We wish we could congratulate every student graduating from New Tampa’s two high schools, but we simply don’t have room to even list every name in these pages. Rather than just do our usual recognition of each school’s valedictorian and salutatorian, freelance correspondent Celeste McLaughlin aimed a little higher — or lower, in this case — as she actually got the top-10 students (with just a few exceptions) in the 2022-23 graduating classes of both Freedom and Wharton high schools to provide some pretty terrific information about themselves for this article and photo spread. Congrats on a job well done, Celeste, and to all of those graduating at and near the top of their respective classes! Get ready to don those caps & gowns! -GN
Freedom High
1. Sofia Murrin (Valedictorian)
GPA: 8.2266
Clubs/Activities: Senior Class President, Scrubs Club President, HOSA President, Book Club President, Mu Alpha Theta VP, Science National Honor Society (NHS) VP, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Key Club, swim team, AP Capstone Diploma
College planning to attend: University of Notre Dame
Planned Major or Future Career: Double major in Biochemistry & Business to pursue a medical degree.
Best thing about High School: Life lessons I’ve learned along the way. I have learned countless lessons on friendship, the importance of diligence and perseverance, and the importance of good communication throughout these last four years that I believe shaped me into the person I am today and prepared me for my journey ahead.
2. Sienna Silvest (Salutatorian)
GPA: 8.0389
Clubs/Activities: HOSA President, Scrubs Club President, Book Club President, tutor for the nonprofit Learn To Be, volunteer volleyball coach at the YMCA, SGA
College planning to attend: University of Virginia
Planned Major or Future Career: Nursing or Psychology
Best thing about High School: Mr. Tillman’s class
3. Emma Stone
GPA: 8.0268
Clubs/Activities: Lacrosse, cross country, track & field, swim, basketball, Environmental Club, French Honor Society, FBLA, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa, Science National Honor Society (SNHS)
College planning to attend: United States Naval Academy
Planned major or future career: Naval Architecture
Best thing about high school: Mr. Tillman’s class
4. Olivia Kurtz
GPA: 7.8000
Clubs/Activities: Senior Class VP, Best Buddies President, FBLA President, Science National Honor Society President, Robotics President, Softball Captain, SGA, Mu Alpha Theta Historia, Girl Scouts (CEO advisory board, service area delegate)
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering
Best thing about high school: Mr. Tillman’s class
5. (tie) Jessica Afiat
GPA: 7.6800
Clubs/Activities: FBLA Officer, Mu Alpha Theta Treasurer, NHS, SNHS, Tri-M orchestra liaison, orchestra principal first violinist, swim team
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned Major: Chemical Engineering
Best thing about high school: Mr. Tillman’s class.
5. (tie) Britney Pun
GPA: 7.6800
Clubs/Activities: Track, lacrosse, swim, Key Club Webmaster/VP, FBLA VP, orchestra, Mu Alpha Theta, SNHS Historian, PTSA Board Campus Cleanup Lead
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Best thing about high school: Mr. Tillman’s class.
7. Arturo Zarrate
GPA: 7.5041
Clubs/Activities: Florida State Spanish Conference, NHS, SNHS, Spanish Honor Society, French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, track & field, HOSA, Multicultural Club, Student Advisory Committee, Environmental Club
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Triple Major — Biochemistry, Philosophy & German
Best thing about high school: Learning how to reframe academic and social stress into new motivation to succeed.
8. Dylan Panganiban
GPA: 6.8800
Clubs/Activities: Key Club VP/President, Environmental Club, National Art Honor Society Secretary, NHS Historian/VP, Spirit Club, Varsity volleyball, swim, tennis
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: I plan to pursue a career in computer science or PA Dermatology
Best thing about high school: Mr. Tillman’s class.
9. Alyssa De La Sala
GPA: 6.8496
Clubs/Activities: Varsity flag football Captain, cross country Captain, track, varsity cheer, Allstar cheer, musical theater Class Senator, Key Club, Student Government Treasurer, NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Best Buddies, FCA, Spirit Club President, Chess Club, SNHS, Kappa Phi Delta, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Interact Club, International Thespian Society, TriM Music Honor Society
College planning to attend: University of Florida, University of Tampa or Florida Southern College
Planned major or future career: Forensic Science
Best thing about high school: Spending time with all the people I’ve met who have helped shaped me into who I am today. I’ve loved having the opportunity to be a part of so many amazing things and creating memories that I’ll be able to share and look back on for years to come.
10. Katherine Moulton
GPA: 6.7833
Clubs/Activities: Spirit Club President, FCA, flag football, cross country Captain, track, Yearbook Editor-in-Chief
College planning to attend: University of Florida
Planned major or future career: Finance
Best thing about high school: All of the laughs and strikes in Mr. Tillman’s class.
Wharton High
1. David Ascano (Valedictorian)
GPA: 7.5844
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida or Florida State University
2. Sammy Gillespie (Salutatorian)
GPA: 7.5775
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida
3. Liberty Sanford
GPA: 7.5073
College Planning to Attend: Florida Institute of Technology
4. Angela Anzalone Gimenez
GPA: 7.2592
5. Robert “Jackson” Raitt
GPA: 6.8800
College Planning to Attend: Marist College
6. Alessandro Anzalone
GPA: 6.8400
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida
7. Matthew Schwindler
GPA: 6.8282
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida
8. Suhani Rana
GPA: 6.7103
9. Peter Chandler
GPA: 6.6800
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida
10. Brett Brown
GPA: 6.6766
College Planning to Attend: University of Florida
We know there is a lot of additional information about the Freedom graduates than about those from Wharton. That was not our intent, but the information shown is all of the info we received from/about these Wharton students. — GN
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