J.W. Mitchell High Valedictorian and Salutatorian of 2013

Paige DePagter | valedictorian

Parent's names: Chad DePagter, Jane DePagter

GPA: 3.9795; Weighted: 4.6136

Future school: University of South Florida

Most influential or best teacher: Ed Braddy

Hardships overcome: My brother's battle with lymphoma last year definitely impacted my life tremendously. I spent a lot of time with him in the hospital and had to work harder at things that had previously been so easy. ...

Anclote High's Valedictorian and Salutatorian of 2013

Anclote High School, Holiday

Valedictorian: Violetta Klepatski

Parents: Vera and Vitaliy Klepatski

GPA: 3.9 Weighted: 4.6136

Future School: University of South Florida, hopefully to go on to a graduate degree at MIT or other out-of-state university.

Ideal Career: Architecture.

Most influential/best teacher: Matt Kingsley....

Here are Sunlake High's 2013 valedictorian and salutatorian

Ashelynne Hanold | valedictorian

Parents: Lori and Troy Antalek, Butch Hanold

GPA/weighted: 4.56

Future school: University of Florida

Ideal career: I would like to be involved in the medical field

Most influential/best teacher: Mr. Colin Taylor, everything that left his mouth was brilliant.

Favorite quote:

" 'The bitterness of studying is far sweeter than the bitterness of failing.' I have no idea who said this."...

Here are the top grads from Wesley Chapel's Class of 2013

Mario "Michael" Giannazzo | valedictorian

Parents: Alexandra Giannazzo and Thomas Giannazzo

GPA: 3.96; weighted: 4.62

Future school: Brown University

Ideal career: Lead video game designer

Most influential/best teacher: Kyle Weber, social studies

Favorite quote:

"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it."...

Meet the Zephyrhills High valedictorian and salutatorian of 2013

Savana Wright | valedictorian

Parents: Jill and Robert Wright

Weighted GPA: 4.4

Future school: University of Florida

Ideal career: Undecided

Most influential/best teacher: Cecil James (science), Harold Dana (gifted), Joseph Gude (social studies), Tara Rio (language arts), Catherine Burgess (art)

Favorite quote/best advice:...

Ridgewood High School's best of the Class of 2013

Mary Kay Kujak | valedictorian

Parent: Teri Kujak

GPA/weighted: 4.7

Future school: Baylor University

Ideal career: Medical examiner

Most influential/best teacher: Leslie Hibbs

Favorite quote:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope for the future." ...

Athenian Academy students create their own bliss with school garden

NEW PORT RICHEY — Once they'd finished the FCAT, the students at Athenian Academy ventured outdoors to water and weed and mulch and plant.

The effort has been about three years in the making, and now the garden is flush with maturing tomato and pumpkin plants, red cabbage, potatoes, green peppers and a colorful assortment of blooming cosmos and petunias.

And while greenery is the main focus, the garden has sprouted a different kind of growth in students — some who go there to talk out problems in group counseling sessions, practice yoga poses after school, express their artistic talent by painting murals on the surrounding walls or simply dig in as a member of the school's garden club....

Meet the Wiregrass Ranch valedictorians, salutatorian of 2013

Hannah Eder | co-valedictorian

Parents: Andrea and John Eder

GPA/weighted: 4.674

Future school: University of Florida

Ideal career: Orthodontist

Most influential/best teachers: Nicholas Cuviello (science) and coach Don Howard.

Favorite quote

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." ...

Meet the 2013 Pasco High valedictorian, salutatorian

T.J. Pyche | valedictorian

Parents: T.J. Pyche and Natalie Macey

GPA weighted: 4.67

Future school: University of Florida

Ideal career: School administrator

Most influential or best teacher: Ninth grade English teacher Janet Stevens

Favorite quote:

"When the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes — not that you won or lost— but how you played the game."...

Meet the 2013 valedictorian and salutatorian of Hudson High

Sarah Staley | Valedictorian

Parents: Barbara Staley and Kirk Staley

GPA: 3.88 Weighted: 4.37

Future school: Florida Gulf Coast University or Florida Southern College

Ideal career: Engineer

Most influential/best teacher: Steve Casel

Favorite quote

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." ...

Land O'Lakes teen put passion for medicine, technology into mobile clinic's website

Justin Zloty knows a little something about the importance of putting your best foot forward. He's the kind of kid who shows up to have his picture taken wearing a suit and tie and offers an earnest smile, a firm handshake and a polite "thank you" when it's all over.

The 18-year-old has proven his proficiency in mathematics and computers, skills he has been honing since the second grade, when he started designing educational games with his older brother, Joshua, using a TI-83 plus graphing calculator....

Hudson glass artist turns loved one's ashes into timeless mementos

HUDSON — Most mornings, Cherri Pearson can be found working at the Pasco Art Asylum, a humble gallery on U.S. 19 that she shares with a few fellow artists. But on Mondays, when the shop is closed, she hones her craft in her backyard workshop.

As usual, she's dressed for the fire, donning jeans and a T-shirt, a well-worn pair of flame-retardant arm protectors, safety goggles and a stars-and-stripes kerchief wrapped over her waist-length hair, knotted into a long pony tail....

Meet River Ridge High's valedictorian and salutatorian

Michelle Vanderhoof | Valedictorian

Parents: Rita and George Vanderhoof.

GPA: 4.71, weighted

Future School: University of South Florida

Ideal Career: Pharmacy

Most influential/best teacher: Julie Hallwas/AP Chemistry and physics and Mark Colen/ AP Calculus

Favorite quote

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." ...

Two April art shows

Folklore has it that April brings spring showers, but here in Pasco it also heralds the opening of two local art shows worth taking in.

• The Progress Energy Art Gallery offers a little something out of the ordinary and the opportunity to look deeper, listen more and see creative ways to rework the old and discarded at its April showing.

"Oddball," featuring oil paintings by Jacabo Navarro, opens with a Meet the Artist reception and First Friday Party from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the gallery. Also on exhibit is "See What I Hear," featuring the work of local artists who have been inspired to put sound to canvas or capture what they hear through the lens of a camera. Giving a nod to Earth Day is a collection of up-cycled and recycled objects including an exhibit of J.W. Mitchell High students who have repurposed books of all sorts into works of art....