This marks the 10th consecutive year that The Laker/Lutz News has published the names of every high school graduate in our local communities.
The Class of 2017 amounts to more than 3,500 graduates in the eight high schools our community newspapers cover.
In Pasco County, these graduates are from Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Zephyrhills high schools. And, in Hillsborough County, our graduates are from Steinbrenner and Freedom.
Names of graduates are listed by school, in alphabetical order, in our Graduation Section beginning on page 5. You will find graduate names from the two high schools closest to where you live, and also the names of valedictorians and salutatorians from these schools.
In addition to graduates from our public schools, you also will find the names of graduates from three private schools in our community — Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School and Land O’ Lakes Christian School.
You don’t have to be a graduate, or relative of a graduate, to enjoy looking though our Grad Section. It can be fun, even rewarding, to find names of kids you know from your neighborhood, friends and acquaintances, church, community groups, sports teams and recreational activities.
And, when you find a graduate you know, honor them by sending a congratulatory text, or better yet, give them a personal call. Congratulate your graduate for accomplishing an important goal in his or her life — one that is an essential stepping stone, as they go on to achieve many more.
Graduates of the Class of 2017 have worked for years to fulfill the requirements to qualify for graduation.
And, they are why today’s paper is important.
Graduating from high school is a monumental accomplishment that will set these students on a path to success.
We applaud the Class of 2017.
Published May 17, 2017
