Christina Colon, SPCHS Senior, Named a National Hispanic Scholar
Congratulations to Christina Colon, St. Petersburg Collegiate High School senior, who has been named a National Hispanic Scholar.
Each year the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) recognizes about 5,000 academically outstanding high school students from the more than 400,000 Hispanic and Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT®.
The College Board’s NHRP program is an academic honor that can be included on college applications. It’s not a scholarship, but colleges do use this program to identify academically exceptional Hispanic/Latino students. Click to learn more about the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
SPCHS Designated an "A" School and a State School of Excellence
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School’s status as a State School of Excellence was confirmed by the State Board of Education on October 25, 2018.
SPCHS was designated as a State School of Excellence last year for earning an “A” grade for the past three years and by ranking at the 80 percentile in the school grade calculation as compared to other schools in the state at the same level.
SPCHS has earned an “A” grade from the State of Florida each year since opening in 2005. Congratulations to students, staff, and parents for maintaining this exemplary status! For more information, click https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tampabay.com%2Fblogs%2Fgradebook%2F2018%2F10%2F19%2Fstate-to-designate-florida-schools-of-excellence-for-flexibility-on-some-rules%2F&data=02%7C01%7CMetz.Starla%40spcollege.edu%7Cee16d3b8d60b452aed8108d63826c5f7%7C575038c8ac704295810e0df79c005f41%7C0%7C0%7C636758136523529172&sdata=vL0yhAD8gTsvD9Ehqg%2BSLsKM4zklr38yhnuNDfJ5u9Q%3D&reserved=0
SPCHS Student, Erin Murphy, Named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist
Congratulations to Erin A. Murphy, St. Petersburg Collegiate High Senior, who hast been named a semifinalist in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program. Erin is among 16,000 semifinalists nationwide.
Semifinali
sts represent the top 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and will compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth a total of more than $31 million. Qualifications include a student's academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, other honors and awards and SAT scores. Students also must be recommended by a high school official and write an essay.
In the spring of 2019, three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by corporations and business organizations. Also, colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend their institutions.
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School hosts Blue Ribbon celebration 2/1/2018 Marilyn Shaw
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, St. Petersburg Collegiate High School celebrated its 2017 National Blue Ribbon Award. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy De
Vos recognized SPCHS as an Exemplary High Performing School for 2017 at an awards ceremony in November. The award recognizes the school for being among the state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
At the celebration, St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus Provost Jamelle Conner opened the program by welcoming more than 75 parents, students and community leaders. SPCHS Principal Starla Metz thanked attendees and shared information about Blue Ribbon Award. SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams offered remarks and acknowledged the great accomplishments of the students.
“I’m privileged to have an opportunity to work with you,” said Williams. “We’re so proud of you, and we look forward to seeing the work you’ll be doing in the future.”
SPCHS Alum Jessica Baugher said she felt supported and encouraged throughout her time at the school.
“You’re never left alone, which is an amazing part about this program,” said Baugher. “And through my years at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, I’ve had endless opportunities for leadership.
SPCHS Senior Desmond Douglas said he has grown through the support he has found at SPCHS. “It takes a village to raise a child, but also a collegiate student,” said Douglas.
“One thing I learned is that the students love to learn and the teachers love to teach. Gaining a higher level of responsibility and independence is what I’ve gained the most from this program.”
Closing the program, Catherine Kennedy, AVP of Academic Affairs and Partnership, read the proclamation from the City of St. Petersburg designating January 31, 2018 as SPCHS National Blue Ribbon Day.
Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
The honorary schools are recognized in one of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools and/or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates.
Since 2004, SPCHS has earned an “A” rating each year from the state of Florida. In 2016, Newsweek named them the 55th best high school in America – only one of 10 in Florida to make the list, SPCHS held the second ranking in the state.
This story first appeared the the SPC Blue and White.
SPCHS' College Decision Day Includes Special Guests
At SPCHS, all students are expected to graduate with their high school diploma, an Associate in Arts degree, and successfully continue their postsecondary education to meet our vision of becoming “visionary leaders.”
To encourage our seniors to complete the FAFSA and to recognize them for their dedication resulting in acceptance at a variety of colleges and universities, Ms. Boyle, SPCHS Guidance Counselor, coordinated SPCHS’ first College Decision Day.
Writing a grant provided incentives to entice SPCHS students to meet our goal of increasing the FAFSA completion
rate for our school. To achieve our goal, students and parents attended the SPCHS College Application Workshop, facilitated by Ms. Boyle and Mrs. Betts, and attended one of the FAFSA Nights facilitated by SPC staff. Thanks to our students, parents, and staff, SPCHS achieved a 60% FAFSA completion rate, which was the highest in the District, and an increase of 17% over last year.
The Decision Day Celebration included a delicious lunch and a drawing for three Amazon Fire Sticks, which were given to participating seniors, along with SPC/SPCHS spirit items.
Furthermore, SPCHS seniors had some very special guests join the celebration! Senator and Mrs. Don Sullivan and Frances Neu, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and the Executive Director of the SPC Foundation, visited SPCHS to enjoy the festivities with students. Senator and Mrs. Sullivan’s visit was especially poignant as Senator Sullivan was the visionary leader who helped establish St. Petersburg Collegiate High School which opened in 2004.
Senator and Mrs. Sullivan enjoyed speaking to the students and learning how SPCHS has evolved over the years. Many enhancements have been added including a three-year leadership program, additional tutoring and support for students, and an emphasis on civic engagement.
On behalf of the students and staff of SPCHS, we wish to offer our sincere appreciation to Senator and Mrs. Sullivan, and Ms. Neu for attending the SPCHS Decision Day. We are all grateful for Senator Sullivan’s visionary leadership which has empowered so many SPCHS students to reach for their dreams!
SPCHS Students Selected to Study Abroad
Congratulation to Laura Luc, SPCHS senior, who has been selected to participate in the U.S. State Department funded Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX). Laura is one of 25 students nation-wide who will spend a year in Germany with a host family immersing herself in the German culture. Laura will complete three internships while in Germany. Laura’s selection was based on academic merit, motivation, curiosity and flexibility. To learn more about the CBYX program click http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/.
Four SPCHS seniors have been selected by Rotary Youth Exchange Florida to study abroad for a year beginning in August. They are, Ana Bagaric, (Czech Republic), Jacob Brooks, (Belgium), Kasamba Kokayi, (Germany), and Bronwen Tedrick, (Croatia).
The students will stay with host families and be fully immersed in the culture, attaining a global perspective. Congratulations to these deserving students. The SPCHS Staff wish you all an astonishing experience that will empower you to be thoughtful and culturally competent leaders.
SPCHS students who will be returning to the United States from a year-long adventure through Rotary Youth Exchange Florida, are Jessica Baugher (Brazil), Maria Meza (Japan), and Margaret Mical (Taiwan). The mission of Rotary Youth Exchange Florida is "To work towards peace and understanding in the world". Click http://www.ryeflorida.org/ to learn more about Rotary Youth Exchange Florida.
St. Petersburg West Rotary Club Selects SPCHS Students for S4TL
Three SPCHS juniors, Julia Mannella, Melayna Tillis, and Delaney Staack have been selected by the St. Petersburg West Rotary Club to attend Rotary’s Youth Leadership Program, Students for Tomorrow’s Leaders (S4TL), this summer.
This retreat is held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida in June. The students will intermingle with other youth from around the state to participate in this powerful leadership program with the goal of becoming school leaders who make a positive difference in their schools and in the community.
Rotary provides this innovative leadership program at no cost to the students, and graduates may apply to assist at future sessions. Past SPCHS participants have called S4TL “a life changing experience!”
SPCHS is thankful to the St. Petersburg West Rotary Club for their sponsorship of our Interact Club (the high school version of Rotary), and for their continued support. We appreciate this exceptional leadership opportunity for these outstanding juniors. Click http://www.rotary6890.org/action/s4tl/ to learn more about S4TL.
SPCHS Students Named National Merit Finalists
Congratulations to Krystal White and Zachary Hart, SPCHS seniors, who have been named National Merit Scholar Finalists for 2017.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Press Release, “Over 1.6 million juniors in 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship program when they took the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which served as an initial screen of program entrants. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalist had to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing. By the conclusion of the 2017 competition, 7,500 Finalists have been chosen to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling over 32 million dollars.” To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Program please click this link: http://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=405
SPCHS is proud of Krystal White and Zachary Hart for this distinguished honor! Also worthy of congratulations are SPCHS seniors, Allison Di Vito, Jaelen Knight, Taylor Paulk, and Ganna Voytseshko, who received a letter of commendation.
TAYLOR BALLARD 2017 PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT
Since the inception of the SPCHS Leadership Program, students have been encouraged to develop a civic-minded spirit and get involved in their communities. One SPCHS senior, Taylor Ballard, has made a significant contribution impacting her fellow teens and patients through her service as a member of the Hospice Teen Leadership Board and as a Hospice volunteer.
Taylor’s service qualified her for The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards' “President’s Volunteer Service Award.” Taylor was selected from a talented and dedicated group of volunteers to be considered for state-level recognition in The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. While Taylor was not selected for one of the state-level honors this year, she was recognized for her community service.
In their recognition letter, John Strangfeld, Chairman & CEO, Prudential Financial, and JoAnn Bartoletti, Executive Director of NASSP, stated “[How] impressed [they] were with the commitment and energy [Taylor] displayed in [her] volunteer activities.”
Although not honored at the state-level, Taylor impressed the Award judges and, in acknowledgment of her volunteer activities (based on the number of volunteer hours indicated in her application last fall), Taylor will receive the “President’s Volunteer Service Award!” The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation sent Taylor’s Award certificate, along with a letter from the president, to SPCHS which was presented to Taylor at the SPCHS Junior and Senior Awards Program on May 5.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards byline is Honoring Outstanding Community Service by Young Americans. At SPCHS, we are so proud that our students are providing an exemplary example of this commitment. The award letter included the following quote:
“Especially at this time in our nation’s history, Americans of all ages need to think more about how we, as individual citizens, can make a positive difference in our communities. Young volunteers like yourself (Taylor) are inspiring examples to all of us, and are one of the brightest hopes for a better tomorrow.”
We could not agree more. Congratulations, Taylor!
SPCHS 2017 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Based on their outstanding academic achievement, St. Petersburg Collegiate High School (SPCHS), is proud to recognize Stephen Lee Delong as Salutatorian and Ganna Yoytseshko as Valedictorian for the Class of 2017.
Stephen Lee Delong, class salutatorian, will be graduating with a weighted GPA of 4.9167. He will be attending Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida and plans to major in sports business management.
Stephen Lee is a member of the St. Petersburg Collegiate High School National Honor Society and a member of Phi Theta Kappa the St. Petersburg College Honor Society. He has volunteered with Special Olympics giving over 225 hours of service and held the leadership position of youth representative of the Bombers Competitive Youth Bowling Club.
When asked the best thing he learned at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School Stephen Lee indicated, “During Economics class with Mr. Hesting, he said 'Find something you love and find a way to make money doing it.' Ever since he gave that advice, it has been my primary focus.”
Ganna Yoytseshko will be graduating with a weighted GPA of 4.9219. She will be attending the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida and plans to major in computer science.
Ganna serves as the vice president of the SPCHS National Honor Society, is a member Phi Theta Kappa, the St. Petersburg College honor society, and will soon be a graduate of the SPC Honors College. She is also a member of the SPC Science and Engineering Club and serves as a senator for the St. Petersburg College St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus Student Government Association. This summer, Ganna will participate in the Tech Data Exploratory Boot Camp where she will learn valuable skills to bridge the gap between education and the workplace from industry experts.
When asked how she has changed since her freshman year, Ganna stated: "I’ve grown up, and I have realized that the world is what you make of it. As Aristotle said, 'Happiness depends upon ourselves.' No matter the situation, it is important to keep going and work harder to make a better future.”
To read more about Ganna and Stephen Lee, look for the Valedictorian and Salutatorian section in the Tampa Bay Times at the end of May or early June.