Congratulations To New Tampa’s Top Of The Class Of 2024! 

It’s that time of year where parents and students count down to all kinds of graduations, from pre-kindergarten to college. At local high schools, hundreds of graduates are moving on to a new phase of life, whether it’s starting a career, joining the military, going to a faraway university, attending a local college, or taking some time to find themselves. The students on these pages are the top-10 graduating seniors of the Class of 2024 at both of New Tampa’s public high schools by grade point average (GPA). Congratulations to everyone listed on these pages for their extraordinary achievement – and to all of their peers and classmates who are graduating alongside them. Note – We apologize that we have significantly more information about one school’s top-10 students than the other, but we can only show here what we were provided. Please also note that while it seems that the last two Wharton GPAs are out of order, a Wharton official told us that the class ranks were frozen prior to the final GPAs shown here. 

Freedom High 

1. Ishitha Panguluri, Valedictorian 

GPA: 8.6591 

College planning to attend: University of Chicago or Univ. of Florida 

Planned Major or Future Career: Neuroscience 

2. Kayla Le, Salutatorian 

GPA: 7.9495 

College planning to attend: University of Florida or University of South Florida 

Planned Major or Future Career: Business 

3. Jaclyn Rachel Alejandro 

GPA: 7.4377 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida Honors 

Planned major or future career: Biomedical Sciences, pre-med 

4. Yadiel Narvaez Hernandez 

GPA: 7.2153 

College planning to attend: Georgia Tech 

Planned major or future career: Industrial Engineering 

5. Mrinalini Bose 

GPA: 7.2113 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned Major or future career: Applied Math 

6. Mallory Marsland Pettit 

GPA: 7.1104 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Psychology 

7. Sanduni Karalliyadde 

GPA: 6.9993 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Political Science, Pre-Law 

8. Sharianne Sampson 

GPA: 6.9438 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Biology, pre-med 

9. Pouria Yazdankhah Kenary 

GPA: 6.829 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida 

Planned major or future career: Mechanical Engineering 

10. Mohammed Alfatlawi 

GPA: 6.76 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Computer Engineering 

Wharton High 

1. Heer Patel, Valedictorian 

GPA: 9.9639 

Clubs/Activities: President BETA club, President/founder Wistem (Women in STEM club), member of NHS (National Honor Society), SNHS (Science National Honor Society), NEHS (National English Honor Society), Spanish National Honor Society, Tri M music honor society, Key Club, FBLA, Orchestra, dancer, volunteer at Moffitt Cancer Center and Metropolitan Ministries

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Business & Biology 

Best thing about high school: High school taught me what it means to have real friends. These past few years, I’ve developed some of the closest bonds, which I know will carry forward as I move on to the next chapter of my life. High school taught me how to grow and nurture friendships, and how to value people for who they truly are. 

2. Sarah Gangaram, Salutatorian 

GPA: 8.08 

Clubs/Activities: Team Captain Speech and Debate, Vice President NEHS, Co-founder Book Club, Vice President BETA, Social Media Manager, Newspaper: Education Editor, Member of SNHS, NHS 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida 

Planned major or future career: Biology on a pre-med path, neurosurgeon 

Best thing about High School: Definitely the people. I enjoyed coming to school every day and socializing with my friends and peers, as well as my teachers. Overall, they really made my high school experience incredible. For example, when I’d go to football games and other school events, the spirit we all have is incredible, and just being in that environment was amazing – it’s something I will never forget. 

3. Mahdi Aziz 

GPA: 7.4787 

Clubs/Activities: Treasury secretary NEHS, member of SNHS, NHS, volunteer at AdventHealth, working for my dad at Bagels Plus, tennis 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Anthropology and history, international lawyer 

Best thing about High School: All the great teachers and friends that I met all through my four years, and the times I spent with them. 

4. Cooper Priest

GPA: 7.28 

Clubs/Activities: Chess Club, NHS, SNHS, swim team 

College planning to attend: Michigan State University 

Planned major or future career: Chemical engineering 

Best thing about High School: Making friends 

5. Athira Umshankar 

GPA: 7.24 

Clubs/Activities: NHS, NEHS, SNHS, art club, film club 

College planning to attend: University of South Florida Honors 

Planned major or future career: Psychology 

Best thing about High School: People and friends I met. 

6. Reese Prieto 

GPA: 7.22 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Biology 

Best thing about High School: Meeting new people and making new friends 

7. Emily Toso 

GPA: 7.12 

Clubs/Activities: Newspaper Editor-in-chief, President SNHS, NEHS, speech and debate, dancer (Tampa Gymnastics and Dance) for 14 years 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Environmental engineering 

Best thing about High School: Being able to explore different interests and really find what you’re good at and enjoy. 

8. Avi Amin 

GPA: 7.08 

Clubs/Activities: Scuba diving, soccer, SCC 

College planning to attend: New York University 

Planned major or future career: Finance 

Best thing about High School: Getting to meet new people and make new friends 

9. Eva Lebas 

GPA: 7.0 

Clubs/Activities: All-County and All-State Honors Orchestras, play viola, swim team 

College planning to attend: University of Florida 

Planned major or future career: Biomedical Engineering 

Best thing about High School: Definitely prom and the senior events 

10. Jariel Garriga 

GPA: 7.06 

Clubs/Activities: Wharton Baseball Captain, Beta Club Vice President, SCC Unity Officer 

College planning to attend: Florida State University 

Planned major or future career: Biochemistry, orthopedic surgeon 

Best thing about High School: Playing baseball with my friends 

Congratulations To New Tampa’s Award-Winning Seniors!

High school graduation is always an exciting time, and the 840 graduating seniors (combined) at New Tampa’s two high schools were celebrated as the year came to a close.

Freedom High held its annual “Red, White, and Blue” awards ceremony on April 17, where many of the school’s seniors were recognized for their academic achievements.

National Merit Scholarship Award finalists Britney Pun and Jessica Afiat were recognized, and the “Principal’s Patriot” award went to Vivian Ernst.

The Freedom PTSA also presented scholarships to Britney Pun, Lindsay Scherer, Olivia Pliska, and Kaitlyn Graulich. These scholarships are awarded to PTSA-member students who are headed to college, university, or vocational/technical school, and who are in good standing with the school’s office of Student Affairs, and have been recommended by their teacher, counselor or employer. They are chosen, in part, based on an essay they wrote as part of the application.

The PTSA also partnered with the Daisy Turner-Browne Scholarship Fund to award a scholarship to Alejandro Espinosa. This scholarship is awarded to a civic-minded graduating student who demonstrates academic excellence and a strong desire to pursue higher education despite personal and financial challenges.

The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg honors one student as the Anne Frank Humanitarian award winner, recognizing a student for efforts to better the lives of people around them, whether in school or out. At Freedom, this year’s Anne Frank Humanitarian Award winner was Ishitha Panguluri. 

Outstanding scholar-athlete awards went to Alyssa De La Sala and John Purcell. 

The Picerne Family Foundation awarded scholarships to Wen Hui Chen, Elaine Feaster, Alexandria Dominique, and Lindsey Scherer. These scholarships are awarded to graduating students who are planning to attend college full time, have demonstrated civic leadership, community service, and are true “overachievers.” They are intended for deserving students who are pursuing a dream but need this support to realize their goals.

Local orthodontist Dr. Sam Jureyda of Radiance Orthodontics (see ad on page 5) also partnered with the PTSA to provide a scholarship to a senior who demonstrated commitment to serving the community. It was the first time this scholarship was offered at Freedom.

The Radiance Orthodontics Community Service Award went to Elaine Feaster (far left in photo above), who has been featured in these pages previously, for organizing book drives that collected thousands of books for underprivileged children. Elaine logged an impressive 449 service hours during her high school career.

Meanwhile, At Wharton…

Radiance Orthodontics also presented a Community Service Award to Wharton High’s Ariana Sawyer, who is pursuing a career in nursing and spent her high school years volunteering with Metropolitan Ministries, as well as for an organization that cares for foster children, at AdventHealth Tampa hospital, and at her school. This is the fifth year the Radiance Award has been presented to a Wharton senior.

Also at Wharton, AdventHealth partnered with the school’s PTSA to present a scholarship to Aubrey Glover to support his pursuit of a career as a Physician Assistant. Aubrey’s impressive resume includes taking dual enrollment classes, serving as a volunteer and a leader in extracurricular activities, plus working as a medical assistant to prepare for a career in the healthcare field. He plans to attend Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Wharton senior Jackson Raitt was honored for being a National Merit Scholarship Award finalist and the school’s Anne Frank Humanitarian award winner was Riley Hall.

The Wharton Athletic Boosters awarded scholarships to two students who maintained a 3.0 grade-point average while playing multiple sports. Award winners were Brett Brown, who was a varsity athlete in soccer, track and cross country, and Haleigh Self, who played basketball, softball and flag football.

The Wharton PTSA (photo of all four winners above right) awarded its top scholarship to Sunni Horton, who served on the school’s peer jury, Student Library Association, and National English Honor Society. She will attend Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, this fall to pursue a degree in public policy.  

The PTSA also awarded a scholarship to Chloe Kim, a leader in the school’s National Honor Society and student organizer with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She will attend USF this fall.

Another PTSA scholarship went to William Hineline. William served as president of the senior class, is an Eagle Scout, and excelled in several sports at Wharton. He will attend the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The final PTSA scholarship was awarded to Andrea Boknevitz, who served as both a drum major for the Wharton Marching Band and as commanding officer of the Wharton National Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). She is attending Jacksonville University to study psychology and prepare for a career as a U.S. Navy officer.

Many other students were recognized at both schools for outstanding achievements throughout their high school careers.

Freedom High’s graduation is being held on May 30, at 8:30 a.m., for its 390 graduating seniors. Wharton High’s graduation ceremonies for its 450 graduating seniors will be held Thursday, June 1, at 3:30 p.m.

Congratulations To New Tampa’s Top Of The Class Of 2023!

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

Wildcats Reload For State Run

The last time Wharton was led by a football coach that was a former All-American at the University of Southern California, won a Rose Bowl and went on to play in the NFL, the Wildcats made it all the way to the Class 5A State Championship game way back in 2002.

Those who remember that guy, Richard “Batman” Wood, might be getting a case of dĂ©jĂ  vu this year.

Mike Williams, a former All-American at the University of Southern California who won a Rose Bowl and went on to play in the NFL, is entering his third season as the Wildcats head coach, and he might have the best team in the school’s history.

On paper, Wharton is loaded heading into the 2022 season, which kicks off Friday when it hosts Jesuit.

Williams is quick to temper his team’s expectations. Wharton return stars like leading rusher Arkese Parks; linebacker and tackle machine Cam Campbell; junior linebacker Booker Pickett, Jr., and senior defensive back Dijon Johnson, who have 70 college offers between them; as well as the entire offensive line.

What positions they don’t have returning due to graduation they have filled with enough transfers to make the NCAA transfer portal look tame, with 4-star running back Stacy Gage, rated the No. 2 back in the country for 2024, heading up a group of more than a dozen new players from at least 10 different high schools.

“That doesn’t mean (anything),” Williams says. “I firmly believe just because you get talented kids, it doesn’t equal winning. You must have the right kind of kids, that will be good teammates and work for the success of others. You get some ‘me’ kids, who want to know what’s in it for them, so it’s a fine juggling act.”

The prep pundits may not agree — they see a team that is one of the championship favorites in the Metro Division of State Class 3A.

It won’t take long to get an idea of how good this Wharton team can be. Jesuit went 15-0 last season, won the Class 6A State Championship, finished ranked No. 5 in the country (according to HighSchoolFootballAmerica.com), and returns RB Joquez Smith, who had 1,976 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns last year.

They start this year ranked No. 32 in the U.S., and MaxPreps.com ranks them No. 6 in Florida and No. 2 in Class 3A.

Wharton is No. 9 in the State.

“We are in wait-and-see mode, and the best part is we don’t have to wait long,” Williams says. “That’s a gravy train on biscuit wheels. It’s a great opportunity for our program.”

Williams doesn’t want to put too much emphasis on one game, especially the first one. “We’re going to be better moving forward no matter what happens,” he says.

Quarterback Jackson Jensen (top left) and running back Stacy Gage are two of the key newcomers expected to have a major impact on the Wharton football team, which is ranked No. 9 in Class 3A.

The Wildcats still have to get out of Class 3M, District 4, which includes State No. 3-ranked Tampa Bay Tech (October 14 on the road) and No. 8 Armwood (September 30 at home).

Those two teams were 3-0 against Wharton last year — handing the Wildcats their only blemishes in a 9-3 season — with TBT ending the Wildcats’ season in the third round of the playoffs 42-6.

No matter how closely you look, it’s hard to see many holes on the Wharton roster this season.

Three quarterbacks transferred in, with Jackson Jensen, who threw for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns for Carrollwood Day School last year, earning the starting spot over Noah Bryant (Chamberlain) and Luke Sather (Tampa Catholic).

Gage, a youth football legend in Tampa in his younger days, transferred in from IMG Academy, and has 42 college offers. He will start in the backfield alongside promising Nahiem Doctor, who ran for 400 yards at Tampa Catholic last year.

“They are built the same way,” Williams says. “Some guys say they have thunder and lightning. At Wharton, we have thunder and thunder.”

Defensive back Dijon Johnson (left) is one of the top-rated recruits in the country.

Parks — who ran for 570 yards and seven touchdowns last year, is a smaller, shiftier back who can go the distance every time he touches the ball — will get some carries but also play a bigger role in the receiving game, teaming up with Deandre Newton, Tyrese Smith and Javaughn Singleton, all juniors.

Everyone is back on the offensive line, including center Eddy Dominguez and twins Tolu Onikeku (a guard) and Lolu Onikeku (tackle). Pickett’s younger brother Kenyon, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound freshman, and Chamberlain transfer Stone Ferguson also are in the mix for starting jobs.

On the defensive line, two notable newcomers at defensive tackle will start — junior R.J. McCollough, who played for Jesuit last year, and senior Zyon Nobles, a Zephyrhills Christian transfer who recorded 24 sacks in 2021.

The duo will be a handful for opposing offensive lines, and free ends C.J. Green and Jeremiah Jacobs for additional sacks. Jacobs had nine sacks as a freshman but missed almost all of last season with a knee injury. Williams is excited about his return, and Green started on the offensive line in 2021.

“He told us he was tired of blocking people, that he wanted to hit some people,” Williams says. “He’s been one of our biggest surprises of the offseason.”

Booker Pickett, Jr., and Campbell head up a strong linebacking group. Pickett had 22 sacks last year, while Campbell added four to go with a team-high 105 tackles.

“If you’ve got 4 or 5 of him on your team, you’re hard to beat,” Williams says. “He’s everything you want in a football player.”

Tyler Green and Andre Ellis, two juniors, also will see time at linebacker.

Dijon Johnson, who re-opened his recruiting after initially committing to Ohio State, is ranked as the 10th-best cornerback prospect in the country, and leads a very strong cover group. Jamari Thomas, from Sumner High, is a rising star and John Doan was an All-Conference player for Steinbrenner last year.

Wharton has such a glut of riches that Williams can claim to have the county’s fastest
punter. William Hineline, the Hillsborough County champion and State qualifier in the 200 meters last spring, has decided to move over from wide receiver and handle kicking duties for the Wildcats.

“It’s an exciting time,” Williams says. “You want kids to set high goals and winning State is the highest goal. There’s a feeling here that we are on our way, but you try to fight the feeling of thinking that you’ve already arrived. There’s still a lot of work to do between now and December.”

Wharton’s 2022 Valedictorian Will Stay Local For College 

When Sonya Patel walks across the stage as Wharton High’s Class of 2022 valedictorian during the school’s graduation ceremony on May 25, she will do so with its highest-ever GPA — 9.40.

Sonya didn’t set out to break any records. In fact, being valedictorian wasn’t even her goal. 

“But,” she says, “I did want to push myself to do my very best.”

She wanted to learn as much as she could and take advantage of every opportunity placed in front of her. Her incredible work ethic led her to set that new high mark for future Wharton students to aspire to beat.

Sonya spent all of her school years in New Tampa, starting at Pride Elementary and going to Benito Middle School before attending Wharton.

When she graduates, she’ll stay close to home. She plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa and major in biomedical sciences on her way to a career as a doctor.

“I plan to apply to medical school in the future,” Sonya says. “I currently have fields that interest me but I’m keeping an open mind about what I actually want to do in the medical field.”

When she started high school, Sonya wasn’t sure she wanted to be a doctor. She signed up for dual enrollment (DE) classes at Hillsborough Community College that sounded interesting, and the more classes she took in the medical field, the more she became sure she wanted to one day help people in that way.

While those dual enrollment classes helped her solidify her future plans, along with a lot of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, they also helped her earn that sky-high GPA.

“I counted at least 15 science classes that she’s taken, and it blew me away,” says Christi Atkinson, who is Sonya’s Marine Science teacher this year. “She takes on so many activities and is capable of managing her time and getting everything done. It’s amazing.”

Knowing it’s a long journey through med school and residency, Sonya’s AP and DE classes will help her get her undergraduate requirements out of the way, and because she’s a high school student, the classes have been free.

“It seemed a great way to work on my future goals,” she says, earning credits toward her undergraduate degree while learning about what she calls “cool subjects.”

While she’s worked hard in school, she enjoys spending her free time painting, doing henna body art and cooking. She says her most fun class has been orchestra, where she plays the cello.

Her orchestra teacher, Elise Prather, says, “She has been a dream student. She is respectful, kind, communicates effectively, is a great team player, gives 110% on everything, and is very helpful to me and other students.”

While Sonya was accepted to several schools, she decided USF was the most convenient and least expensive choice. 

“And it has great opportunities, so I’m not missing out,” she says.

When she graduates from high school, Sonya will have earned 62 credit hours from Hillsborough Community College, plus many hours from her AP classes, which will help her fulfill her college general education credits. She hopes to finish her Bachelor of Science degree at USF within two years.

She says she loves volunteering, especially at the local Bay Chapel food pantry, because she appreciates that her community has a local food pantry to help those who need some help.

In addition to her difficult academics, orchestra and volunteering, she also serves as co-president of Wharton’s Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society club, secretary of the Science National Honor Society and orchestra clubs, and is a member of the school’s National Beta Club and National Honor Society.

“She’s just a really good kid,” Atkinson says. “She’s someone you can rely on and depend on.” 

And while Sonya and her peers dealt with a lot of adversity due to Covid-19, Atkinson adds, “she adapted very well and rose above the challenges.”

That’s what Sonya intends to do in the future, too. She’ll keep setting goals, working hard, making practical decisions, and taking the next step forward.

As she moves from one chapter of her life to the next, she says, “I’m looking forward to new experiences, whatever they may be.”