Twin Brothers at Shorecrest Share Passion to Serve

ST. PETERSBURG – The Nunnelly twins follow a family passion to serve. This extends to their volunteer work at the Ribfest selling corn to raise money for kids aging out of foster care to auctioning handcrafted soup bowls to benefit the St. Pete Free Clinic.

 Luke and Nick Nunnelly – a pair of 18-year-old seniors at Shorecrest Preparatory – already have had a positive impact on their school and community. Yet the boys see they have so much opportunity in the future to do more. Pursuing the passion to serve is fundamental, they say.

"Giving is one of the most fulfilling, selfless actions a person can take part in," said Luke. "Civic engagement, in a way, is giving your time and effort to a cause which you believe in greatly, which is the effective facilitation of the programs at the school."

The twins' role model is their maternal grandfather, Dr. Donald Frazier of Kentucky. Frazier has worked as a physician and professor. They said their grandfather has implored young people interested in science to follow careers in the field, as he has done.

"My grandfather showed me to do something I am passionate about,” said Luke. “If you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life.”

The twins are not sure what their college choices will be; they may follow in the footsteps of their two older brothers, who studied at Harvard.

Or, they may blaze their own trails. Often it is important to twins to form their own individual identities, taking separate paths as they enter adulthood.

Nick is the natural writer and has won awards for the plays he has written. Nick was tapped to go to Princeton recently to be recognized for a play he authored.

Luke is more science-minded. But he also has an interest in language and writing.

Both of their parents are medical doctors who work in the Tampa Bay area.

The twins attended Shorecrest since kindergarten. Although they are identical, with teachers pretty much telling them apart by their shoes, they each are very accomplished in their own right.

Nick likes to describe the twin team using a basketball metaphor—they both play on Shorecrest's varsity team. "We are kind of two very different people but the differences work together to make a very complete picture,’’ he said.

 “Although we both have different basketball playing styles, Luke is the better shooter and dribbler. I am definitely a passer and rebounder," Nick said.

 Community service is not just something they do, it is a lifestyle, both boys agree. The two have both tutored and raised money for foster kids who age out of the program. Plus, they have helped with the Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity programs.

 About this column: A monthly profile of students making a difference in their schools and communities.