A look at Pasco County’s valedictorians and salutatorians for 2022
The list below is part of the Tampa Bay Times’ annual salute to the area’s top students. Those from Hillsborough County’s public and private schools were previously featured, as were students from Pinellas County’s public and private schools.
Academy at the Lakes
Valedictorian
Vishnu Malhotra
GPA: 4.0
Parents: Vikas and Meenakshi Malhotra
College: University of Florida
Major: Economics and political science (pre-law)
Salutatorian
Elise Faith
GPA: 4.0
Parents: John and Jennie Faith
College: Florida State University
Major: Political science
Anclote High
Valedictorian
Denicia Finney
Parent: Joscelyn Gaphardt
College: Undecided
Major: Philosophy
Salutatorian
Emma McConnell
Parent: Rae McConnell
College: Pasco Hernando State College
Major: Chemistry
Cambridge program at Anclote High
Valedictorian
Emma Wegener
Parents: Susan and Greg Wegener
College: University of Florida
Major: Pre-pharmacy
Salutatorian
Bentley Aing
Parents: Kuy and Cheng Aing
College: University of Central Florida
Major: Computer science
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High
Valedictorian
Hannah Fox
GPA: 4.55
Parents: Laura and Joseph Fox
College: Villanova University
Major: Biology (pre-med)
Salutatorian
Alexandra Fouad
GPA: 4.50
Parents: Christine Mousa and Mena Fouad
College: University of South Florida
Major: Pre-med
Classical Prep
Valedictorian & Salutatorian Respondeo
Gabriela Deluca
GPA: 4.2
Parents: Adrienne and David Nole
College: University of South Florida
Major: Biomedical sciences
Salutatorian
Matthew Black
GPA: 3.99
Parents: Beth and Allan Black
College: Word of Life Bible Institute/Cedarville University
Major: Digital media and broadcasting
Valedictorian Respondeo
Caroline Corcoran
GPA: 4.2
Parents: Anne and Richard Corcoran
College: Florida State University
Major: International Affairs
Cypress Creek High
Valedictorian
Brianna Sharpe
Parents: Richard and Wendy Sharpe
College: University of Virginia
Major: Political philosophy and law
Salutatorian
Mackenzie Noble
Parents: Chasity and Darren Noble
College: Barton College
Major: Criminal justice
Dayspring Early College Academy
Valedictorian
Sandra Mampilly
GPA: 4.71
Parents: Binu Paul Mampilly and Cathrine Parakal
College: University of South Florida
Major: Pre-med
Salutatorian
Madison Weinhauer
GPA: 4.69
Parents: Eric and Maureen Weinhauer
College: University of South Florida
Major: Pre-med
Fivay High
Valedictorian
William Cao
Parents: Chunhong Ye and Chun Xi Cao
College: Undecided
Salutatorian
Nevaeh Hodierne
Parent: Ashley Hodierne
College: University of South Florida
Major: Nursing
Grace Christian Schools of Pasco
Valedictorian
Osita Tara Okoli
GPA: 3.26
Parent: Comfort Wilson
College: Pasco Hernando State College
Major: Undecided
Salutatorian
Tyler Smith
GPA: 3.23
Parents: Ronald and Tanya Smith
College: Pasco Hernando State College
Major: Undecided
Gulf High
Valedictorian
Terry Cao
Parent: ChunLin Cao
College: New York University
Major: Computer science
Salutatorian
Tyler Burley
Parent: Lynetta Lee
College: Rice University
Major: Applied and computational mathematics
International Baccalaureate program at Gulf High
Co-valedictorian
Gedeon Cseh
Parents: Gyorgy Cseh and Gabriella Kalvin
College: University of South Florida
Major: Biomedical sciences
Co-valedictorian
Marydin Llanto
Parents: Modesto and Merly Llanto
College: University of South Florida
Major: Political science (pre-law)
Salutatorian
Kifayat Sadia
Parents: Khaleda Begum and Mohammad Kamaluddin
College: University of Florida
Major: Biology (pre-med)
Hudson High
Valedictorian
Anya Gorgas
Parents: Christopher and Linda Gorgas
College: University of South Florida
Major: Animal biology
Salutatorian
Elliana Gorecki
Parents: Thomas and Jaime Gorecki
College: University of Tampa
Major: Musical theater and design
J.W. Mitchell High
Valedictorian
Kole Kemple
Parents: Kris and Nicole Kemple
College: University of Florida
Major: Political science and journalism
Salutatorian
Paul Surkov
Parents: Kostyantyn Surkov and Viktoriya Surkova
College: Bowdoin College
Major: Sports medicine
Land O’Lakes High
Valedictorian
Isabelle Blasdel
Parents: Duane and Tiana Blasdel
College: University of Mississippi
Major: Accounting
Salutatorian
Sun Hyun Park
Parents: Jong Hwa and Eun Suk Park
College: University of Florida
Major: Health science
International Baccalaureate program at Land O’Lakes High
Co-valedictorian
Benjamin Mellin
Parents: Ric and Leslie Mellin
College: University of Florida
Major: Biomedical engineering
Co-valedictorian
Andres Quast
Parents: Troy and Daniela Quast
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Major: Computer science
Co-valedictorian
Abhay Thungathurthi
Parents: Sampath and Ruchita Thungathurthi
College: University of Florida
Major: Biology
Co-valedictorian
Daniel Urbonas
Parents: Allan and Pamela Urbonas
College: Georgia Tech or University of Florida
Major: Computer science
Salutatorian
John Pham
Parents: Thao and Tuan Pham
College: University of South Florida
Major: Computer science
Pasco eSchool
Valedictorian
Jenna Poulton
Parents: Alan and Caryn Poulton
College: Palm Beach Atlantic University
Major: Cinema arts
Salutatorian
Louis LaFramboise
Parents: Trish and Chris LaFramboise
College: University of Tampa
Major: International business management
Pasco High
Valedictorian
Zoe Howell
Parents: Shanna and Joey Durden
College: Baylor University
Major: Apparel design and product development
Co-valedictorian
Alexis Musser
Parents: Amanda and Tim Musser
College: Saint Leo University
Major: Elementary education
Salutatorian
Kaylen Falleck
Parents: Michael and Dawn Falleck
College: Florida State University
Major: Biology
Cambridge program at Pasco High
Valedictorian
Cory Rhinesmith
Parents: Philip and Robin Rhinesmith
College: University of Florida
Major: Political science
Salutatorian
McKenzie Pangallo
Parents: Darbi and Chuck Pangallo
College: University of Florida
Major: Nursing
River Ridge High
Valedictorian
Alexis Staveski
Parents: Sherri and Michael Staveski
College: Florida State University
Major: Computer science
Salutatorian
Ethan Westbrook
Parents: Beth and Jason Hoffmeister
College: Georgetown School of Health
Major: Human science (pre-med)
Sunlake High
Valedictorian
Olivia Firlejczyk
Parents: Urszula and Derek Firlejczyk
College: University of South Florida
Major: International studies
Salutatorian
Caitlyn Culpepper
Parents: Shannon and Beverly Culpepper
College: University of Mississippi
Major: Biochemistry
Wendell Krinn Technical High
Valedictorian
Aaliyah Hattach
Parent: Shauna Hattach
College: Florida State University
Major: Management
Salutatorian
Ryan Hanley
Parents: Luke and Patty Hanley
College: University of South Florida
Major: Mechanical engineering
Wesley Chapel High
Valedictorian
Alexander Raatma
Parents: Andres and Lucia Raatma
College: Boston College
Major: Finance
Salutatorian
Isabella Villegas-Lombeyda
Parents: Jose Villeyas and Patricia Lombeyda
College: University of Florida
Major: Psychology
Wiregrass Ranch High
Valedictorian
Samantha Scott
Parents: Elizabeth and Ricky Scott
College: University of Florida
Major: Material science
Salutatorian
Joseph Benigno
Parents: Edward and Joanne Benigno
College: University of Florida
Major: Computer science
Zephyrhills High
Valedictorian
Alyssa Perez
Parent: Adam and Kimberly Perez
College: University of South Florida
Major: Cell and molecular biology
Salutatorian
Madison Poe
Parents: Kimberly and Billy Poe
College: University of Florida
Major: Pre-med
(Editor’s note: A previous version of this story contained incorrect information provided by Pasco County Schools, including several name misspellings, omissions and an incorrect photo placement. The errors have been corrected.)
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