Hillsborough Virtual School: Tribune scholars profiles and essays

More than 200 of Hillsborough County’s top high school seniors from 35 public and private schools accepted an invitation to share their accomplishments and take part in an essay contest through the 2021 R.F. “Red” Pittman Tribune Scholars program. Their profiles and essays are published here, just as the students submitted them. To search all schools, click here.

Trinity M. House

School activities and accomplishments:

1. Valedictorian of Hillsborough Virtual School Senior Class of 2021

2. President of Mu Alpha Alpha Honor Society

3. Member of the National Honor Society

4. Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

5. Member of School Advisory Board

6. Over 100 volunteer hours of community service

College or other post-high school plans:

Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Community Education Specialization, University of West Florida

Essay:

COVID-19 has negatively impacted all of us, and it has prompted the government to impose laws and guidelines to prevent it from spreading. Contrasting rules, however, make it difficult to determine which ones to follow. For example, to avoid contracting the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all wear masks. However, several states have dropped their mask mandate, making it confusing for some.

This problem is also contradictory on a local level. While there is no mask requirement in Florida, masks are required in Hillsborough County. The main reason why there are contrasting rules is that in certain states there has been a decrease in cases, so the percentage of obtaining COVID-19 is lessened, but still prevalent.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that transportation domestically and internationally continues to lead to the transmission of the virus, the steps that I believe would best stem the spread of the virus are that local and state levels continue to set their own guidelines but are required to fully educate their citizens on the federal level CDC recommendations.

I agree that we should (especially tourists) wear a mask (over our mouth and nose), social distance, wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, and avoid crowds as much as possible until we reach herd immunity. Overall, COVID-19 is a global feat, and we must do the best that we can to protect ourselves and others, which includes following the most accurate precautions.

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Kaylee Rogers

School activities and accomplishments:

1. Volunteering at Brandon Regional Hospital gaining 100 community service hours.

2. Working at Party Planet for 2 years.

3. Running KayleesKreationsINC, a successful online business for 4 years.

4. Member of the International Skating Institute (ISI) for 4 years.

5. Member of Model United Nations in Sophomore year.

6. Dual Enrollment since Freshman year.

College or other post-high school plans:

I will be attending the University of South Florida to obtain my bachelor’s degree in political science and focus my study on pre-law.