New Tampa's Class Of 2014 Walks The Stage

By Matt Wiley

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 from Freedom High (FHS) in Tampa Palms and Paul R. Wharton High (WHS)!

On the morning of June 2 inside the Expo Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 532 Wharton Wildcats seniors crossed the stage to become high school graduates.

“Four years ago, I welcomed this group of students as ninth graders to (Wharton),” said principal Bradley Woods. “One thing I can say for certain is the students sitting here today continue to make positive choices and learn from their mistakes.”

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Woods also announced that the WCH Class of 2014 had collectively taken more than 1,000 Advanced Placement (AP) exams and that 233 of the seniors seated in the auditorium were graduating with weighted grade point averages (GPAs) of 4.0 or higher, 125 of which graduated with above a 5.0 and 34 with above a 6.0!

“In addition, this group of students has accumulated more than $10 million in scholarship offers,” Woods said. The Class of 2014 also racked up more than 5,000 community service hours. While many of the Wildcats are continuing their educations at the University of Florida, Dartmouth College, Florida State University, Duke, Notre Dame and the University of South Florida here in Tampa, six Wharton grads were recognized for enlisting in our country’s armed forces.

“In order to not be successful, you have to make a conscious effort not to try,” Woods said.

Instead of a speech, salutatorian Kiana Outen, who graduated with a 6.68 GPA and who will attend Ivy League Dartmouth College in Hanover, CT, entertained the crowd with a Dr. Seuss-inspired rhyme.

“There are some important things you should know,” Outen said. “Our journey’s not over, we still have to grow.”

Outen was followed up by valedictorian Earl Bell, who graduated with a 6.88 GPA and who will be attending the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“You’re only just about to start this journey called life,” Bell told his classmates. “There’s so much more ahead of you, many more trials and triumphs. Truthfully, we’re only about 20-percent of the way through.”

A few days later (June 6), it was the 490 graduating seniors from Freedom’s turn to collect their diplomas, also at the Fairgrounds.

“We live in unprecedented times, defined by unique experiences,” said valedictorian Marc Berson, a recipient of the Coca-Cola scholarship (awarded to students for demonstrating academic excellence, positive leadership and dedication to service), who graduated with a weighted 8.12 GPA and will attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME, in the fall. “We are the ‘sharing generation,’ tech-savvy innovators who prize access to knowledge and seek out inspiration.”

We wish we had space to list them all, but Berson and his fellow graduates have racked up more than 25,000 hours of community service hours in their four years as Patriots, as well as more than $5 million in scholarships, principal Sharon Morris told the crowd during her first graduation speech as Freedom’s head administrator.

“I hope you all will look back at your years at Freedom High with fond memories,” Morris said. “I would like to wish each and every one of you the happiness of a productive life, the respect of your fellow human beings and the love of your family. Now, let’s distribute some diplomas.”

Congratulations to New Tampa’s Class of 2014 and best of luck!

If your child received an award or accolade that you want us to know about, send us an email (EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com or post a picture and info on our website — NTNeighborhoodNews.com).