Increasingly, students at Hernando County's private schools are graduating with a leg up on higher education. Many of the seniors graduating in the coming days have taken advantage of dual enrollment at branches of Pasco-Hernando Community College while completing high school courses.
Three young men graduating today from Wider Horizons College Preparatory School in Spring Hill have already earned associate's degrees from PHCC.
Pranav Lokin also was awarded one of PHCC's two highest awards for achieving a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Lokin was also secretary of student government at PHCC.
Hernando Christian Academy in Brooksville will award diplomas this evening to 16 young people. Valedictorian Dakota d'Ambrosio and salutatorian Brielle Knight both have been dual enrolled at PHCC while in high school.
Spring Hill Christian Academy, which will graduate eight students, "one of our larger classes," said principal Mike Willis, is led by valedictorian Lauren Cain.
Cain has completed high school in three years, taking courses at PHCC at the same time. She has qualified for a Bright Futures scholarship. On her record are more than 120 hours of community service.
Salutatorian Erin Lambert will receive her diploma with course credits already at PHCC. She intends to complete an associate's degree there, then go on to pursue a medical degree through the Air Force.
Among 16 graduates of home schooling, whose educations have been facilitated through Home Circle, four have already been awarded associate's degrees from PHCC. They are Lisa Marie Basciano, Alexander Garcia, Isaiah Dix and Marsha Johnson.
Parents presented diplomas on May 14 to the 16, of whom Home Circle president Elizabeth Witherell said, "They are all valedictorians because they all came from their own home school."
At the commencement, each graduate performed in some way: singing, playing piano or guitar, or public speaking.
Beth N. Gray can be reached at graybethn@earthlink.net.
Class of 2011
Wider Horizons
Commencement: 9 a.m. today at the school
Co-valedictorian: Pranav Lokin
Parent: Dr. Manjusrc Vennamaneni
GPA: 4.0
College: University of Tampa
Co-valedictorian: Kingsley Barte
Parents: Neil and Verna Barte
GPA: 3.9
College: University of Florida.
Salutatorian: Tylor Hubbard
Parents: Lorie and Dave Hubbard
GPA: 3.8
College: University of Tampa.
Hernando Christian Academy
Commencement: 7 p.m. today at the school.
Valedictorian: Dakota d'Ambrosio
Parents: Vincent and Heidi d'Ambrosio
GPA: 3.8
College: University of South Florida
Salutatorian: Brielle Knight
Parents: Scott and Stephanie Knight
GPA: 3.8
College: St. Leo University
Graduating seniors: Courtney Flynn Birkins, Maggialle Sue Cuervo, Benjamin George Dzugen, Madeline May Hanshaw, William Lee Harper Jr., Richard Walter Hotchkiss III, Joshua Kautsky, Nathan John Kautsky, Amber Rose Matson, Bradley Thomas Moore, Shelby Nicole Sexton, Qigao Wang, Joshua Webber, Qiong Hu
Spring Hill Christian Academy
Commencement: 6 p.m. June 5 at Spring Hill Baptist Church
Valedictorian: Lauren Cain
Parents: Elbert and Maria Cain
GPA: 4.25
College: Undecided
Salutatorian: Erin Lambert
Parents: Ronald and Sheila Lambert
GPA: 3.14
College: Pasco-Hernando Community College
Graduating seniors: Ben Mikule, Robert Smith, Bryan Snyder, Christina Vykhopen, Katrina Long, Mark Lopez
West Hernando Christian Academy
Commencement: 3 p.m. Saturday at Christian Church in the Wildwood
Valedictorian: Jasmine Loree Grey
Parents: Paul and Wanda Grey
GPA: 4.08
College: University of South Florida
Salutatorian: Sophie Rae Smith
Parents: Debra Ludesdorff, and Greg and Sondra Smith
GPA: 4.03
College: Pasco-Hernando Community College
Graduating Seniors: Garrett Michael Banks, Bryan Edward Bunnell, Toren Brenten DeSantis, Rachel Jennifer Galbo, Hannah Lea Grey, Jasmine Loree Grey, Madison Elizabeth Grigsby, Sarah Michelle Hand, Victoria Michelle Helmuth, Christina Cheri Hildreth, Sierra Alexandra Jager, Cody Nathanial Jones, Catrina Marie Kallmeyer, Nikita Alexeyevna Kostjukoff, Eric Allen Miller, Charlett Elizabeth Nash, Amanda Whitney O'Beid, Steven Mitchell Olejniczak, Sara Nicole Preslicka, Katie Lynn Rodrigues de Miranda, Deanna Victoria Saginario, Sophie Rae Smith, Tyler R. Strong
Home Circle
Commencement: Held May 14 at Spring Hill Baptist Church.
Graduates: Lisa Marie Basciano, Alexander Garcia, Isaiah Dix, Marsha Johnson, Jesse Balogh, Rebecca Carlson, Olivia Campbell, Deanna Clark, Paige Curtis, Jason Ferreira, Benjamin Holzaepfel, Rachel Martin, Briana Mitten, Ashley Wheeler, Brittany L. Whitney, Jacob Witherell.
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