Schools
Not Even A Pandemic Could Hold These 2020 Graduates Back
The Hillsborough County School District said the accomplishments and recognitions of the class of 2020 will outshine any national emergency.
Despite the cancellation of formal graduation ceremonies, more than 13,000 seniors in Hillsborough County Public Schools will obtain their high school diploma this year and continue their future plans in college, the military or directly into a career.
"The valedictorians and salutatorians worked tirelessly to reach the top of their class and are honored for their hard work and dedication to excellence," said Superintendent Addison Davis.
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The students who earned top honors in their class include twins (Strawberry Crest HS), co-valedictorians (Durant HS) and a valedictorian who earned a 10.87 GPA (Plant HS).
Alonso High School
- Principal: Kenneth Hart
- Anticipated number of graduates: 595
- Valedictorian: Arlene Midulla GPA: 7.668
- Salutatorian: Walter Acosta GPA: 7.0487
- Class president: Levian Hall
- School colors: Navy Blue, Gold and White
- School mascot: Ravens
Hillsborough County School District
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Armwood High School
- Principal: Joseph Castelli
- Anticipated number of graduates: 498
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Lora Tuzzolino GPA: 6.02
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Isaac Fernandes GPA: 5.85
- Valedictorian (Collegiate Academy): Lizett Chavez GPA: 7.96
- Salutatorian (Collegiate Academy): Megan Gafford GPA: 7.74
- Class president: Valentina Montoya
- School colors: Gray, Blue and Maroon
- School mascot: Hawks
Hillsborough County Schools
Blake High School
- Principal: Jesse Salters
- Anticipated number of graduates: 342
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Abelardo Iglesias GPA: 6.0162
- Valedictorian (Magnet): Leigh Raquel Ives GPA: 7.9200
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Nathalie Ninfa Gonzalez GPA: 5.3442
- Salutatorian (Magnet): Annagrace Wonders Brackin GPA: 7.4036
- Class president: Synaa Colon
- School colors: Black and Yellow
- School mascot: Yellow jackets
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Bloomingdale High School
- Principal: Sue Burkett
- Anticipated number of graduates: 589
- Valedictorian: Andrew Tidd GPA: 8.64
- Salutatorian: Jordan Chastain GPA: 8.52
- Class president: Gabriella Martinez
- School colors: Red, Black, and White
- School mascot: Bulls
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Brandon High School
- Principal: Jennifer Sparano
- Anticipated number of graduates: 455
- Valedictorian: Gerardo Aponte GPA: 8.14
- Salutatorian: Catherine Harman GPA: 6.88
- Class president: Shamaniqua Lessane
- School colors: Maroon and White
- School mascot: Eagle
Hillsborough County School District
Chamberlain High School
- Principal: Jake Russell
- Anticipated number of graduates: 345
- Valedictorian: Jonathan Raymond Clark GPA: 6.2385
- Salutatorian: Gabrielle Suzanne Mitchell GPA: 6.2152
- Class president: Kacy-Noel Danette Baker
- School colors: Green and Gold
- School mascot: Chiefs
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Durant High School
- Principal: Gary Graham
- Anticipated number of graduates: 550
- Co-Valedictorian: Christopher Felegy GPA: 7.560
- Co-Valedictorian: Miranda Bihler GPA: 7.560
- Class president: Madison Smith
- School colors: Navy, Gold, White
- School mascot: Cougar
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
East Bay High School
- Principal: Amy Stevens-Cox
- Anticipated number of graduates: 580
- Valedictorians: Ethan Sisouphone GPA: 7.64
- Salutatorians: Perla Gonzalez GPA: 6.91
- Class president: Alexis Velazquez
- School colors: Red and Gray
- School mascot: Indians
Freedom High School
- Principal: Kevin Stephenson
- Anticipated number of graduates: 360
- Valedictorian: Taravat Tarahomi GPA: 7.382
- Salutatorian: Cynthia Nguyen GPA: 7.28
- Class president: Owen Barno
- School colors: Red, White and Blue
- School mascot: Patriot
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Gaither High School
- Principal: Thomas Morrill
- Anticipated number of graduates: 490
- Valedictorian: Kateri Caridad Espinosa GPA: 8.30
- Salutatorian: Caitlin Grace Singer GPA: 8.24
- Class president: Winter Whipple
- School colors: Blue, Silver, and White
- School mascot: Cowboys
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Hillsborough High School
- Principal: Gary Brady
- Anticipated number of graduates: 355
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Kyla Battle GPA: 6.47
- Valedictorian (IB): Brianna “Meimei” Wang GPA: 7.5365
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Duncan McEwen GPA: 5.83
- Salutatorian (IB): Dylan Houchin GPA: 7.48
- Class president: Co-Presidents: Diadelys Mena and Cassandra Truong
- School colors: Red and Black
- School mascot: Terriers
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Hillsborough Virtual School
- Director: Christina Russell
- Anticipated number of graduates: 48
- Valedictorian: Andrea Colon GPA: 6.10
- Salutatorian: Alexander Capalbo GPA: 5.64
- School colors: Green, Black and Gold
Jefferson High School
- Principal: Robert Quinn
- Anticipated number of graduates: 366
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Samantha Groves GPA: 6.1296
- Valedictorian (Magnet): Leslie Facio-Aguiniga GPA: 7.7055
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Daniel Pimienta GPA: 5.8679
- Salutatorian (Magnet) : Amine Rizk GPA: 6.5831
- Class President: Deana Gallegos-Walters
- School colors: Blue and Gold
- Mascot: Dragons
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
King High School
- Principal: Arlene Castelli
- Anticipated number of graduates: 400
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Reagan Overton GPA: 8.64
- Valedictorian (IB): Aniruth Narayanan GPA: 8.92
- Salutatorian(Traditional): Jenifer Mejia GPA: 8.24
- Salutatorian (IB): Nafisa Uddin GPA: 8.66
- Class president: Khegan Meyers
- School colors: Columbia Blue, Scarlet, White
- School mascot: Lions
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Lennard High School
- Principal: Denise Savino
- Anticipated number of graduates: 600
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Ashaunti Harvin GPA: 7.4483
- Valedictorian (Collegiate Academy): Sarah Hofman GPA: 8.3600
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Beri Gill GPA: 6.4375
- Salutatorian (Collegiate Academy): Araceli Gonzalez-Rocha GPA: 8.2553
- Class president: Chanel Campbell
- School colors: Orange and White
- School mascot: Longhorns
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Leto High School
- Principal: Larissa McCoy
- Anticipated number of graduates: 525
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Lensay Leon GPA: 7.37
- Valedictorian (Collegiate Academy): Karen Rodriguez-Figuere GPA: 8.09
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Gabriela Hondal GPA: 7.05
- Salutatorian (Collegiate Academy): Giana Perez GPA: 7.79
- Class president: Faith Pinamang
- School colors: Red, White and Gold
- School mascot: Falcons
Hillsborough County School District
Middleton High School
- Principal: Tiatasha Brown
- Anticipated number of graduates: 365
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Lauren Matthews GPA: 6.4231
- Valedictorian (Magnet): Mauli Bhogade GPA: 10.33
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Roshard Jackson GPA: 5.3611
- Salutatorian (Magnet): Aayush Singh GPA: 9.544
- Class president: Victoria App
- School colors: Maroon and Gold
- School mascot: Tiger
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Newsome High School
- Principal: Carla Bruning
- Anticipated number of graduates: 750
- Valedictorian: Alexander Dyer GPA: 9.68
- Salutatorian: Alexander Fullerton GPA: 9.4061
- Class president: Alec Moskowitz
- School colors: Navy, Carolina Blue and White
- School mascot: Wolves
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Plant High School
- Principal: Johnny Bush
- Anticipated number of graduates: 592
- Valedictorian: Riley Schofner GPA: 10.87
- Salutatorian: Alixandra Rubin GPA: 10.40
- Class president: David Tuohy
- School colors: Black and Gold
- School mascot: Panthers
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Plant City High School
- Principal: Susan Sullivan
- Anticipated number of graduates: 500
- Valedictorian: Simran Kumar GPA: 9.64
- Salutatorian: Kyle Hamilton GPA: 9.635
- Class president: Kyle Hamilton
- School colors: Orange and Teal
- School mascot: Raiders
Riverview High School
- Principal: Danielle Shotwell
- Anticipated number of graduates: 633
- Valedictorian: Miranda Holder GPA: 8.4641
- Salutatorian: Brantley Neer GPA: 8.400
- Class president: Jaime Carradero
- School colors: Royal Blue, Black, and Silver
- School mascot: Sharks
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Robinson High School
- Principal: Robert Bhoolai
- Anticipated number of graduates: 346
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Myron Ausby GPA: 6.287
- Valedictorian: (IB): Srikavin Ramkumar GPA: 8.078
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Kaleigh McFadden GPA: 6.142
- Salutatorian (IB): Esha Babu GPA: 8.04
- Class president: Joshua Hall-Gomez
- School colors: Black, White, and Silver
- School mascot: Knights
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Sickles High School
- Principal: Mary Freitas
- Anticipated number of graduates: 560
- Valedictorian: Sara Rusheidat GPA: 7.95
- Salutatorian: Brian Pholvichitr GPA: 7.63
- Class president: Rama Al-Samkari
- School colors: Green and Grey
- School mascot: Gryphon
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
South County Career Center
- Principal: Jennifer Davis
- Anticipated number of graduates: 100
- School colors: Black and Gold
- School mascot: Bobcat
Spoto High School
- Principal: Dr. Jazrick Haggins
- Anticipated number of graduates: 382
- Valedictorian: Amy Lamas GPA: 8.6652
- Salutatorian: Shirleann Quinones GPA: 6.5270
- Class president: Amy Lamas
- School colors: Purple and Silver
- School mascot: Spartan
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Steinbrenner High School
- Principal: Kelly King
- Anticipated number of graduates: 605
- Valedictorian: Jonathan Barbara GPA: 8.60
- Salutatorian: Rebekah Hurwitz GPA: 8.32
- Class president: Ava Merquetegui Lucke
- School colors: Navy Blue and Athletic Gold
- School mascot: Warriors
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Strawberry Crest High School
- Principal: Christina Raburn
- Anticipated number of graduates: 496
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Brindha-Lee Iyer GPA: 8.54
- Valedictorian (IB): Benjamin Sherwin GPA: 8.50
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Arturo Fuentes Jr. GPA: 7.12
- Salutatorian (IB): Nicholas Sherwin GPA: 8.49
- Class president: Autumn Miller
- School colors: Red, Black, and Silver
- School mascot: Chargers
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Tampa Bay Technical High School
- Principal: Michael Ippolito
- Anticipated number of graduates: 466
- Valedictorian (Traditional): Sophia Alonso GPA: 7.47
- Valedictorian (Academy of Health): Eileen Vara GPA: 7.99
- Valedictorian (Academy of Architecture): Deven Brown GPA: 7.07
- Salutatorian (Traditional): Lon Schultz GPA: 7.02
- Salutatorian (Academy of Health): Emeraude Wilson GPA: 7.96
- Salutatorian (Academy of Architecture): Cody Sackles GPA: 7.0
- Class president: Samaiya Jackson
- School colors: Red, Navy and White
- School mascot: Titan
Hillsborough County School District
Wharton High School
- Principal: Michael Rowan
- Anticipated number of graduates: 553
- Valedictorian: Sarrah Abdulali GPA: 8.88
- Salutatorian: Yash Patel GPA: 8.64
- Class president: Madelyn Crum
- School colors: Navy Blue, Black and White
- School mascot: Wildcats
Courtesy Hillsborough County Schools
Congratulations to all Hillsborough County's 2020 high school graduates. Friends and family are invited to post special notes of congratulations to seniors in the comments section of this story.
Note: Not all high school videos were available for posting. To see more, visit the Hillsborough County Public Schools Facebook page.
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