Parents Pen Touching Messages To Hillsborough County Graduates

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — With Florida schools canceled for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to the coronavirus, high school seniors are missing out on once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Proms, grad bashes, spring concerts and graduation commencement ceremonies have been postponed or canceled, leaving high school seniors with no opportunity to take part in these traditional milestones.

Florida Patch wants to help families share the achievements of their high school graduates. We're asking families to fill out a short form for their graduates, and Patch will compile the information and share it on an ongoing basis throughout the month of May.

We hope this will give the community a way to share its pride in the Class of 2020.

You can find the form here.

Congratulations to these students:

Jake Iller, Plant High School, will attend Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, studying mechanical engineering and playing for the university soccer team.

Message: We are so proud of your athletic and academic accomplishments! It’s time to soar. We love you, Mom & Dad

Rose De la Cruz, King High School, will attend Hillsborough Community College to become a veterinary assistant.

Message: Wishing you good luck and success all through your life! Congratulations, baby!! Mom loves you!

Jinia Johnson, Wharton High School, will attend Florida Southern College.

Message: We are so proud of everything you have accomplished! We look forward to the future!

Noah Gamson, Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, will be attending the University of Central Florida to pursue a degree in psychology.

Message: Congratulations on receiving the Eatroff scholarship and all your accomplishments! We are so proud of you and your hard work!

Lon Schultz III, Tampa Bay Technical High School, will attend the University of South Florida to major in business.

Message: Congratulations. Lon. We are proud, blessed and honored to have you as our son. To graduate salutatorian and with your AA from HCC is a major accomplishment. Continue to work hard and keep God first. We love you! Dad, Mom, Laila and family

Isabella King, Tampa Catholic, will attend Florida State University.

Message: Brilliant student, hard worker, beautiful girl and a blessing to have as a daughter. Your family is incredibly proud. We are excited for your FSU journey! Congrats 2020! Love you!

Maddison P. Westmoreland, Plant City High School, will attend Central Florida University.

Message: My heart bursts with pride at what you have accomplished. We love you to the moon and back.

Ava Weston, Sickles High School, attending the University of South Florida to study engineering and math.

Message: Graduating 53rd out of 590 students is an amazing accomplishment, while training, traveling and playing club volleyball across the country. We are so proud and love you to the moon and back.

Joevon Miguel Rentas, Tampa Bay Technical High School. Joevon will be graduating with his high school diploma along with a certification in medical assisting. Then he will head off to the Army National Guard to become a soldier and work as a heavy wheeled mechanic. When he returns from boot camp and training, he will attend college in Florida but he is not sure where just yet.

Message: Joevon, we know you're missing out on a lot of memories this final year, but you are so resilient, so powerful, and so smart! We have so much faith in you, and your kindness and patience toward others is exactly what this world needs right now. We are SO, SO proud of you, Bunnies, and we can't wait to see what your future holds! We love you so much ! So, parents, let's throw those graduation caps up into the air and celebrate with our kids because they ALL ROCK! #QuarentinedClassof2020

Jordan Fahringer, Durant High School, will attend the University of Florida to major in engineering.

Message: Jordan, we are beyond proud of your accomplishments. You have worked so hard to get to this point, and graduating as an honor student and already part-way through your degree with dual enlistment is a great accomplishment. You are an example for us all and for many other students. Well done. We love you.

Christopher Imhoff, Bloomingdale High School, who's still deciding between college and the Air Force Reserve.

Message: Congratulations. We are so proud of you and look forward to what you will do in the future.

Ethan Shaffer, Bloomingdale High School, is attending the University of Florida in the pre-med program.

Message: We are sooooo proud of you, buddy!

Simone Francis, Hillsborough High School IB Program, is attending the University of South Florida School of Music.

Message: So proud of you. The music world is gaining a star like you!

Uma Vogeti, King High School, is attending the University of Florida, majoring in biomedical engineering.

Message: Congratulations. We are super proud of you!! The world is yours to conquer.

Jessamina Nieves, Florida Virtual School, of Lithia will be attending Hillsborough Community College to study criminal psychology.

Message: We are so proud of all your accomplishments.
Love Mom, GMA, Joe.

Dominic DiPiazza, Foundation Christian Academy, is headed to EMT school in May and will attend the University of Tampa in the fall for criminology.

Message: We are very proud of all your hard work. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.

Love, Mom and Dad

Denim Hughes, Durant High School, is attending Florida State University.

Message: Words cannot describe how incredibly proud I am of you. Graduating 18th in your class, being on the varsity dive and swim team, and making both Cover Girl and Strawberry Court are just a few accomplishments you achieved your senior year. This is just the beginning of many more great things to come. Congratulations and love you to the moon and back. Mom

Nick Spurlin, Jesuit High School, is attending the University of Florida where he will major in business.

Message: Nick, we are all so proud of you. From a little boy you have set goals for yourself and worked to achieve them. Getting into all six colleges you applied to and earning scholarships to attend is something you should be proud of. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Remember, we will always be your biggest fans. Love, Mom, Dad, Mike, and Amanda

Elizabeth Temple, Armwood High School, is attending Florida State University majoring in meteorology.

Message: Keep reaching for the stars, your dreams will come true! We love you, Mommy, Daddy and Jillian

Abbi Paplin, Strawberry High School International Baccalaureate, is attending Florida State University.

Message: We are so proud of all Abbi has accomplished. You navigated the IB Program and are ready to grow at FSU. We know how amazing you are and can't wait to see where your life goes! Love, Dad and Mom

Erin Bishop, H.B. Plant High School, is attending college, majoring in pre-med.

Message: We are so proud of all you have accomplished, Erin! We will continually celebrate you and your successes no matter what curveballs life throws at us! We love you!

Ally Aves, Berkeley Preparatory School, will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, to pursue a degree in biochemistry. She plans to continue her education to become a dual-degreed oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Message: Congratulations, Ally! Follow your own path and continue shining brightly. Your amazing life has only just begun. We love you and are so proud of you! Mom, Dad and Izzy

Mackenzie Hicks, Tampa Catholic High School, will atttend Florida State University for biological science on a pre-med track.

Message: We are so proud of your accomplishments and excited to see where your journey takes you. You are loved beyond measure.

Nashalee Arzuaga, Chamberlain High School, will be attending the Honors Program at Hillsborough Community College in the fall.

Message: Your family is very proud of you, Nash! It wasn't easy but you did it. Mom wishes you the best in your future and always. I love you!

Shirleann Frances, Spoto High School, will be attending the University of South Florida majoring in public health.

Message: Congratulations on being your class’ salutatorian and acceptance to USF. We’re very proud of you!

Vallye Catelynn Adams, Gaither High School, is attending the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to major in stage management.

Message: Catelynn, you are our shining light and such a wonderful ray of sunshine to everyone who knows you. Go, follow your dreams and light the world, share your talents, beauty, strength and passion and make a difference as we all know you will. We love you beyond words and are with you every step of the way to cheer you on and watch you shine! Love forever, Mom, Dad, Christian and Makayla!

Alexa Westmoreland, Alonso High School, is attending the University of Central Florida this fall.

Message: Congratulations, Alexa! Your dedication and passion to your studies, your family, your faith and your friends is amazing. You truly are a shining star and we are forever grateful to be your parents. We love you always...keep smiling and enjoying life, honey. Thanks for being you!

Trevor Yarborough, Robinson High School, is going into the United States Air Force.

Message: Congrats Trevor! Keep doing what you do and remember to always enjoy life. You're the most kind-hearted, funny, dedicated and NEVER late to anything person. Don't ever change. We love you! C/O 2020.........Love , Mom & Jacob

Jaiden Gant, East Bay High School, will attend Hillsborough Community College to earn her degree in education.

Message: Jaiden, we are so proud of you and everything you have accomplished. You are such an amazing girl with a bright future ahead of you. Always reach for your dreams! We love you.

Marianne Porras, Tampa Catholic High School, is majoring in biomedical engineering at Florida International University.

Message: We love you and we are very proud of your accomplishments!!! We know you are going to do great at college!

Sophia Blaze, Alonso High School, is attending Florida State University to pursue a career in sports medicine.

Message: Sophia, we are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Most of all we are proud of the person you have become. We love you very much!

Torrie Edmondson, Durant High School, will be attending Hillsborough Community College in the dental field.

Message: We are so proud of you, Torrie. Daddy is looking down from heaven giving you so many hugs, bigs kisses, saying YOU DID IT!! Life has thrown so many curve balls at you in this short life. You have shown your strength and KEPT GOING. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!! Mama loves you!! Congrats, baby girl C/O2020 #DurantHighSchool#SoProud#Daddybaby#mamsgirl#Theyearlikenoother#coronavirus

Jayda Peacock, Sickles High School, will be attending Hillsborough Community College for her associate of arts degree, then the University of South Florida for her bachelor's degree. She is pursuing a career in psychology.

Message: I am very proud of your accomplishments so far. Captain of the Sentations Color Guard team, yearbook committee, drama while maintaining your grades ... Remember the sky is the limit. You can do anything you put your mind to. Your Mother adores you! Congratulations!

Kendra Hacker, Bloomingdale High School, is attending the University of Florida, majoring in mathematics or engineering.

Message: Congratulations, Kendra! We are so proud of you and love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad, Connor and Tyler

Reese Corscadden, Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, will atttend The University of Tampa, majoring in biology/ere-med and playing baseball as a Spartan.

Message: Reese, we are very proud of your consistency in hard work and character! Your hard work academically and athletically keeps opening doors and providing you amazing options to choose from and grow. Keep learning, working and setting goals! We love you beyond, Dad, Mom and E