Do you want to show everyone that you are a proud graduate, alumni, or parent of Admiral Farragut Academy? We are providing cover photos all ready for Facebook that will show off your BlueJacket spirit! Simply right click on the image you want, save it to your computer, and then click “upload new cover photo” on your Facebook profile page. It’s that easy!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/farragut.org)!
The NewDay USA Foundation is offering scholarships to young women in grades 8 – 11 to prepare them to become leaders in their chosen industry and/or careers within an academic environment of leadership responsibility, character development and personal motivation.
July 1, 2016
On the morning of Tuesday, April 26th our 8th grade marine science students explored shark tanks with aquarists at Shedd Aquarium located in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Sari Deitche, who is originally from Chicago, enrolled into the Live from Behind the Scenes program so students could hear from Shedd experts, trainers, and veterinarians about their experience taking care of sharks and the aquariums. Each individual has very important roles such as feeding the sharks, documenting how much each shark eats, and even diving into the aquariums (with the sharks) to provide maintenance or collect shark eggs to be added to the nursery. Students even had the opportunity to create their own theory for how or where sharks should be tagged for identification.
Here is a video of one of our students asking Shedd experts the question, “What type of training and education do you have to go through to get this job?”
Here is a recap of last Thursday’s Class 1A Region meet from Calvary Christian in which the boys team captured first and the girls team finished in second. The top four in their respective events move on to the state tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
“To have both the boys and the girls finish where they did is a testament to their hard work all season,” BlueJackets coach Arron Prather said. “It is truly amazing to see each and every one of these athletes improve throughout the year the way they have. We have such a good mix of veterans and youth that the leaders have shown the way for the younger athletes and the younger ones have responded in a great way.”
Article featured in the Tampa Bay Times, “New Admiral Farragut coach notches first boys region title”
The Parents’ Group held their last meeting of the year on Wednesday, May 4th. They celebrated a very successful year, raising approximately $105,000! The group also completed several beautification projects and held social events for families. The proceeds will be used for items such as: painting of school vans, new rod iron fence for waterfront property, ceiling fans for the east and west lounge, outdoor basketball court repairs, a new lower school marquee sign, and upper school classroom renovations to name a few.
In addition, an election for the 2016-2017 Executive Board was held. The board for next year is: President: Denise Colangelo, Vice President: Saskia Etter, Secretary: Carolyn DeMaio,Treasurer: July Bonilla. We look forward to another successful year.
SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR’S MAIN SCHOOLWIDE PARENT EVENTS:
The BlueJackets softball team had its dream season come to an end Thursday, losing 4-2 to Jacksonville University Christian in the Class 3A State Semifinals at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida.
In a game that was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was pushed back to Thursday due to inclement weather, the BlueJackets (18-3) battled to a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning after falling behind by two runs in the second inning. Corynn Miner, who will play at the University of Tampa beginning in the fall, hit a solo home run — her fifth of the season — and Jhonelle Young followed shortly thereafter with a run-scoring single.
The Christians (18-9), who were in the state semifinals for the second straight season, regained a two-run lead an inning later when Nyah Morgan hit an inside-the-park home run that would eventually be the game-winner.
“This ends a fantastic run this season,” BlueJackets coach Linda Derk said via email. “Proud of this team and grateful for all the support!”
The BlueJackets, who made the state semifinals for the first time ever, finish the 2016 campaign as the most successful softball team in school history. Corynn completed a stellar career at Farragut with 60 wins and more than 900 strikeouts.
Maiya Fudge, who has signed to play at Bethune Cookman, finished the season with a .314 batting average including five doubles and 17 RBIs.
Despite losing three incredible seniors — Corynn, Jhonelle and Maiya — to graduation, the BlueJackets have some impressive players returning.
Alina Dixon ‘17 batted .486 this season with 12 RBIs and 29 runs and was the team’s starting catcher. Sarah Schleich ‘17, who played first and third, batted .375 with 21 RBIs. Krystine Hartley, a seventh-grader, started at short and batted .458 with nine doubles, 21 runs and 23 RBIs. Alyssa Rano, an eighth-grader who can play multiple positions, batted .367 with three doubles, two triples, and 25 runs.
— photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Times
A group of nine girls ranging from 3rd-5th grade participated in the after school program Girls on the Run program this spring. Girls on the Run is a national youth development organization dedicated to boosting young girls’ confidence and keeping them active. On Saturday, May 7th, the program completed with a fun run at the 4th Annual Girls on the Run 5K at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.
The program encourages positive emotional, social, mental and physical development as participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at their age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. It starts with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, they look at the importance of teamwork and healthy relationships. And finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world.
Participants were Isabella Reynolds, Bella Tadros, Valentina Romano, Hannah Singleton Alexandra Wallace, Grace Vernine, Sophie Deitche, Sophia Borque, and Karolina Kutova.
After the race, they enjoyed a pool party back at Farragut.
“We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.”
– quote from Girls on the Run website.
Ed Philpot ‘76N (Laconia, New Hampshire) and Art Musicaro ‘73N (Wheeling, West Virginia)
In the world of casino gaming, seven is the lucky number so it only seems fitting that just a few miles north of Atlantic City this past weekend, we hosted one of our most successful Pine Beach Reunions for the seventh straight year!
For starters, 90 alumni and friends gathered at the Lamp Post Inn on Friday evening, 14 golfers enjoyed the links at Sea Oaks Country Club, and 18 attendees had fun at Shooters Gun Range on Saturday. The weekend event culminated on Saturday evening at the Sea Oaks Country Club where 107 guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner and program. The group included large groups from classes that have either never attended or only attended in small numbers.
JP Boustany ‘75N (Chicago, Illinois), Harry F. Theurer, III ’75N (Richboro, Pennsylvania), and Tom Martin ‘76N (Port Orange, Florida)
Speaking to a group that included classmates he had not seen since graduating in 1985, Paluso, a decorated officer in the U.S. Navy and a member of SEAL Team 3, highlighted the fact while the north campus “may only have the flagpole, the football field and the supply building still standing, but the heart and soul of the school lives on with the foundation that has helped carry us through the rest of our lives.”
Cadet Jack Winters ‘16 (Florence, Montana) CAPT Robert J. Fine, Jr., AFA (St. Petersburg, Florida), CAPT Eugene Paluso II ’85N, USN (Ret) (Charleston, South Carolina), and Cadet Michael Cooney ‘16 (St. Petersburg, Florida)
His message resonated from the shores of Pine Beach back to the waterfront of the St. Petersburg campus.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Farragut North or Farragut South, the young men and young women who go to Farragut today are the exact same as we were. Some went for the academics, some went for the regimented style, some went because their family members had attended, some went for the discipline. Whatever the reason, we all came away with the same thing — a great education, lifelong friendships, lifelong lessons and a foundation for life.”
Paluso also mentioned how the Farragut way of life propelled him — and fellow graduates, Jeff Smith and Paul Calcagno — to a successful tenure at The Citadel that would ultimately lead to him taking on the arduous journey as a U.S. Navy SEAL.
“The Citadel is very regimented and coming from Farragut, we had a leg up on our classmates. Just like at Farragut, you realize the importance of a support network and I had it there with Jeff and Paul. Whether it was knowing how to shine our shoes, square our meals, how to march, we were able to succeed where others failed early on. It continued when I became a SEAL. It wasn’t about myself. It was the same feeling you get going to Farragut.”
In closing, he finished with a statement that could very well be repeated by every Farragut graduate.
“I realized this wasn’t just about a reunion speech. This was an opportunity to say thank you to my family for pushing me on the bus to Toms River. It made me a better student, person, and man. Thank you!”
For all 2016 attendees, those who have attended in the past, and those that have not, we would really appreciate your feedback and input.
Boy’s track team makes history
The headline read, “State track: New coach leads Admiral Farragut boys back to the top.”
The photo displayed a number of athletes with their index fingers raised in the air as BlueJackets coach Arron Prather held the Florida High School Athletic Association Class A State Champions trophy in his hands.
The opening sentences of The Tampa Bay Times’ article by Andy Warrener stated that “school history” had been made and that “it had been 85 years since the boys won a state track and field title.” (With apologies to Warrener, as we all know, AFA began on the shores of Pine Beach, New Jersey in 1933.)
With Farragut’s incredible win at the state meet over the likes of perennial contenders Orlando First Academy and neighborhood rivals Shorecrest Prep and Northside Christian last weekend at IMG Academy in Bradenton, the BlueJackets added to the 2015 championship-winning achievement by the girls track team, capping a two-year run that highlights the foundation set by previous coach Phil Barnhill.
“Both coaches have played a huge role in my development as a track athlete here,” said Alex Gray ‘16, who won the 100-meters final for the second straight year along with the 200. “Coach Barnhill did a great job in helping us build a great program and Coach Prather has helped us hone in on our strengths.”
It’s been a little over two years since Farragut installed a state-of-the-art rubber track surface, which has given the BlueJackets a better venue to train. Both the boys and girls teams have improved exponentially.
After finishing fourth overall at the Class A state meet in 2014, the girls track team claimed first last season behind the record-breaking performance by Brittany McGee ‘15, who won four state titles. McGee is now competing for the track team at Stanford University.
Despite the loss of Brittany, the girls team still turned in an impressive fourth place finish at this year’s state meet. Katie Barnett ‘17 led the way with a first in the triple jump and second in long jump. Jazmine Alderman ‘19, who is in her second year at Farragut, placed second in the 200 and third in the 100; Ashaunti Brown ‘16 finished third in shot put and seventh in discus.
The girls relay teams also fared well. The team of Sydni Bostick ‘19, Faith Nelms ‘19, Katie Barnett and Jazmine Alderman placed fourth in the 4×100 and third in the 4×400.
Katie Barnett
“The girls had to make up for the loss of one of the best track athletes the Tampa Bay region will ever see,” Coach Prather said. “They responded with an incredible year and incredible performances at the state meet.”
For the boys, the title was a couple years in the making due to the fact that cadets like Sam Baker began competing in the shot and discus last year, along with Cameron Pesola in the pole vault. Keyon Jenkins ‘17, a lineman on the football team along with Sam, began competing in shot this year as well. While the three did not win an individual title at states, their performances in their respective events helped the BlueJackets secure points early in the day that would later translate into an easier path to the title.
“Keyon’s fourth in shot, Sam’s seventh in shot and Cameron’s seventh in pole vault, while not as good as they wanted or expected, helped us get points that many teams fail to get,” Coach Prather said. “They set the stage for what the other guys would do.”
Keyon Jenkins
After Alex breezed to his two victories, the BlueJackets knew they would have to turn in top three performances in the 4×100 relay and the 4×400 relay if they wanted to hold off Shorecrest and First Academy.
The 4×100 relay team of Alex Oi ‘19, Alex Gray, O’Shon Allen ‘17 and Craig Watts ‘16 did its part with a 43.23 time, finishing behind winner First Academy and second-place Indian Rocks Christian.
“It basically came down to that 4×400,” Coach Prather. “We huddled together and we prayed and looked into each other’s eyes. I started telling each of them what they needed to do and Alex Gray just looked at me and said, ‘Coach, don’t worry. We got this.’”
Alex Oi, who had began racing late in the 2015 campaign with the varsity team, raced out to a slight lead, handing off the baton to Alex Gray, who held onto the lead. Craig Watts kept a lead and gave it to Zach Fine ‘17, who was able to cross the finish line with a third-place finish for the BlueJackets. More importantly, the time of 3:27.27 gave Farragut a new school record and the necessary points — 40.5 — to beat First Academy and Shorecrest, who finished tied for second with 34.
“No one in the area thought we could do it,” Coach Prather said. “We came together and talked about the season and talked about not holding onto any grudges and allowing forgiveness to take hold of your heart and soul. It gave the guys a sense of peace and they were able to run freely.”
Staff Sergeant Michael Marcus, the supervisor of the School Protection Division of Critical Intervention Services (CIS), visited Mrs. Reynolds’ PreK class on Tuesday morning and discussed his role on campus. Known around campus as Officer Mike, he spent about an hour with the kids describing the purpose of each tool on his duty belt, including some entertaining discussion about the handcuffs, the flashlight, the first aid kit and the radio.
Perhaps the most entertaining part of the presentation came when Officer Mike asked the soon-to-be-kindergarteners the reason for carrying two handcuffs.
One answer was “to lock up a bag of gold” and another answer was to “trap and catch The Incredible Hulk.”
Officer Mike also showed the students the vehicle he uses around campus, namely how the lights work and what it’s like to sit in the driver’s seat.
Officer Mike’s visit was a part of the CIS Guardian SafeSchool Program, which was created in 2013 to explain to students the need for a comprehensive and effective security program on campus. The uniquely integrated and comprehensive nature of the program has already drawn national-level interest and recognition from the criminal justice and school safety community and has been peer reviewed by John Jay College of Criminal Justice as a model for national best practices in May 2014.
Officer Mike will be working on campus during school hours five days a week until August, when Officer Mike will begin overseeing other officers working a 24-hour cycle, seven days a week at Admiral Farragut Academy.
Thank you for your visit!
At last week’s Lower School assembly (click here for pictures), several students were recognized for their many different accolades. Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding accomplishments.
Cassandra Bonilla competed in the Taekwondo Tournament and got a Silver medal for board breaking and a Bronze medal for Form.
Blake and Barrett Backman both earned gold medals in gymnastics.
Jacob Cuesta participated in his first Tae Kwon Do tournament on April 2, 2016 held at Northside Christian School. Jacob won a Gold Medal in Forms competition, Gold Medal in Board Breaking Competition, Gold Medal in Weapons competition, Bronze medal in Olympic style Sparring and tied for 2nd place (Silver Medal) in color belt Grand Championship.
Luka Vaughn skied multiple Double Black Diamond runs for the first time which are the most difficult ski runs on a mountain outside of Expert Chutes. He also won 7 Gold Medals on the NASTAR downhill ski course for his age group.
Lorenzo Wainwright earned his Gold belt in karate.
Carlos Bonilla competed in a Taekwondo Tournament and got a Gold medal for board breaking and a Silver medal for Sparring. He also competed in a Ballroom Dancing Spring Showcase. He danced Viennese Waltz, Tango, Jive, Quickstep, Samba, Salsa, Rumba, Foxtrot and got 98 to 100 marks in all of his performances. Carlos also competed in a PCHA Horseback Riding Competition in the 14 and under age group and was the youngest rider to place in all classes he competed in. He got a 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th place ribbons.
Carson Covington won first place in the backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly in the first swim meet of the season at The Club at Treasure Island.
Blake Barnett, Brennen and Traveler Cornish, Will and Hughie Seeley and Aiden Geis teamed up together and played in the Tampa Bay Club Sports Spring Soccer League this spring.
Zachary Vaughn skied his first Expert Chutes off the top of a 11,000ft Mountain. Expert Chutes are where you jump off the cornice of a mountain onto a slope that is generally about a 60% slope or greater and ski to the bottom. He also won 7 Silver Medals for his age group on the NASTAR downhill ski course. Zac was also accepted to the Summer Freestyle Skiing Development Program at the Olympic Training Facility in Park City, Utah.
Alexandra Wallace just earned her “Yellow Belt” in Shin Do Kumate (SHIN-DOO-COO-MA-TAY) training with Master Mehrdad (MERR-DAD) in this amazing mix of martial arts. She put in a lot of time and hard work to earn this.
Jacob Arias– Jacob earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do
Brennen and Traveler Cornish– Both Brennen and Traveler Cornish worked with the Build-A-Bed program for most of the school year. Together with a small crew, the boys went to several homes of children less fortunate and have helped put together beds so the children have a comfortable place to sleep at night, sometimes for the first time in their lives.
Jillian Aprile is a competitive gymnast at Tampa Bay Tuners, and has been involved there since she was in preschool. This year, she completed in both the Fall and Spring Seasons. At her Level 6 State Champion Meet in Fort Myers in April, she placed first on Bars, and placed second on her all-round for her score at State. Her score at State, qualified her to compete at Regional 8 Championships in Asheville, North Carolina. Eight states compete at this meet. Jillian medaled on Floor, as well as placing 18th overall for the entire Region.
Calli McKee and Joe Klingel earned their orange belts in taekwondo.
Jillian and Calli also used their engineering skills to build a wooden bench as a gift to Mrs. Rowe, the Lower School social studies teacher. The two students completed the project as a part of their participation in the MakerSpace Club that meets every Tuesday. The MakerSpace club is an extension of the national movement of makerspaces, which are communities dedicated to being creative in a do-it-yourself method.
Isabella Wainwright qualified for Nationals in the tap division in the Shake the Ground dance competition.
Ben Crawford represented AFA at the annual city-wide middle school speech contest held at St. Petersburg High School.
Hugh Seeley & Ansley Fine (7th) competed in the 33rd Annual St. Anthony’s Triathlon on April 23 in downtown St. Petersburg. The race is considered to be one of the best in the world.
Gabe Lowe received his SCUBA certification.
Casey McKee and Ella Sokolowski, who compete on the same club volleyball team, helped their team claim first place in the Molton PreQualifier, 3rd place in the Tampa United Slam and 3rd place in the Florida Regional Qualifier. Next up is National Qualifiers in Orlando!
Last week, 1st Sgt. David Worthy, who is the AFA Drill Team and Honor Guard coach at Farragut, received word that the City of St. Petersburg would become a marketing partner with the gym he and his wife, Janeice, started in March. The gym is called St. Pete Burn Boot Camp and it has quickly risen to the ranks as one of the most popular workout programs in the area.
“It’s been incredible,” 1st Sgt. Worthy said. “We’ve had a great response. Some of the Farragut teachers have joined and the program keeps getting more and more popular. It’s a workout program that is both fun and intense.”
The gym’s main facility is located near Farragut at 9699 Bay Pines Blvd. Each day is devoted to doing different exercises. Recently, Worthy decided to hold a free workout at Walter Fuller Park, which caught the eye of a few officials from the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department.
“They saw us out there working out and approached us and told us that they had been trying to get someone to do the free workouts on Saturday mornings,” 1st Sgt. Worthy said. “One thing led to another and they gave us the second Saturday of every month.”
This Saturday, May 14, begins the first official workout. For those interested, the FREE workouts start sharply at 8:00 a.m.and last for one hour. Participants are advised to bring a towel, a water bottle and “a great attitude.” The location is at the northwest corner of Walter Fuller Park 80th Street North and 34th Avenue North.
For more information, please visit: http://stpete.burnbootcamp.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/burnbootcampstpetersburgfl/
Miss Beverly at Burn Boot Camp!
“She is a million faces crowded into one.
She is sunbaked eyes, pitied picture and smoke skin.
She is thick African roots tumbling down to the center of the earth.”
— an excerpt from the poem, “Boxes,” by Sasha DeSilva, Class of 2016
Putting words together in a poetic way has been a lesson learned by Sasha DeSilva ever since first taking an English class in eighth grade taught by Heather Ewing. She admits to have “forever loved how reading can take you into a whole other world,” but the passion for writing blossomed under Ewing’s wing — taking classes taught by the long-time instructor at Farragut in 9th grade and then again in 12th grade.
“She helped me — and others — tap into that creative spirit,” said Sasha, who will speak at graduation as the Class of 2016 Valedictorian.
Last Saturday night, Sasha was able to showcase her ability to write as she and three other students appeared on WMNF‘s critically acclaimed radio show called Poetry Is…, hosted by Walter “Wally B.” Jennings. The four students – Sasha DeSilva ’16, Drew Geralds ’17, Kenny Stutts ’16 and Kollyne Thomas ’16 – were each able to read their poems after explaining how important of a role Upper School English instructor Heather Ewing has played in their creative minds. In addition, Sasha and Kollyne were able to talk about the creation of The Poetry Club at Farragut, an extracurricular activity they began with former student Sara Graves three years ago.
For Kenny, who took the lead as the first speaker, it was a chance to show the side of him that isn’t “the serious, engineering type” with his poem, “Indubitably,” about the “preposterous words my friends and I invented to change things up.”
For Drew, it was “Anything but,” a poem she created as “a way to know and understand our generation.”
For Kollyne, it was a chance to share a part of the award-winning collection called “Motel,” a string of three poems written at different stages of her life about teen love that was recognized with a Gold Key in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
For Sasha, it was a platform to inspire the world with “Boxes,” a poem inspired by an NPR story she read in 9th grade about a Kenyan girl who was raped by six men to a point where she is in a wheelchair and the men went unpunished.
“It totally enraged me. I wanted to give her a voice. The poem addresses a larger issue of a rape culture that manifests itself around the world. This issue affects me not only as a woman but as an incoming freshman, learned more about it in the documentary The Hunting Game.”
For Mrs. Ewing, it was an opportunity to let the listening audience of Tampa Bay hear how remarkable the students at Farragut are.
“It’s really important for our students to get involved in different things and to have these four students represent Farragut in this way shows how multi-faceted our kids are and how great our school is,” Mrs. Ewing said. “I think it’s good for people to see and listen to how incredibly talented and intelligent our students are.”
Please take some time to listen to the inspirational words of each of these students by clicking here.
Alex Gray ’16 was selected as BHSN Athlete of the Week because of his accomplishments at the FHSAA State track meet.
“Alex is like a quiet storm. He is so humble that he gave two of his medals to his teammates. He is a great person and has a great heart; he deserves this recognition,” said Head Track Coach Arron Prather.
“Senior Alex Gray was crowned 1A State Champion in the 200-meter dash in 2015. But, Gray felt he left something on the table. With the help of new Blue Jackets head boys track and field coach Arron Prather, Gray finished the job in 2016 and made history in the process. To see Gray in action, click here.” – Feature on Bay News 9 by Tenitra Batiste, Bright House Sports Network.
Read the article “BlueJackets make school history, win first boys track and field state title”
(L-R) Garrett Fisher 5th, Kenneth Fisher 7th, Grace Vernine 4th, Maurice Leon 7th, Ansley Fine 7th, Ben Bridges 7th
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented students. The Duke Talent Search was launched in 1994 with the goal of identifying gifted students at a younger age. Duke TIP works with students, their families, and educators to discover, explore and celebrate students’ academic interests at a time when it is important to foster curiosity and build confidence.
A total of 15 students from Farragut qualified for the 2016 Duke University TIP’s 4th-6th Grade Talent Search. To participate, students had to meet the following criteria:
There were two students who chose to enroll in the Duke TIP online program: Grace Vernine & Garrett Fisher. Enrolled students and their families receive numerous participant benefits through their enrollment in the program, including recognition for their abilities, special online courses and other benefits, the opportunity to take an above-level test and guidance from gifted education experts.
Eleven students also qualified for the 2016 Duke University TIP’s 7th Grade Talent Search. These students met the criteria of scoring at a 95th percentile or above on a standardized achievement, aptitude, or mental ability test. They were also given the opportunity to take either the ACT or SAT. Four students — Ben Bridges, Ansley Fine, Kenneth Fisher and Maurice Leon — did take advantage of this and sat for the ACT or SAT this year. Taking part in the 7th Grade Talent Search opens up opportunities to enroll in and attend other Duke TIP subprograms, including (but not limited to) eStudies courses, Summer Studies programs, Scholar Weekends, and Field Studies. Students who score in the top percentile are featured at the year-end Recognition Ceremonies at Duke.
We are so proud of our winners: Sophia Bourque, Grace Vernine, Garrett Fisher, Ryan Almstadt, and Sam Wilson.
Out of ten winners, five of our 3rd-5th graders from Farragut won the St. Petersburg Public Library Bookmark Design Contest to create an original bookmark on sports or being active during Children’s Book Week 2016.
Entries had to be created with pen or pencil and were judged on originality, reproducibility, and how well they expressed the theme.
We are so proud of our winners: Sophia Bourque, Grace Vernine, Garrett Fisher, Ryan Almstadt, and Sam Wilson.
Their bookmarks will become the property of the library system and may be reproduced for public distribution, displayed in the library, and posted on the library’s website.
All participants are invited to a ceremony on June 11, 2016 from 2:00-4:00pm at the St. Petersburg Library located at 3745 9th Avenue North. Certificates will be give out at 3:00pm.
Some members of the Class of 2016 wearing their selected college/university shirt.
Too often the branding of an organization, a company, even a school, gets lost in the details. While several essentials are key to invoking the most effective image throughout the community and beyond, the stories within the soul of an institution perhaps do the best in establishing and reinforcing the brand.
Throughout the week of May 1 – a day celebrated throughout the northern hemisphere for the coming of spring as May Day, Admiral Farragut Academy took center stage in print, digital and audio media – and throughout the state of Florida – as students from many different backgrounds told the story of Farragut in different ways.
During a week in which the Tampa Bay region saw Florida’s largest newspaper, The Tampa Bay Times, gobble up The Tampa Tribune on May 3 and subsequently end The Tribune‘s 123-year run as a stand-alone newspaper, the BlueJackets’ softball team and the boys track team each appeared on the cover of The Times‘ sports page or as the main feature on the paper’s HomeTeam website as each respective team chased a state title.
The softball team – which had star pitcher Corynn Miner featured on the homepage of The Times‘ high school section – would end up losing 4-2 to Jacksonville University Christian in the Class 3A State Semifinals at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida but the historic run gave the BlueJackets an opportunity to showcase Farragut’s excellence.
“It’s humbling at times to see your name and photo in the news but it also makes you feel proud to represent Farragut in this way,” said Corynn, who will compete for the softball team at the University of Tampa beginning next year. “I definitely grew here at Farragut and Farragut shaped me into the person I am today and to be able to help promote the school the way I have and the way our team has is special. Farragut is home and will always be home for me.”
The track team, which had the girls finish as state champions last year, provided a storybook ending to its 2016 campaign when the 4×400 relay team of Alex Oi, Alex Gray, Craig Watts and Zach Fine posted a school record time of 3:27.27 in the last event of the Class A state finals at the IMG Academy complex in Bradenton, giving the BlueJackets boys team enough points to narrowly beat neighborhood rival Shorecrest, as well as Orlando First Academy for the first boys track state title in Farragut’s history or as The Times’ Andy Warrener mentioned in his prep cover story, the first in “85 years.” (With apologies to Warrener, as we all know, AFA began on the shores of Pine Beach, New Jersey in 1933.)
“It’s a huge honor to represent Admiral Farragut Academy throughout the state,” said Alex Oi, who began competing for the varsity track team as an eighth-grader last year. “It’s great to be able to tell people at all the different track meets around the state about our school, about the type of community we have, the waterfront campus, the incredible teachers and curriculum. They usually think we’re some military hardened school but when we let them know how well-rounded we are, including the military, they get a whole new perspective. It’s pretty cool.”
On Saturday night, four students were the featured speakers on WMNF‘s critically acclaimed radio show called Poetry Is…, hosted by Walter “Wally B.” Jennings. The four cadets – Sasha DeSilva ’16, Drew Geralds ’17, Kenny Stutts ’16 and Kollyne Thomas ’16 – were each able to read their poems after explaining how important of a role Upper School English instructor Heather Ewing has played in their creative minds.
“It’s really important for our students to get involved in different things and to have these four students represent Farragut in this way shows how multi-faceted our kids are and how great our school is,” Mrs. Ewing said. “I think it’s good for people to see and listen to how incredibly talented and intelligent our students are.”
It is with great pleasure and pride that Admiral Farragut Academy announces Sashinya Nishka DeSilva as its Valedictorian and Michael Edward Cooney as its Salutatorian for the Class of 2016.
In the field of academics, Sashinya, known as Sasha throughout the Farragut community, distinguished herself as an AP Scholar with Honors, graduating with a 4.53 cumulative grade point average. She will continue her education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she intends on taking classes to become an oncologist. An active participant in the Student Advisory Committee, Teen Science Cafe, the National Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society, Sasha also co-founded the school’s poetry club four years ago as a way for students to express themselves in a different way. Throughout her five years of schooling at Farragut, Sasha used that creative spirit to develop award-winning works of prose, namely the National Scholastic Writing Gold Medal in 2015 for her novel, “When the Moon Isn’t Watching,” and a National Silver Award in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for the poem, “Boxes”.
She has played tennis since picking up the racket as a seven-year-old and has competed for the BlueJackets varsity team, along with her sister, Bianca, an eighth-grader. She also is capable of playing Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven on the piano, an instrument she mastered around the same time she began learning tennis.
Her role as a volunteer at the Freedom Square Continuing Care Retirement Community in Seminole stemmed from growing up with a mother — Dr. Swanthri DeSilva, a Rheumatologist and Allergist — who would “bring home medical journals all the time and discuss the nature of medicine with me.” She developed a community service project to assist local doctors and hospitals in Sri Lanka, the birthplace of her parents.
A voracious reader, Sasha, who worked with a St. Petersburg College professor on research for a microbiological project, has a goal of “writing books about intellectual medicine,” due in part from her discovery of the New York Times’ best-selling book “The Emperor of All Maladies,” a powerful history of cancer and its treatment that won the Pulitzer Prize.
Michael Cooney, son of Mike and Susan Cooney, is the Salutatorian of the Class of 2016. In the fall of 2016, Michael, whose sister, Maya, goes to Farragut, will be attending Rochester University to pursue a currently undecided major. The president of the Farragut chapter of the National Honor Society and the vice president of the Student Government Association, Michael has taken part in a number of activities throughout his three-year journey at Farragut. He was a member of the drill team, the color guard, the Student Advisory Committee, and chorus. He played lead trumpet in the band. He participated on the baseball, soccer and tennis teams. He was the Headquarters Battalion Commander. He helped form and start the Model U.N. Club this school year and attended conferences in Gainesville and Tallahassee. His community service involvement has included The Challenger League at Azalea Park, American Legion Post 125, and TASCO (Teen, Arts, Sports, Cultural Opportunities).
INFLUENCED BY: Tell us about a person outside school who has influenced you and why.
SHOUT-OUT: Is there a teacher you want to thank?
HOW I CHANGED: Tell us how you have changed since your freshman year.
THREE WORDS: What are three words that best describe you?
BEST THING I LEARNED: It can be anything you picked up in high school — a life lesson, a concept, a quote, something a teacher told you or a classmate taught you or you found out on your own.
GPA: 4.53
PARENTS: Swanthri DeSilva and Lakpriya DeSilva
COLLEGE: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
INFLUENCED BY: Malala Yousafzai, the 18-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who continues to fight for women’s rights and the right to education despite being shot by the Taliban for her views. She inspires me with her courage to stand up for what is right and take action against injustice.
SHOUT-OUT: To Mrs. Ewing for introducing me to creative writing. With her support, writing has become one of my greatest passions.
HOW I CHANGED: I have become more outgoing since freshman year and have learned to go after my goals and dreams without being scared of what anyone thinks. I learned to be myself and not conform to anyone else’s opinion.
THREE WORDS: Determined, creative, curious.
BEST THING I LEARNED: “While all bodies share the same fate, all voices do not.” — Li-Young Lee
GPA: 4.3
PARENTS: Mike and Susan Cooney
COLLEGE: University of Florida, Gainesville
INFLUENCED BY: Justin Cobourne, my youth group pastor at Central Christian Church. He inspires me to further my faith, have fun and love others.
SHOUT-OUT: To Mr. Mark Panuthos for motivating me to be the best I can possibly be. He has been a great role model and has expanded my love for baseball and history.
HOW I CHANGED: I have become a leader since freshman year. Farragut has molded me into the leader that I am today.
THREE WORDS: Confident, diligent, motivated.
BEST THING I LEARNED: Humility.
Brooke Liu ‘16 and Richard Dunleavy ‘17
On Friday, May 20th, the sword of command was passed from one to the other as Richard Michael Dunleavy ‘17 took over the duty as Regimental Commander from Brooke Liu ‘16 during the final parade of the academic calendar. Pictures from Friday’s parade available online at https://farragut.smugmug.com/UpperSchool/20152016-School-Year/Events-on-Fri-May-20.
It was an emotional moment for Richard, who also goes by his middle name Michael, who had heard the announcement by 1st Sgt. David Worthy last Thursday that he had been selected as the 2016-17 Regimental Commander.
“Everything hit me at once, from nervousness, anxiety, excitement, pride, happiness,” said Richard, who will lead the corps of cadets in his senior year.
Richard arrived at Farragut “seemingly eons ago” for prek and kindergarten, but then went to an elementary school in Seminole until sixth grade. He decided to return to Farragut because “he knew it would be the best place for him to hone in on his strengths.” He has been here ever since, becoming involved with the NJROTC throughout upper school.
“I’ve learned an immense amount about discipline, structure, and leadership by watching the senior cadets,” Richard said. “While the task at hand is a difficult one, I am ready because I have learned from the best.”
Richard said he has leaned on Brooke for plenty of advice. Brooke, who will be attending Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, graduates this weekend with the Class of 2016.
“I have picked her brain on many different topics about how to lead, how to carry yourself and how to communicate with the cadets,” said Richard, who served as the Regimental Master Chief Petty Officer throughout the 2015-16 academic calendar. “Her guidance and leadership this year, along with the other cadets, 1st Sgt. Worthy, Commander (Rick) Schock and Commandant (Todd) Wallingford have been instrumental in helping me learn how to be a leader.”
1st Sgt. Worthy said Richard set a standard that set him apart from the rest of the candidates.
“One thing we’re always looking for is that one cadet leader who will be able to command the respect of the entire regiment, the entire student body of the school, in an even-keeled manner,” 1st Sgt. Worthy said. “We want the leader we choose to have already climbed the ladder of success and be ready to assume the kind of responsibilities of a regimental commander. He’s a proven leader. Not only do I see it, but the commanders see it, the other cadets see it.”
One of the ways Richard exhibited leadership qualities was through an Eagle Scout project that helped benefit the City of Madeira Beach. Throughout most of 2015, he organized his troop to insert a salt marsh nursery for spartina alterniflora at the Madeira Beach 9/11 Memorial, which sits on a portion of Causeway Park.
“It was a very extensive production because they only have one person dedicated to working on parks and recreation,” said Richard, who will work as an intern with the City of Madeira Beach to improve the parks throughout the city. “It took creativity, communication and cooperation between many different individuals to get this done, but I learned an incredible amount about how to run an organization, a business, and a government.”
Richard also has become more involved with DigiGone, the company his father founded in 2007. DigiGone develops specialized encrypted communication software applications and hardware to meet the needs of a unique client base that includes commercial maritime, business jets, law enforcement, special operations, and intelligence organizations.
“I work in various roles at the company but I am mainly focused on improving and updating the software applications while finding ways to partner with major companies throughout the world,” Richard said.
To Be Battalion Commander
To be members of the Regimental Staff
Regimental Staff
Headquarters Battalion
Bravo Battalion
Delta Battalion
Please join the Aviation Department in congratulating Saran “Nynn” Polchan on earning his solo endorsement. Nynn flew solo for the first time on May 9th, 2016 at Albert Whitted Airport in Cessna 172SP N22904 on runway 18. He is a 7 day boarding student from Thailand who will be graduating this year. Learn more about […]
