation’s mission is to invest in high achievement for every student to contribute to Florida's globally competitive workforce. The Foundation is the direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education.
For more information, visit Florida Education Foundation.
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