It’s that time of year again, when high school seniors approach the finish line, reflecting on all that they’ve accomplished in high school and getting ready for graduation. Valedictorians at each school will be named and will receive accolades for having their school’s highest grade point average.
Wesley Chapel’s public high schools also each honor an overall outstanding senior, recognized for being well-rounded leaders on campus, while also maintaining excellence academics. At each school, students vote for who they think should represent their class as their school’s most outstanding senior, and then the faculty votes to choose the winner.
Please note that one of Wesley Chapel’s high schools — the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation — doesn’t have a senior class this year, so no Kirkland student is featured below. Even so, we offer our congratulations to the outstanding seniors at each of the other three high schools in Wesley Chapel.
Cypress Creek High
Katya La Costa
Katya La Costa maintains a 4.4 GPA, is an athlete who captains the varsity volleyball team and was a track & field Regional qualifier. She also leads key events and clubs, and is her school’s go-to videographer.
She started a spirit club to organize dress up days, decorates for games and even started away game buses for students, explains Cassie Adley, Cypress Creek High’s college and career specialist.
Katya also started a brunch for new students, where they are invited to share a meal and make connections.
“She advertises everything on social media with clever posts and phenomenal videography,” Cassie explains. “At the start of the brunch, Katya plays her video which introduces key people at the school, clubs, school spirit, online platforms and more.”
Katya plans to pursue nursing and participated in a pilot internship program at the University of South Florida while still a student at Cypress Creek. While maintaining impressive grades, extracurricular leadership, sports and an internship, she also worked part-time at Ice Dreammm Shop.
“Katya is one of a kind,” says Cassie. “She is intelligent…motivated….respectful… hard- working…kind-hearted…and diligent.”
Wesley Chapel High
Joshua Moua
Joshua Moua is an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma candidate, which means he not only took rigorous AP classes, but went above and beyond to earn the Capstone designation by taking designated AP classes that develop skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing and presenting.
Beyond the classroom, Joshua is president of Wesley Chapel High’s Student Government, National Spanish, National English and National Honor Societies, and secretary of the school’s National Social Studies Honor Society. He is a graduate of Youth Leadership Pasco County, founded and serves as president of the school’s GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) club and is the co-founder and co-president of the school’s first ever Asian Student Association.
“We are so pleased to have Joshua represent our class,” says Kelly Faysash, Wesley Chapel High’s college and career specialist. “He is a dynamic, motivated young man who truly recognizes the importance of education. He is a model for our students in perseverance, responsibility, initiative and creativity.”
His nomination letter calls him “a friend to everyone,” saying he “sets the standard” for other students to look up to as an example of good citizenship.
“Joshua has a very bright future ahead of him and we are thrilled to call him a Wildcat,” adds Kelly.
Wiregrass Ranch High
Tanmay Patil
Tanmay Patil’s rigorous academic classes have included many Advanced Placement courses, and despite the challenge, he has maintained a perfect, unweighted 4.0 grade point average.
“Throughout his high school career, he has taken honors, dual enrollment and AP level coursework,” explains Diamela Vergne, assistant principal at Wiregrass Ranch High. “For this school year, Tanmay was the only student at the school who qualified as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.”
He did that by scoring an impressive 1480 on his PSAT exam, a score he later topped by earning a near-perfect 1560 on the SATs.
While his academic record is impressive, Tanmay also serves as president of one of the largest clubs in the school, the service-oriented Key Club, with 115 members. He also is his school’s ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In addition, Tanmay also volunteers at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hospital as part of his school’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
“Tanmay embodies exemplary scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and service,” says Diamela.
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