The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Cypress Creek High School

Old Pasco Road meeting set

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Pasco County is anticipating that a four-lane divided road will be needed to accommodate future traffic on Old Pasco Road, from County Road 54 to State Road 52.

Options being considered for widening the road will be on exhibit at a community meeting this week.

County staff and consultants will be hand at the meeting to provide details, answer questions and give the public an opportunity to comment on the options being considered.

This map depicts the project limits for a project the county expects will be needed to handle additional traffic on Old Pasco Road. The public is invited to learn more about options being considered and to offer comments and ideas at an open house-style meeting on July 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Those wishing to learn more are encouraged to drop by any time during the open house-style meeting to review aerial maps, conceptual plans of the widening and alternatives.

The meeting will be on July 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road, in Wesley Chapel.

Details about the options were provided by the county to The Laker/Lutz News.

According to that information, the county currently is performing a Route Study and Pond Siting Analysis to evaluate the impacts of widening of Old Pasco Road, within the study area.

Alternatives being considered include a typical urban section (curb and gutter) from County Road 54 to Blair Drive and an urban or suburban section from Blair Drive to State Road 52.

Improvements also will include potential signalization of several intersections, on-street bicycle lanes, a sidewalk on one side of the road, a multi-use path on the other side, and drainage improvements, according to the county.

In addition to a No Build option, there are two other alternatives under consideration.

  • Alternative 1: This alternative closely matches the horizontal alignment and right of way width of the recommended alternative shown in the original Old Pasco Road Original Route Studies, which were approved by the Pasco County Commission in March 2001 and April 2003.

This option, from Country Road 54 to Quail Hollow Boulevard, applies the Urban Narrow Typical Section (100 feet of right of way) and acquires right of way along the west side of Old Pasco Road while utilizing existing slope/drainage easements.

From Quail Hollow Boulevard to Blair Drive, this alternative applies the Urban Standard Typical Section (128 feet of right of way).

From Blair Drive northward to State Road 52, it applies the Suburban Typical Section (158 feet of right of way) with a curb and gutter in the median and paved shoulders with parallel ditches on the outside.

Near the Cypress Creek High School, to avoid complete reconstruction of the existing two-lane roadway, this alternative applies a Rural Widening Typical Section (164.5 feet of right of way) with inside travel lane widening/shoulders, and milling and resurfacing of the existing travel lane/outside shoulders.

  • Alternative 2: This alternative considers revised typical sections and horizontal alignments to further minimize the impacts of Alternative 1.

From County Road 54 to Quail Hollow Boulevard, this alternative applies the Urban Narrow Typical Section (110 feet minimum right of way) and acquires right of way along the west side of Old Pasco Road while utilizing existing slope easements.

From Quail Hollow Boulevard northward to State Road. 52, this alternative applies the Urban Standard Typical Section (128 feet minimum right of way).

Near the Cypress Creek High School, to avoid complete reconstruction of the existing two-lane roadway, this alternative applies the Urban Widening Typical Section (164.5 feet of right of way) with inside travel lane widening/shoulders, milling and resurfacing of the existing travel lane and construction of bike lanes and outside curb and gutter.

The alignment follows the previous 2001 and 2003 route study recommendations:

  • West-shifted from County Road 54 to south of Country Club Road
  • East-shifted from south of Country Club Road to south of Boom Boom Drive
  • West-shifted from south of Boom Boom Drive to north of Bonnie Blue Drive
  • East-shifted from north of Bonnie Blue Drive to north of Deedra Drive
  • Centered/realigned to eliminate sharp curves from north of Deedra Drive to south of Sonny Drive
  • East-shifted from south of Sonny Drive to 1,600 feet north of Overpass Road
  • West-shifted from 1,600 feet north of Overpass Road to State Road 52

Portions of the required road right of way have already been acquired south of Overpass Road. All required road right of way has been acquired north of Overpass Road to State Road 52. Right of way for 12 of the 14 pond sites already has been acquired within the corridor.

The county currently has funding for the following phases of the project within its 10-year capital improvement program:

  • Design phase: Fiscal Years 2022/2023: This is slightly behind schedule
  • Right of way acquisition: Fiscal Years 2024/2025
  • Construction: Fiscal Years 2026/2027

Those unable to attend the meeting can review the materials on display at bit.ly3bwVOGr.

The public is welcome to comment on the project by completing an online comment form at bit.ly/3OaDPmS.

Published July 27, 2022

Pasco Schools superintendent won’t seek another term

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced he will not seek reelection, when his current term ends in 2024.

Browning was elected as superintendent by defeating incumbent Heather Fiorentino in the primary election of 2012 and by defeating write-in candidate Kathy Lambert in the general election.

Before running for superintendent of Pasco Schools, Browning served as Florida’s Secretary of State under governors Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning will not seek reelection, when his current term expires in 2024. (File)

Before that, he was Pasco County’s Supervisor of Elections for 26 years.

The schools superintendent announced his decision to not seek a fourth term in a June 2 YouTube video.

Browning said a variety of factors played a role in his decision, including many personal reasons.

“My wife, Kathy, is contemplating retirement and we have grandchildren who live out of state. “We want to be free to visit them more a lot more than we do.

“Some of the reasons are professional. I believe we are nearing the point where we will accomplish many of the goals I set out when I was first elected.

“Another reason? Well, it’s kind of a cliché, but you just know when it’s time.

“I am now in the  middle of my third term as superintendent. When I complete my term at the end of 2024, I will have served for 12 years.

“The tenure of superintendents these days is around five to six years. I can understand why so many of my colleagues move on, after five years or so.

“This job has been challenging and it has been gratifying. I have benefited from a supportive community and a great staff. And, without both, I never would have made it this far,” he said.

“I’m extremely proud of so many things we’ve accomplished. We’ve expanded school choice, with innovative programs.

“We have done an amazing job managing growth.

“We weathered the pandemic better than most.

“And, all along, we kept the finances in order.

“But this is not a time to look backwards.

“I am determined to spend the rest of my term looking forward.

“We have so much more to get done, and I hope my announcement today will instill an even greater sense of urgency.

“I definitely feel that sense of urgency.

“We have work to do and I intend to finish strong,” he said.

When Browning came into office, he said he wanted to create a school system with more choices for parents and students.

During his tenure, the district has expanded educational options for students, by adding more magnet schools and more magnet programs. It also has increased participation rates in rigorous courses.

Under Browning, in concert with the elected school board, the district also has expanded opportunities for students wishing to pursue technical career options.

Some highlights during Browning’s administration include the opening of Starkey Ranch K-8 in Odessa. This was the first district school specifically designed to serve kindergartner through eighth-graders.

Through a collaborative partnership involving the school board, Pasco County and the developer of the Starkey Ranch community, the school was deigned to include a library, open to the public, as well as to students; a theater, which can be used for school and community performances; and, a district park, which provides facilities for both public and student use.

The district also partnered with Pasco-Hernando State College on a project to locate the state college’s  Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) on a campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School, also in Wesley Chapel.

Students in the school system can take advantage of IPAC’s programs and facilities. There’s a direct tie-in to the programming offered by the school district, too. Cypress Creek Middle has a black box theater.

In the coming school year, the school district intends to open Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, also in the Wesley Chapel area. That school will feature a broad range of technical training programs, along with academic offerings.

The district also has begun construction on a 6-12 STEAM magnet (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) school.

The school is being built on a site in the heart of Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

When fully developed the cancer research hub is expected to attract life science companies and researchers from around the world to pursue breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer.

While the district has made strides, it also has faced increasing criticism from speakers during its public school board meetings. Issues sparking controversy have included mask mandates on school campuses, money spent on professional training, textbook selection and the timing of a referendum intended to generate funding for raises for non-administrative district personnel.

On another front, soon after Browning announced his departure in 2024, former State Sen. John Legg pre-filed with the Pasco Supervisor of Elections, declaring his intention to seek the post.

Legg has served in the state’s Senate and in its House of Representatives, and is the co-founder and chief financial officer of Day Spring Academy.

The charter school, which serves pre-school through 12th grade, has five campuses.

Published June 15, 2022

Arts center deemed ‘jewel’ in community

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It’s grand-opening celebration may have been delayed, but enthusiasm for Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) Instructional Performing Arts Center was riding high during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility.

Pasco-Hernando State College Dr. Timothy L. Beard, along with Celyse Dahdal, president of the PHSC Student Government Association, share the over-sized scissors during the Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) ribbon-cutting. Marilyn Pearson-Adams, center, chair of the PHSC District Board of Trustees, Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost Porter of Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore were among other dignitaries and special guests. (Fred Bellet)

The performing arts facility, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, opened quietly in the summer of 2021.

It provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the performing and technical arts. It also offers a venue for performances and creates a new place for the community to enjoy the arts.

The center’s grand-opening celebration was held on Jan. 7 — belatedly because of COVID-19 concerns.

The event included a ribbon-cutting, a reception and tours of the facility.

It also featured remarks from numerous speakers, including Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College; Mike Moore, the District 2 representative on the Pasco County Commission; Cynthia Armstrong, chairwoman of the Pasco County School Board; Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools; Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Celyse Dahdal, president of PHSC’s student government; and, Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center.

Bringing the project to fruition involved the efforts of many people.

Armstrong, however, singled out college leadership and the school district’s deputy superintendent Gadd for “thinking out of the box.”

An obviously happy Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center, makes her way to the microphone to talk about the important role that IPAC will play in students’ lives.

Gadd was persistent in the pursuit of the project, she said, noting he wanted to know: “How can we make this a reality? How can we find a place to build it? How can we incorporate it into our school system?”

For his part, Gadd recalled the supersized role played by former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford.

Gadd recalled: “Speaker Weatherford called me on the phone one day and he said, ‘Ray, we need some kind of performing art theater or arena in Pasco County. Can you help me out?’”

The Instructional Performing Arts Center is an eye-catching sight.

Gadd said he went about collecting floor plans from various performing arts venues and estimating costs.

He gave Weatherford a breakdown: “This is what we can get for $20 million. This is what we can get for $30 million, this is what we can get for $60 million…”

In the end, Pasco County Schools donated a 6-acre parcel to PHSC, on the campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School.

And, the state college covered the cost of the $20 million project, and PHSC also is responsible for the facility’s operations.

Gadd praised Harvard Jolly and Creative Contractors for using their combined talents and expertise to create a facility that he calls “a beauty.”

“This is a jewel in this community,” Gadd said.

Wiregrass Ranch High School students Marissa Adams, 16, and Alieah Diaz, 15, both members of the Principal’s Quartet, listen to Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, as he addresses the crowd.

The deputy superintendent added: “This is an example of what happens when government works together.”

Armstrong told the crowd she toured the building last year and left feeling impressed.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, played a key role in bringing the vision of the performing arts center to fruition. He described the facility as a ‘jewel’ in the community.

The design is both creative and cost-efficient, she said.

“You walk into the classrooms, and you see how they convert into dance studios and music studios and bigger practice areas. It is just truly amazing that the students that go here can get all of their education, including their specialties, right in one building.

“And then, the theater itself is just amazing,” she said, referring to the 444-seat Weatherford Theater.

The facility not only enhances the school district’s performing arts programs, Armstrong said, but also gives students who are interested in those pursuits an opportunity to remain local, if they wish to continue their education in the arts.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore took a little trip down memory lane, as he addressed the crowd.

“This hits home with me because I was a communications major at Polk Community College, which is now Polk State College.

“I actually interned at a facility very similar to this. I spent my time learning how to work lighting, do the soundboard, being a stagehand and helping those performers behind the scenes.”

Saying there is no other facility like IPAC in the immediate area, Moore thanked area lawmakers for helping to secure the funding for the project.

Speakers from PHSC also shared their enthusiasm about the opportunities that IPAC presents.

The facility offers three Associate in Arts (AA) performing arts curriculum pathways for students who plan to transfer to a Florida public university to complete a bachelor’s degree in dance, theater or music.

It also offers an Associate in Science (AS) degree in digital media and multimedia technology with six college credit certificates.

The 36,000-square-foot facility includes a fully digital system, with the latest in lighting and sound support.

Freelance photographer Fred Bellet contributed to this report.

Published January 26, 2022

Celebrating history, through art

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Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) kicked off 2022 and the first celebration of PHSC’s 50th anniversary, with the unveiling of the college’s first commissioned artwork.

Artist S. Blake Harrison explains the process he used to create a mural commissioned by Pasco-Hernando State College that incorporates much of Wesley Chapel’s history, during an unveiling of the piece at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. (Fred Bellet)

A reception and ribbon-cutting were held to showcase “Double Branch,” a 4 foot by 16 foot work, by artist S. Blake Harrison.

The program featured Dr. Timothy Beard, college president; Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Madonna Jervis Wise, a local historian and author; Dr. Lisa Richardson, executive director of the Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation; Andrew Beman-Cavallaro, associate director of libraries for the college; Janet Schalk, a PHSC librarian; and Harrison, the mural artist, who is based in Micanopy.

The college’s foundation paid for the mural, which honors the history and progress of Wesley Chapel, and commemorates PHSC’s golden anniversary.

Local historian Madonna Jervis Wise gave the audience a glimpse of Wesley Chapel’s colorful history. She included a photograph of Bruce B. Downs, the man for whom a now-heavily traveled road in Wesley Chapel was named. At one point, long before the community’s burgeoning growth, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was known as ‘the road to nowhere.’

The 4 foot by 16 foot mural is believed to the largest mural in Wesley Chapel, O’ Farrell said, in his opening remarks at the Jan. 5 ceremony. It is displayed on a wall in the fourth-floor lobby of Building D, on the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, at 2727 Mansfield Blvd.

The provost said much research and thought went into the creation of the mural, which includes elements inspired by “Images of America: Wesley Chapel,” a local history book written by Madonna Jervis Wise.

The author said that unlike Zephyrhills and Dade City — which both have city governments, historic buildings and established town centers — Wesley Chapel offered no clear place for her to begin her research.

So, she relied on her background in genealogy to help her find descendants of families with deep roots in Wesley Chapel.

She began her quest by tracking down Marco Edward Stanley, of Gainesville, who arranged for Wise to interview his mother, 95-year-old Lillie Sapp Stanley.

That interview led to others, and ultimately Wise was able to tell the story of the community. Her book chronicles the various names the community has been known by through the years; its turpentine, lumber, moonshine and ranching industries; where the residents attended church, where they went to school and what they did for fun.

Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus, discusses some of the elements featured in the mural. The work was done on plywood, using acrylic paint.

“We relied so heavily on Madonna’s work and her historical research, and that really inspired Blake to take those images and take those concepts and put together something that is as beautiful as this large, 4-by-16, piece of commissioned art,” O’ Farrell said.

Andrew Beman-Cavallaro, associate director of libraries, credited librarian Janet Schalk for working closely with Harrison on the project.

The artist expressed gratitude to Schalk for her guidance and to Wise for her work to preserve local history.

He said the mural’s panels reflect a narrative through art, featuring the area’s natural beauty, including trees and wildlife; its industry, including moonshine and trains; and its educational history, including the Porter campus and the college’s new Instructional Performing Arts Center, known as IPAC.

Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, a featured speaker during the celebration, praised the mural created by artist S. Blake Harrison, extolling its size, vibrant colors and its potential to be a source of inspiration for others.

The college president was enthusiastic about the result of Harrison’s work.

“This is just an awesome piece of art,” Beard said, marveling at its size, vibrant colors and ingenuity.

“This event is the very first event associated with our 50th anniversary, to be celebrated officially July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023,” Beard said.

“Certainly we’ve come a long way,” the college president continued, “from having classes in backrooms, storefronts and churches.

“At PHSC, we promote and support many innovative, worthwhile programs that advance health, science and technology. But most recently, we have also embraced the arts, as never before,” Beard said.

He pointed to the college’s newly opened IPAC, as an example, of that new commitment.

The facility is dedicated to instruction in the performing arts, including music, theater and dance, as well as instruction in the digital arts.

It, too, is located in Wesley Chapel — next to Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School — at 8657 Old Pasco Road.

Published January 19, 2022

Area athletes shine at state golf championships

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Simply qualifying for Florida’s high school state golf championship tournament is an achievement in itself.

The Cypress Creek High School varsity girls golf team took seventh place in the 2A state competition. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School athletics department)

It’s an opportunity reserved for just 48 teams of boys and 48 teams of girls across three classifications.

The championship tournament also is open to individual qualifiers.

Hundreds competed, out of thousands of prep golfers — in an opportunity to showcase their skills among the state’s elite.

Three teams and three individuals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area had the chance to show off their skills at the 2021 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state golf championships, from Nov. 9 through Nov. 17.

The event took place at Mission Inn Resort & Club, in Howey-in-the-Hills.

Boys competed at the Lake County resort’s 6,764-yard par-72 El Campeon course. Girls took on the 5,455-yard, par-72 Las Colinas course.

The Cypress Creek High School varsity boys golf team finished in sixth place in the 2A state finals.

The most notable showing came from Cypress Creek High School’s varsity golf program, in the Class 2A state tournament.

The boys squad finished sixth among 16 teams, while the girls program finished seventh, also among 16 teams.

The Coyotes boys are coached by Dennis Martin, while the girls are coached by Rob Patterson.

Cypress Creek sophomore Connor Newbold recorded the best score among all local golfers — carding a 5-over par across two rounds (74-75 — 149) to finish fifth out of 95 golfers in the 2A event.

The only golfers who topped Newbold in the 2A tournament were Broward American Heritage’s Luke Clanton (72-69—141), Tampa Jesuit’s Carter Dill (69-77 — 146) and Andrew Siffert (77-70 — 147) and Delray Beach American Heritage’s Jason Shwartz (71-77 — 148).

The Sunlake High School varsity girls golf team finished in 10th place in the 3A state finals. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School athletics department)

Other Cypress Creek boys golfers included Daniel Polce (tied 30th, +18), Trey Sasser (tied 66th, +32), Joaquin Parrilla (tied 70th, +34) and Levi Wade (93rd, +58).

Meantime, the Cypress Creek girls were paced by junior Carmen Phousirith, who shot a 16-over par across 36 holes (78-82 — 160) to finish 17th among 96 golfers in the 2A competition.

Her teammates included Tiffany Colin (tied 24th, +19), Annamarie Ratican (tied 37th, +27), Addison Noll (91st, +81) and Jillian Scott (94th, +89).

Carrollwood Day School seventh-grader Elyse Meerdink (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School athletics department)

The state tournament otherwise wrapped up a strong season for both Cypress Creek squads, as the girls team won district and regional titles, and the boys won a district title and were regional runner-up.

The other area team that qualified for the state golf meet was the Sunlake High School varsity girls, who finished 10th(out of 16 schools) in the 3A event.

Sophomore Alyssa Mixon paced the Seahawks with a 7-over par across two rounds (72-79 — 151), earning her a tie for seventh place with Naples Gulf Coast freshman Ann-Sophie Bourgault.

Golfers who finished ahead of Mixon and Bourgault in 2A, in order, were, Lake Mary’s Izzy Pellot (64-71 — 135), Forest’s Haley Davis (69-72 — 141), Lake Mary’s Ryleigh Knaub (72-72 — 144), Niceville’s Gracie Grant (72-76 — 148), St. Cloud’s Morgan Beaulieu (73-75 — 148) and Niceville’s Peyton Maraman (72-77 — 149).

Sunlake High School senior Cody Williams, left, alongside coach Bob Kamps. (File)

Sunlake senior Taylor Zachary wasn’t far behind.

She shot a 9-over par (76-77 — 153), good enough for an 11th place tie with Orlando Dr. Phillips sophomore Elan Zhang.

Other Seahawks golfers included Hailey Stricker (tied 76th, +53), Helena Potter (tied 88th, +53) and Hannah Mathis (92nd, +61).

Besides team play, there were three individual qualifiers from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Carrollwood Day School seventh-grader Elyse Meerdink carded an 11-over par ( to finish tied for 40th in the 1A girls event.

She made headlines back in April when she won the National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Georgia) as a sixth-grader competing in the 10- to 11-year-old age group. She was one of 80 boys and girls from across the nation to qualify for the event held at the site of the Masters Tournament.

Academy at the Lakes junior Tristin Perkins carded a 14-over par (79-79 — 158) to finish 40th in the 1A boys event.

Sunlake senior Cody Williams shot an 18-over par (79-83 — 162) to finish 57th in the 3A boys competition.

Class 3A
Boys
Individual qualifier(s)
Cody Williams, Sunlake (57th) 79-83 — 162

Girls
Sunlake (10th place, out of 16 schools)
Alyssa Mixon (tied 7th) 72-79 — 151
Taylor Zachary (tied 11th) 76-77 — 153
Hailey Stricker (tied 76th) 94-90 — 184
Helena Potter (tied 88th) 94-103 — 197
Hannah Mathis (92nd) 101-104 — 205

Class 2A
Boys
Cypress Creek (sixth place, out of 16 schools)
Connor Newbold (fifth) 74-75 — 149
Daniel Polce (tied 30th) 82-81 — 163
Trey Sasser (tied 66th) 87-89 — 176
Joaquin Parrilla (tied 70th) 92-86 — 178
Levi Wade (93rd) 108-94 — 202

Girls
Cypress Creek (seventh place, out of 16 schools)
Carmen Phousirith (17th) 78-82 — 160
Tiffany Colin (tied 24th) 82-81 — 163
Annamarie Ratican (tied 37th) 79-92 — 171
Addison Noll (91st) 115-110 — 225
Jillian Scott (94th) 113-120 — 233

Class 1A
Boys
Individual qualifier(s)
Tristin Perkins, Academy at the Lakes (40th) 79-79 — 158

Girls
Individual qualifier(s)
Elyse Meerdink, Carrollwood Day School (tied 40th) 75-80 — 155

Published December 08, 2021

Sunlake boys finish third at state cross-country championships

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The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team continued to show itself as among the state’s elite distance running programs and tops in Pasco County, and in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Seahawks finished in third place out of 32 schools in Class 3A at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.

The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team finished third in the Class 3A state championship meet, representing the best finish among all local schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. From left: Nathan Lee, Cason Meyer, Cade Culpepper, Alex Pena, Colby Robbins, Maximillian Goserud and Cody Smith. (Courtesy of Randal Reeves)

The 3A team crown went to Miami’s Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, which tallied 42 points after its top five runners went second, ninth, 10th, 14th and 17th place, respectively. It represents that private school’s fifth-consecutive state title and 13th all-time.

Second place went to Fort Myers High School, who tallied 132 points after its top-five finished seventh, 22nd, 37th, 44th and 50th.

Sunlake wasn’t far behind.

They tallied 151 points, as its fleet went third, 16th, 23rd, 58th, and 76th in the 3.1-mile course on Nov. 12.

Rounding out the top five team finishers were Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas High School (201 points) and Naples High School (235 points), respectively.

Junior Alex Pena — who paced Sunlake with a third-place individual finish — broke the 16-minute mark by clocking a 15:46.8, a 5:04 per mile pace.

The lone runners in the 3A meet who finished ahead of Pena were Leon High School sophomore Patrick Koon (first place, 15:23.8) and Belen Jesuit sophomore Joshua Ruiz (second, 15:37.4).

Following Pena for Sunlake were seniors Colby Robbins (16:21.3) and Cason Meyer (16:21.3); freshman Cade Culpepper (17:03.1); and, senior Maximillian Goserud (17:16.9).

The Seahawks sixth and seventh varsity runners — whose scores aren’t tallied in the results — were junior Nathan Lee (17:47.7) and senior Cody Smith (18:16.7).
The timed average for the Sunlake boys was 16:36, equating to an average pace of 5:21 per mile. There was just a 1:31 gap between its No. 1 through No. 5 runners.

The Seahawks, coached by Randal Reeves, racked up a number of other accolades during the season — altogether sweeping conference, district and regional team titles.

Robbins took individual crowns at each of those three meets. This included recording the fastest time in county history (and setting a new Sunlake record) with a 15:14 mark on the school’s 5K home course at the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) meet on Oct. 20.

The 2021 (FHSAA) Florida High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships was held Nov. 12 at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

Other individuals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area also fared well in the 3A boys meet.

Cypress Creek High School junior Zack Poekert finished sixth overall, timing 16:05.

Zephyrhills High School sophomore William Poe took 26th, clocking 16:35.

The meet featured 234 runners.

Several local teams and individuals exhibited solid showings at the state finals across other classifications, too.

The Wharton High School varsity girls yielded the next best local team showing — finishing 10th in the Class 4A meet.

The Wildcats were paced by senior Brooke Reif — a University of Richmond signee — who finished fourth among all individual 4A girls, after running an 18:49.2, an average pace of 6:03 per mile.

The Sunlake girls went 14th in the 3A meet, while the Land O’ Lakes High School girls collected a 26th place finish.
The Steinbrenner High School boys program went 24th in the 4A contest.F
Land O’ Lakes native Elli Black — a home-schooled seventh-grader who runs for Tampa Cambridge Christian School — finished state third overall in the 1A girls meet, posting 18:26.4. The other state qualifying girls individual was Wiregrass Ranch freshman Ava Schmitt (48th, 20:27.3, 4A girls).

Roundup of local teams and individuals at the 2021 FHSAA Cross Country State Championships:

Boys

4A
Steinbrenner (24th)

Ronald Aeschleman, senior (57th, 16:52)

Sawyer Raveling, senior (111th, 17:37.1)

Jaden Simpson, senior (124th, 17:46.0)

Jacob Smith, junior (169th, 18:25.4)

Joaquin Abanses, freshman (170th, 18:26.3)

Brady Peifer, freshman (172nd, 18:28.3)

Eion McDarby, senior (212th, 19:49.7)

3A
Sunlake (third)
Alex Pena, junior (third, 15:46.8)

Colby Robbins, senior (16th, 16:21.3)

Cason Meyer, senior (23rd, 16:31.8)

Cade Culpepper, freshman (58th, 17:03.1)

Maximillian Goserud, senior (76th, 17:16.9)

Nathan Lee, junior (110th, 17:47.7)

Cody Smith, senior (148th, 18:16.7)

Indvidual(s)

Cypress Creek: Zack Poekert, junior (sixth, 16:05)

Zephyrhills: William Poe, sophomore (26th, 16:35.5)

 2A

No local teams or individual runners

 1A
No local teams or individual runners

 Girls

Class 4A
Wharton (10th)

Brooke Reif, senior (fourth, 18:49.2)

Alexi Amer, senior (51st, 20:30.8)

Alexandria Frye, senior (81st, 20:56.5)

Olivia Hammill, junior (109th, 21:18.3)

Aubrey Raile, junior (127th, 21:46.6)

Keira Moody, freshman (191st, 23:27.7)

Dana Robinson, senior (209th, 24:22.9)

 Individual(s)

Wiregrass Ranch: Ava Schmitt, freshman (48th, 20:27.3)

3A
Sunlake (14th)

Sara Ellingson, senior (54th, 20:15.7)

Shelby Viseur, senior (77th, 20:39.9)

Avery Pham, sophomore (78th, 20:41.1)

Abigail Williams, sophomore (89th, 20:49.8)

Jaiden Wickert, junior (128th, 21:35.8)

Emma Burleson, senior (145th, 21:57.8)

Ally Moyer, sophomore (165th, 22:22.6)

Land O’ Lakes (26th)

Maranda Hildebrand, senior (88th, 20:48.9)

Sara Ashley, senior (133th, 21:39.2)

Aileen Castillo, sophomore (152nd, 22:04.0)

Dixie Blessing, freshman (169th, 22:43.5)

Ava Adriana, sophomore (171st, 22:47.0)

Grace Connoy, sophomore (200th, 23:38.6)

Alli Laffler, freshman (202nd, 23:40.9)

 1A
Individual (s)

Elli Black, Cambridge Christian (Land O’ Lakes resident), eighth grade (third, 18:26.4)

Published Nov. 24, 2021

IPAC: A place to sing, to act, to learn and entertain

By

When Lauren Murray heard about the opportunity to assume the leadership role at Pasco-Hernando State College’s new Instructional Performing Arts Center — she immediately recognized the possibilities.

She knew the position would give her a chance to use the knowledge and experience she’s accumulated through her professional life.

This sweeping roof is at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, also known as IPAC, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. In addition to being a teaching facility, it is expected to offer a variety of performances for the community to enjoy. (Fred Bellet)

And, she understood the center’s enormous potential.

Not only will it prepare students for future careers in the performing and technical arts, but it also will provide a venue for performing arts groups and it will create a new place for the community to enjoy the arts, said Murray, a Tampa native with more than 20 years of administrative and academic experience in higher education and the performing arts.

To say she’s excited about her new job would be putting it mildly.

Although it will take some time to get the facility operating in full gear, the college has been giving tours to offer visitors a glimpse of the center’s features and talk up its potential uses.

Photographer Fred Bellet represented The Laker/Lutz News on one of those tours and Murray provided details about the facility for this story.

Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, offers details about the facility during a media tour. In the background, on stage, 16-year-old Brooke Herrera prepares to play guitar and sing. Herrera is a dual-enrolled high school and college student at PHSC.

The center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road, shares a campus with Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School, in Wesley Chapel.

The $18 million project includes the 36,000-square-foot facility, complete with furnishings and state-of-the-art equipment, Murray said. It’s a fully digital system, with the latest available technology in lighting and sound support.

“It gives our students the opportunity to experience very new platforms and the things that are just being brought out right now. These will be the kinds of systems that they’ll be expected to know how to run when they’re out there in the real world,” she said.

The campus includes the 444-seat Weatherford Theater, named for former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, who played an instrumental role in obtaining funding for the facility.

A spacious music studio gives music director Justin Baggett plenty of room for students. Here, he leads a quintet practicing a piece by Mozart.

Murray is pleased with the size of the theater.

“We can get a decent crowd in there, but it’s pretty intimate, so every seat is terrific,” she said.

It also has excellent staging capabilities, and a projection screen that can be used for movies and presentations.

“This is going to be a real performing arts program, where we’ll have instrumental and vocal ensembles. We will have theater productions. We will have dance recitals and productions, as well,” Murray said.

The center’s dance studio has sprung wood floor, a sound system and video system and full wall of mirrors and barres.

The music studio has two acoustical sound rooms, where the acoustics of the room can be adjusted. It also has recording capabilities for practice sessions, so singers can listen to themselves to evaluate how well they are performing, said Murray, who herself is an accomplished oboist and most recently served as the music chair at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center in Tampa.

The high-gloss surface of the baby grand piano in the new Weatherford Theater reflects the image of prospective student Dale Master, of Tampa. Master took the public tour of the new IPAC and was invited to play the new instrument. The theater has 444 seats.

The drama studio features a large rehearsal space, which can be used in many ways, Murray said. Additionally, there’s a stage, a full costume studio and two full dressing rooms.

“Our lighting in our dressing rooms is LED, instead of those old bulbs that are 1000 degrees, so that‘s nice — so, your makeup doesn’t melt off,” she said.

The digital production studio has a full lighting grid, state-of-the-art cameras, a sound board, a lighting board and multiple computers.

And, there are two computer classrooms — equipped to prepare students for both the Mac and PC worlds.

In addition to providing opportunities for students, the community also will benefit from being able to enjoy a professional theater experience without having to drive downtown, Murray said.

Kevin O’Farrell, provost of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, right, stops by the technology lab and converses with students Cinthia Morrabal, of Port Richey, left, and Gretchen Samter, of Spring Hill.

Much work remains to bring the programming vision to life, she said, adding: “We’re still building our curriculum.”

She expects it to take about a year before students will be staging public performances.

But there will be public rentals for outside performance groups, and that’s expected to begin around September, she said.

The college also is likely to bring in outside performers for a ticketed series, and Murray looks forward to creating multicultural programming, as well.

Future plans also call for staging some outdoor performances.

Beyond what’s happening at IPAC, Murray expects opportunities to develop for its students to land internships or part-time jobs, on their path to careers in the arts.

Murray is delighted with the prospects of what lies ahead.

“It’s quite a thing to open a performing arts center. It’s expensive. It’s different. There’s a lot of new things that you have to figure out,” Murray said.

Jonathan Tietz, assistant professor of digital media, sets up the production booth, which is part of the facility’s video production lab.

“A lot of places are like: We can’t do that. We don’t have time for that. We don’t want to fund that,” she said.

That’s not true for PHSC’s commitment to IPAC, she said.

“The support that this place and these programs have here is so exciting. It is going to make it a great program because everybody is on board,” she said.

She’s thrilled about the opportunities the center is creating for students.

“The arts are a viable place to make your living. You do have to work and you do have to be creative to find different ways to make a living in the arts, but it’s still a wholly viable living,” Murray said.

Want to know about available classes? Visit PHSC.edu/academics.

Published June 02, 2021

Pasco All-Conference girls spring awards announced

By

High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2020-2021 spring sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West divisions.

The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in the East: Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Here is a listing of girls teams and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for lacrosse, softball, tennis, and track and field.

(NOTE: The Laker/Lutz News published the Boys All-Conference listings in its May 26 edition.)

Spring Sports (Girls)

The Cypress Creek High varsity girls lacrosse team earned a conference title en route to a 15-5 record this spring. (Courtesy of Jason Alvis)

SAC All-Conference Girls Lacrosse
Team Champion: Cypress Creek
Coach of the Year: Jason Alvis, Cypress Creek
Offensive Player of the Year: Luna Khatib, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Grace Young, Mitchell

First Team
Luna Khatib, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Chloe Norman, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Izzy Eby, Sunlake, sophomore
Maggie Mashke, Pasco, sophomore
Eva Risinger, Mitchell, sophomore
Avery Smith, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Grace Young, Mitchell, senior
Miranda Garcia, Cypress Creek, junior
Olivia Chappie, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Brianna Segars, Cypress Creek, senior
May Crisostomo, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Alexa Dusch, Mitchell, senior

Second Team
Megan Holleran, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Paige Peters, Mitchell, sophomore
Liberty Mermarian, Cypress Creek, junior
Sophia D’Amore, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Izzy Colon, River Ridge, sophomore
Kenzie Wilson, River Ridge, sophomore
Asja Miles, Pasco, senior
Olivia Dusch, Mitchell, sophomore
Caroline Johnson, Mitchell, sophomore
Kendall Smith, Cypress Creek, sophomore

The Cypress Creek varsity softball team earned a conference title, district title and was a regional semifinalist this season. The team finished its showy campaign with a 16-6 record. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Girls Softball
Team Champion: Cypress Creek High School
Coach of the Year: Jennelle Day, Cypress Creek
Player of the Year: Kendra Falby, Sunlake

First Team
Pitcher: Hailey Vazquez, Cypress Creek, senior
Catcher: Emma Nixon, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Infielder: Mandy Schwartz, Cypress Creek, junior
Infielder: Nehanda Lewis, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Infielder: Ashley Garrison, Wesley Chapel, senior
Infielder: Kylee Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Outfielder: Kendra Falby, Sunlake, senior
Outfielder: Briana Baer, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Outfielder: Kiersten Stevens, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Utility: Alexia Littleton, Wesley Chapel, junior

Sunlake High senior outfielder Kendra Falby was named 2021 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Softball Player of the Year. The University of Florida signee finished the spring campaign batting .678 with 14 extra-base hits and 29 stolen bases in 18 games. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Second Team
Pitcher: Mia Fields, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Catcher: Larken Maseda, Sunlake, junior
Infielder: Aliana Mercado, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Infielder: Kelsey Kadlub, Pasco, senior
Infielder: Bella Sanchez, Sunlake, senior
Infielder: Jillian Hudson, Cypress Creek, junior
Outfielder: Bella Mathis, Zephyrhills, junior
Outfielder: Ahmari Arca, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Outfielder: Emma Coon, Cypress Creek, senior
Utility: Mikayla Hoschack, Sunlake, senior

SAC East All-Conference Girls Tennis
Team Champion: Pasco High School
Coach of the Year: Michael Wilks, Pasco
Player of the Year: Alex Barath, Pasco

First Team
Natalia Rivera, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Alex Barath, Pasco, senior
Kasey Lang, Pasco, freshman
Sydney West, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Kobi Page, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second Team
Madison Meeker, Pasco, sophomore
Chloe Marton, Sunlake, senior
Emma Franken, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Navaeh McCullough, Zephyrhills, sophomore
Susie Rom, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Adelaide Ward, Cypress Creek, junior
Piper Dunn, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Wiregrass Ranch High School junior Catherine Fleming was named 2021 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Girls Track Athlete of the Year. In addition to winning individual conference titles in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and high jump, she also was a qualifer at the 4A state championship meet. (Courtesy of Speed Star Track/Running Club)

SAC East All-Conference Girls Track & Field
Team Champion: Sunlake High School
Coach of the Year: Brett Hodros, Sunlake
Track Athlete of the Year: Catherine Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch
Field Athlete of the Year: Dani Vance, Sunlake

First Team
4×800 relay: Sunlake — Caitlyn Culpepper, junior; Cathryne Newport, senior; Ashley Spires, senior; Shelby Viseur, junior
110 hurdles: Kat Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
100 dash: Tiffany Colin, Cypress Creek, sophomore
1,600 run: Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
4×100 relay: Land O’ Lakes — Nadine Howard, senior; Layla Martinez, freshman; Kylie Denney, senior; Nehanda Lewis, junior
400 dash: Khalil Maryam, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
300 hurdles: Kat Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
800 run: Maranda Hildebrand, Land O’ Lakes, junior
200 dash: Tiffany Colin, Cypress Creek, sophomore
3,200 run: Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
4×400 relay: Sunlake — Jacinda Smith, sophomore; Ashley Spires, senior; Lizzie Epps, junior; Cathryne Newport, senior
Shot put: Giany Ruiz, Sunlake, freshman
Pole vault: Lizzie Epps, Sunlake, junior
High jump: Kat Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Long jump: LaTia Dove, Wesley Chapel, junior
Triple Jump: Taylor Graces, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Discus: McKenna Gilpin, Sunlake, junior
Javelin: Dani Vance, Sunlake, senior

Sunlake High senior Dani Vance, left, was named 2021 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Girls Field Athlete of the Year. She won a 3A state title in javelin, tossing 119-6. Also pictured is Sunlake varsity girls track coach Brett Hodros, who was named 2021 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Girls Track Coach of the Year. The Sunlake girls track program won conference and district titles this season. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

Second Team
4×800 relay: Land O’ Lakes — Sara Ashley, junior; Aileen Castillo, freshman; Ava Adriana, freshman; Maranda Hildebrand, junior
110 meter: Jada Cole, Land O’ Lakes, senior
100 dash: Layla Martinez, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
1,600 run: Carlie Ortiz, Cypress Creek, freshman
4×100 relay: Wesley Chapel — Annalise Rogers, junior; Remiyah Harris, junior; Ameria Christopher, senior; La Tia Dove, junior
400 dash: Llanes Maya, Zephyrhills, junior
300 hurdles: Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, senior
800 run: Caitlyn Culpepper, Sunlake, junior
200 dash: LaTia Dove, Wesley Chapel, junior
3,200 run: Abigail Williams, Sunlake, freshman
4×400 relay: Wesley Chapel — Annalise Rogers, junior; Remiyah Harris, junior; Katherine Kirkwood, junior; LaTia Dove, junior
Shot put: Laylah Kibler, Sunlake, senior
Pole vault: Jenifer Estrada, Sunlake, freshman
High jump: Laylah Kibler, Sunlake, senior
Long jump: Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, senior
Triple jump: Emily Wynacht, Sunlake, junior
Discus: Erin Welch, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Javelin: Tania Estrada, Sunlake, senior

Honorable mention
Agnes Hernandez, Pasco, senior

Published June 02, 2021

Growth pressures being felt on Old Pasco Road

By

The Pasco County Commission voted last week to continue a hearing on a rezoning request by Victorious Life Assembly of God Inc., for a 122-unit subdivision off Old Pasco Road, 250 feet south of Overpass Road.

The application — which was accompanied by a request to deviate from some of the county’s land development code — received pushback from county board members.

Commissioner Mike Moore wants to know when Old Pasco Road will be widened. He’s concerned about the amount of new development happening along the two-lane road.

Commissioner Mike Moore made a motion to continue the hearing until June 8, after technical problems made it impossible for commissioners to understand what the applicant’s representatives were saying — as they attempted to participate remotely.

Moore said he didn’t understand why the developer’s representatives were not present at the meeting, since in-person appearances are no longer prohibited due to concerns about COVID-19.

“I think this item should be continued until we can have the applicant sitting right in front of us, so we can go back and forth and have a conversation, because right now, we can’t,” Moore said.

Moore’s remarks followed testimony by a woman who spoke on behalf of her son who lives near the proposed rezoning.

“I think we need to put the brakes on this project, at least until we get that red light and get the infrastructure done,” the speaker said.

She pointed to a new industrial park project that is being built near the proposed subdivision, plus the ongoing construction of a new interchange to Interstate 75, at Overpass Road.

Both projects are creating a significant amount of construction traffic, she said.

And, that’s on top of traffic created by Cypress Creek High School, Cypress Creek Middle School, she said. Plus, Pasco-Hernando State College now has a new Instructional Performing Arts Center on the road, she added.

Moore agreed that the two-lane Old Pasco Road is being overloaded.

He said he’s very familiar with the road because he has a child attending Cypress Creek Middle School and another child attending Cypress Creek High School.

“I drive it on a regular basis. The amount of school buses going on Old Pasco Road is incredible, and some of those areas with blind spots and the turns, with no shoulders,” he said.

“I have concerns.

“There’s a ton of development that’s currently going in on Old Pasco Road. There’s a lot of proposed development, along Old Pasco Road, as well,” Moore said.

“One of the things that we agreed upon when we did the industrial park is that that industrial park cannot receive its CO (certificate of occupancy) until that portion of Old Pasco (Road), that sits in front of the industrial park, is widened.

“Nobody’s given me a set date of when the rest of Old Pasco Road is widened,” Moore said.

“I think we need to research that road. I think staff needs to come back to us and say, ‘This is exactly when Old Pasco Road is going to be widened,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano balked at the proposal for a park that is nine-tenths of an acre, versus the 1.2-acre park that’s required by code.

Planners supported the request, noting Wesley Chapel District Park is nearby, plus the developer agreed to dedicate a larger amount of land than required for right of way for the Old Pasco Road widening.

But Mariano said: “There’s no reason it can’t stick at 1.2, which is our code. Those kids need somewhere to play.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wanted to know why the plans fail to indicate any kind of future trail. She said that county planners must start including that, to provide for the possibility of people getting from place to place, without relying on vehicles.

County Administrator Dan Biles responded: “We’ll have to check, but I think Old Pasco Road probably has a multi-use path, as part of the design for Old Pasco Road and I think Overpass also has one.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley supported Moore’s suggestion to continue the hearing.

The delay will enable the board to receive information it needs on when Old Pasco Road will be widened, and to find out more about the possibility of trails in the area, Oakley said.

Published May 26, 2021

Avalon Applauds

By

CONGRATULATIONS to Kyla Booker for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Booker is a senior at Cypress Creek High School (CCHS) and has made a tremendous impact during her time there.

For example, Booker was class president her freshman, sophomore and junior year.

“For me it was about building leadership skills and pushing myself out- side of my comfort zone,” says Booker. “I wanted to find a way to interact with my classmates and create relation- ships, while also serving my school and community.”

According to Booker, being class president for those three years allowed her to become a better listener and articulate broader viewpoints.

“I believe these skills are the foundation to great leadership,” says Booker.

Currently, Booker is a member of the National Honors Society and the Chick- fil-A Leadership Academy. She has always had a passion for serving the community, and wanted her extracurricular activities to reflect that passion.

“I come from a family of mentors and volunteers, so community service and volunteering are very important to me,” says Booker.

Through her involvement in the local leadership organization, Booker is able to give back to her community by providing necessities for area students who are in the foster care system.

Booker is also an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar and is graduating in the top 10% of her class, which also happens to be the inaugural graduating class at CCHS.

“It is surreal that in less than a month, I will be graduating from the place where it all started. I feel like my class got to truly set the tone of the school. I loved being a part of this community and I am proud to be a Coyote,” says Booker.

One person in particular Booker would like to thank for the support throughout the years is her AP literature and language teacher, Cassie Adley.

“Mrs. Adley has pushed me to explore new opportunities, challenge myself and grow both academically and personally,” says Booker.

When Adley first met Booker during Booker’s freshman year of English, Adley knew right away Booker was a star student.

“Kyla is truly one of a kind. She is intelligent, personable and motivated. She is a student who does not give up,” says Adley, “I am so proud of the grace Kyla lives by and I know she will be successful in her future endeavors.”

After graduating from CCHS, Booker plans to attend Florida State University in the Fall. She will be majoring in bio-medical engineering.

Published May 12, 2021