Year in Review - Glades Day School

April 14, 2015
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL…
Dear GDS Family and Friends,
We are pleased to present the 2014-2015 “Year in Review” at the Annual Parents’
Meeting. Each year, we are grateful for what it portrays: an ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND
SPIRITUAL representation of our students who are supported daily by our faculty, staff, board
members, parents, grandparents, community and alumni who wholeheartedly believe in the
mission of Glades Day School. As you browse these highlighted accomplishments, I hope you
feel as proud and honored as I do to be a part of this exceptional educational experience. Thank
you to ALL of the generous and involved village of educators, friends and families that surround
this school with love and a foundation that truly makes GDS a special place where children can
thrive and discover their future.
Warmest Regards,
Amie Pitts
The Lower School Resource Room looks AMAZING! We would like to thank Marsha Metzger from
the Belle Glade Alliance Church for jump starting this project. Mrs. Betty Ruiz, the Lower School art
teacher, drew a FABULOUS mural depicting life in the Everglades. Several Lower School teachers and
staff members helped paint the mural. A dock was built by Pastor Carl Metzger and church members. A
flat screen TV was also donated. Mrs. Marsha created cute, chalk-paint frames that were recently hung
around the room with great quotes for students to read and enjoy during their music lesson each week.
This room will be enjoyed for many years to come, thanks to the collaborative effort of our volunteers!
As part of the continued Capital Improvement plan on campus, this
fall we embarked upon a fundraising project to pave the sides and
back of the school. With the help of generous donors purchasing
loads of asphalt, we were able to complete the project over the
Christmas holidays. Glades Day School extends a huge thank you to
ALL of the donors, Mr. Bart Perryman and the Building and Grounds
Committee for making this project a huge success.
The Lower School’s Social Studies Fair
was held on January 9, 2015. This was
All of the Math Fair projects were
an educational event that helped to
wonderful!!! Students received a ribbon
reinforce the Social Studies curriculum.
for participating. The winners were:
The projects were all very creative and
2nd through 6th grade winners:
beautifully presented! Through their
2nd Grade Winners
projects and presentations, our students
learned many interesting facts about our
1st Place: Aidan Lakatos
great country!
2nd Place: Skylar Maria
3rd Place: Sydney Poole
Honorable Mention: McKinley Holman
3rd Grade Winners
1st Place: Austin Russell
2nd Place: Kelsey Kennedy
3rd Place: Kinley Seider
Honorable Mention: Jeb Bristoll
4th Grade Winners
1st Place: Peyton Pelham
2nd grade - Created a State of Florida
map with bordering states and a map key
3rd grade - Designed and constructed a
model city
4th grade - Impersonated influential
people in American history
5th grade - Impersonated Presidents of
the United States
6th Grade - Built monuments in
Washington, D.C.
2nd Place: Carly Bair
3rd Place: Addison Ascheman
Honorable Mention: Joseph Moran
5th Grade Winners
1st Place: Conner Swindle
2nd Place: Weston Nesbitt
3rd Place: Dylan Wilkins
Honorable Mention: Audrey Ascheman
6th Grade Winners
1st Place: Aidan Price
“I Love My School Day” was held on
Saturday, October 4th. Parents, students,
faculty and staff showed their love by
working hard to make our school shine!
They cleaned, painted, and rejuvenated
the school in just a few hours. It is
unbelievable how much can be
accomplished when everyone pulls
together and works as a team!
K-2nd grade class projects all won first
place and will go on to represent the
school at the County Competition.
3rd grade winners:
1st: Kinley Seider
2nd: Austin Russell
3rd: Critt Duke
Honorable Mention: Kelsey Kennedy
4th grade winners:
1st: Sebastian Edwards
2nd: Peyton Pelham
3rd: Addison Ascheman
Honorable Mention: Carly Bair
5th grade winners:
1st: Weston Nesbitt
2nd: Hannah Miller
3rd: Harley Crosby
Honorable Mention: Noah Deaton
Congratulations to the Black Gold
Winners:






Tiny Mr. Taranza McKelvin
Jr. Harvest Queen: Caroline Stein
1st Runner Up: Kamryn Kennedy
Harvest Queen: McKenzie Redish
1st Runner Up: Carly Metzger
Miss Congeniality: Antaira Jones
2nd Place: Angel Silva
3rd Place: Julia Bristoll
Taranza McKelvin
Honorable Mention: Liana Corzo
On Tuesday March 31 st, kindergarten
through 11 th grade students invited their
The preschool playground equipment was friends to experience life at Glades Day
purchased with the help of Box-Tops and School. We had forty students participate
through an anonymous donation. It has and were treated to lunch by Chef Doug
and the FFA members. These students
been delivered, and it is in the process of
enjoyed being a “GATOR for a day”, and
being constructed, with a completion date we hope to see them in the fall!!!
of Saturday, April 25th.
Kamryn Kennedy, Caroline Stein, McKenzie
Redish, Carly Metzger & Antaira Jones
National Honor Society:
Upper School Student Council:
Members work to build a sense of pride
and belonging in our school and also
sponsor major events encouraging student
and staff participation. Below are a few
highlights along with activities they
participated in throughout the year:
NHS is comprised of 36 members and
recognizes
academic
achievement,
Lower School Student Council:
leadership, service and character as a key
The Lower School Student Council visited component for being a member. Below
the Belle Glade Fire Department, the Palm are a few highlights along with activities
they participated in throughout the year:  Spirit Week
Beach County Courthouse, and plan to
 Homecoming
visit the Palm Beach Science Museum on  Recognized by the Florida
Association
of
Blood
Banks
with
 Homecoming Dance
the 15th of April. The Student Council set
196 units given, earning $3,920.00
 Field Day
up Digeridoo Down Under, an in school
(Next Drive - May 6th)
 7th and 8th Grade Dance
field trip for the entire Lower School. They

At
the
Gove
Buddy
Christmas
Party
 Breast Cancer Awareness Drive
also arranged for Kevin Reese, a renowned
members
distributed
toys
and
clothes
 Set up a Student Council Room for
artist to do a special presentation through
meeting and planning events
Palm Beach State College. Members  The Very Special Arts (VSA) West
Fest,
was
held
in
February.
Members
hosted Donuts with Dad, Grandparents
 Elections for 2015-2016 to be held in
volunteered with area schools to
April
Day, and will host Muffins with Mom in
provide
a
special
art
festival
for
stuMay. They also had the opportunity to
Fellowship of Christian Athletes:
dents with special needs
Is designed to promote teamwork,
present to Leadership Glades when they
 Students assisted with Gove fellowship, integrity and Christian values.
visited our campus.
Monthly meetings are held each month to
Elementary’s Holiday Shop
allow students to come together to enjoy a
 Pahokee Methodist Bake Sale
time of fun activities and hear a spiritual
 Thanksgiving food drive with Palm message delivered by a guest speaker.
Beach Sheriff’s Office
Below are a few highlights along with
 Induction Ceremony scheduled for activities they participated in throughout
the year:
April 20th

GREEN & GOLD
GAME
Thursday, May 14th
Schlechter Stadium
4:30-6:30: Booster Club Dinner in
Tripp Hall
Tickets: $10.00 each
Bake Sale: Tripp Hall
5:30: Little Gator Game in
Schlechter Stadium
6:30: Green & Gold Game
Free Admission
Volunteered with American Youth  World Vision 30-Hour Famine
Soccer Association
 45 Students Participated
 Served dinner at the Belle Glade
 $911.10 donated, which will feed
Chamber on October 28th
26 children for a month
National Junior Honor Society:
 Introduced students to areas of
NJHS is comprised of 29 members and
also recognizes academic achievement,
leadership, service, and character as a key
component for a being a member. Below
are a few highlights along with activities
they participated in throughout the year:

Raised funds through their annual
Pancake Breakfast

Made visits to the Glades Nursing
Home



Treehouse
Learning
Center 
Christmas Party

Pennies for Patients raised over 
$2000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma
Society
Induction Ceremony scheduled for
April 20th
hunger in the world

Participated in games
and
challenges integrated with Biblical
principles

Volunteered at the Lighthouse
Café and the First Baptist Church
Food Bank

Highest student participation to
date
Christmas Party
Scavenger Hunt
Halloween Party with games
GATOR FOOTBALL
DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
After 10 years of being in districts with well-established programs, the Glades Day
girls’ soccer team, finally took the big prize: THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP this year!
What a season it was! They played 19 regular season games, one JV game, two district tournament games and two regional play-off games, and they came out with a
winning record of 17 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie; the best season ever in GDS soccer
history!
The Gators began their season in a thrilling,
last minute win against the Okeechobee
Brahmans when Cory Surls connected with
Christopher Guerry for a winning touchdown.
The excitement continued as they recorded six
consecutive shutouts against their opponents
ending the regular season 8-2. The first two
playoff games were back-to-back shutouts
against Dade Christian and rival, Jupiter
Christian. The Gators ended the season in a
hard-fought loss to Indian Rock Christian and
were District 7 Champions, Regional 4
Champions and in the State Final Four in Class
2A.
They began their season without the volleyball players because they were in the
play-offs as the district runner-up. They had 11 shut-out wins. They did have a few
painful losses, but they bounced back and ended the season strong, with improvement from each individual player and as a team. This year, Mrs. Lohmann will remember the leadership of one senior player, Kassidy Roberts, rallying her teammates around at every water break and halftime always saying, “Don’t let up, anything can happen, keep pushing hard, you can do it!” They played hard with the
same determination for the rest of the season, through districts, a regional quarterfinal win against a very strong Boca Christian team, and the eventual season ending
loss against Lake Worth Christian. The coaches are so proud of this team, of each
individual young lady, and how each one committed to their own improvement to
contribute to this success and their DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP!
The Lady Gator’s Varsity Volleyball team
had another exciting season and holds the
2014 District Runner-Up and Regional
Quarter Final Runner-Up titles.
Once again, we were able to have a Junior Varsity cheerleading squad for the 2014
football season. Last summer, the Universal Cheerleading Association brought their
camp to our campus. Two of our cheerleaders, Kamryn Kennedy and Kennedy
DesRochers, were selected to join 498 members of the All American squad at the Disney Thanksgiving Parade. The Varsity cheerleaders hosted three pep rallies during the
football season. With these two squads, it was exciting to see a total of 18 enthusiastic
girls in uniform and participating in extracurricular activities on campus.

Jessica Onega, Softball, Thomas University



Terry Hughes, Football, Duquesne University
Will Mercer, Football, Southeastern University


Baseball: Varsity Baseball currently has
a winning season of 19-2. District
playoffs will begin on Tuesday, April 21 st
at Community Christian.
Softball: Varsity Softball currently has a
winning season of 13-9-1. The girls will
play their District game at home on

Thursday, April 16 th
Track and Field: Congratulations to the
Track and Field Team and Coach Brian
Seider for placing first in the Non
Conference Qualifier Meet held at Kings

Academy.
Player Recognition:


Jose Camacho: Palm Beach Post
Honorable Mention (Football)

Javaris Carrigan: Palm Beach Post
1st Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 1st
Team (Football); FL All State Class
2A 2nd Team (Football); FLHSF All
Palm Beach Post Elite 2nd Team
(Football)
DJ Duncanson: Palm Beach Post Player of the Year (Football); Sun Sentinel
Player of the Year (Football); MVP
Palm Beach County All Star Game
(Football); FL All State Class 2A 1st
Team (Football); FLHSF All Palm
Beach Elite 1st Team (Football)
Jade Echols: Palm Beach Post Honorable Mention (Soccer); Sun Sentinel
Honorable Mention (Soccer)
Alberto Garcia: Palm Beach Post
Honorable Mention (Football)

Markens Pierre: Palm Beach Post
Honorable Mention (Football)

Will Mercer: Palm Beach Post 2nd
Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 2nd
Team (Football); FACA All Star
Game (Football); FL All State Class
2A 1st Team (Football); FLHSF All
Palm Beach Elite Team Honorable
Mention (Football)

McKenzie Redish: Sun Sentinel Honorable Mention (Volleyball)
Kassidy Roberts: Sun Sentinel Honorable Mention (Volleyball); Palm
Beach Post 1st Team (Soccer); Sun
Sentinel 1st Team (Soccer); FACA
South All Star Team (Soccer); Palm
Beach Post Player of the Week
(Soccer); Played All State Tournament in Ocala (Soccer)

Christopher Guerry: Palm Beach Post
Honorable Mention (Football); Sun
Sentinel
Honorable
Mention
(Football); FLHSF All Palm Beach
Elite Team Honorable Mention
(Football)
Amanda Hernandez: Sun Sentinel
Honorable Mention (Volleyball)

Terry Hughes: Palm Beach Post 1st
Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 2nd
Team (Football); Palm Beach County
All Star Game (Football); FL All State
Class 2A 1st Team (Football); FLHSF 
All Palm Beach Elite Honorable Mention (Football)
GW Jarriel: Palm Beach Post Honora
ble Mention (Football); Sun Sentinel
Honorable Mention (Football); FLHSF
All Palm Beach Elite 2nd Team
(Football)
Titus Johnson: Palm Beach Post 2nd
Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 2nd

Team (Football); FLHSF All Palm
Beach Elite Team Honorable Mention
(Football)
Nikos McMahon: Palm Beach Post
2nd Team (Football); Sun Sentinel
Honorable Mention (Football); FLHSF 
All Palm Beach Elite Team Honorable
Mention (Football)
Jaime Rodriguez: Palm Beach Post 1st
Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 1st
Team (Football); FL All State Class 2A
2nd Team (Football); FLHSF All Palm
Beach Elite 2nd Team (Football)
Kirsten Schoenfeld: Palm Beach Post
Honorable Mention (Soccer); Sun
Sentinel Honorable Mention (Soccer)
Kevon Spence: Palm Beach Post 1st
Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 1st
Team (Football); Palm Beach County
All-Star Game (Football); FL All State
Class 2A Team (Football); FLHSF All
Palm Beach Elite 1st Team (Football)
Corey Surls: Palm Beach Post Honorable Mention (Football); Sun Sentinel
Honorable Mention (Football); FLHSF
All Palm Beach Elite Team Honorable
Mention (Football)
Clayton Williams: Palm Beach Post
1st Team (Football); Sun Sentinel 1st
Team (Football); FLHSF All Palm
Beach Elite 1st Team (Football)
PreK-3:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Lily’s Purple Purse
*Stella
*Curious George
 Pumpkin Patch
 Visit to Santa
 Visit to Ronald McDonald
PreK-4
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Lily’s Purple Purse
*Stella
*Curious George
 Pumpkin Patch
 Visit to see Santa
 Visit to Ronald McDonald
 Publix (upcoming)
K-5:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Click, Clack, Moo
*Junie B. Jones
*Rainbow Fish
*Curious George
 Belle Glade Library to see Ronald
McDonald
 Palm Beach Science Museum
1st Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Click, Clack, Moo
*Rainbow Fish
*Junie B. Jones
*Curious George
 Belle Glade Library to see Ronald
McDonald
 Palm Beach Science Museum
 United States Postal Service
2nd Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Dino-Light
*Stella
*Rainbow Fish
3rd Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Snow White
*Big Nate
*Junie B. Jones
*Stella
 South Florida Fair & Yesteryear
Village
 Palm Beach State College, Art
Presentation
 Belle Glade Library
 Palm Beach County Math Fair in
May
4th Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Big Nate
*Dino-light
*Dr. Kaboom
 Palm Beach State College, Art
Presentation
 South Florida Fairgrounds and
Yesteryear Village
5th Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Dino-Light
*Mayhem Poets
*Dr. Kaboom
 Palm Beach County Science and
Math Fair
 South Florida Fair and Yesteryear
Village
 Washington, D.C.
 Gettysburg, Pennsylvannia
6th Grade:
 Dolly Hand trips:
*Dino-Light
*Big Nate
*Wright Stuff
*Mayhem Poets
*Steve Trash
*Dr. Kaboom

South Florida Fairgrounds and
Yesteryear Village
 Washington, D.C.
 Gettysburg, PA
**Lower School is having a Walk to
School Day on April 22nd.
**Kindergarten-6th grade will all go
to Butterfly World on May 5th.
Buddy Sizemore Award Recipients
New Faculty Members
Mrs. Kristen Rimes, a Glades Day
School alumnus (2001) is married to
Ronald Rimes (1999). She teaches 3 rd
and 4th grade language arts and
science. Mrs. Rimes graduated from
Florida Atlantic University with a
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She
has six years of experience teaching
elementary students.
With a
cheerleader’s spirit, Mrs. Rimes says
that teaching here is a rewarding
experience as she challenges her
students to excel in all areas.
Mrs. Cheryl Stein, a long-time supporter of GDS has returned to teach 3 rd
and 4th grade math and social studies
after 10 years of teaching in Hendry
County. Mrs. Stein is a graduate of
Nova Southeastern University earning
a degree in Education and holds
certifications in elementary education,
ESOL and is Reading Endorsed. Her
two daughters, Christa (2004) and
Stephanie (1999), graduated from GDS
as well as her husband Sonny (1975).
Now her grandson, Brantley, makes a
third generation Stein to attend our
school.
Mr. Kurt Stahl teaches World
History,
Economics,
American
Government, AP Economics, AP
Government
and
AP
World
History. Mr. Stahl has a Political
Science degree from Wittenberg
University and a master’s degree in
Secondary Social Studies from Ohio
State University. He has 13 years of
experience in public education in Ohio
and Florida.
Mr. Stahl also has
extensive and diverse experience as a
basketball coach and is currently the
head coach of the Varsity basketball
team and coaches JV football.
Cheryl Stein, Kurt Stahl,
and Kristen Rimes

1999-2000: Cindy Baez

2000-2001: Kay Hall

2001-2002: Joan Sardone

2002-2003: Dorinda Shutts

2003-2004: Carolyn Carter

2004-2005: Fred Stevens

2005-2006: Karen Rohde

2006-2007: Aimee Sweet

2007-2008: Kelli Garcia

2008-2009: Armando Perez

2009-2010: Joe Guethle

2010-2011: Shelly Burch

2011-2012: Karen McDermott

2012-2013: Rita Schoenfeld

2013-2014: Kerry DesRochers
Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
SRI is a reading assessment program
which provides immediate and actionable
data on the reading performance of all
students within a school or grade. SRI
helps teachers differentiate instruction,
implement meaningful interventions, forecast growth toward grade-level proficiency, and sustain accountability.
Mrs. Krista Carter (1986), a GDS graduate
and parent, is the Upper School Office
Manager. Mrs. Carter spent 14 years as a
Deputy Clerk at the West County Courthouse and seven years as the School Treasurer at Belle Glade Elementary School. She
is married to alum Robby Carter (1984) has
two sons, Jacob, a 2010 graduate and
Bryce who is currently in the 6th grade.
The 11th Annual Spring Gala was held at
Wycliffe Golf and Country Club on
March 7th. It raised $158,429.85 in the
Silent Auction, the Live Auction, and Call
from the Heart. The Board of Trustees and
Glades Day School appreciate and
commend Chairperson Deena Perryman
and her committee for all their hard work.
During the history of our Gala, the Call
from the Heart has raised nearly $200,000,
to enhance the academic integrity of our
school. Last year’s contributions of
$21,153 supported the purchase of a
Chevrolet van to transport our students to
and from school, field trips, Agri-Science
events and athletic games.
This year, the school’s focus was on the
CLASSROOMS with a wish list of 200
new student desks, the replacement of 40
whiteboards, seven additional LCD
projectors and screens, a glass kiln for the
Art Department and furniture for the LS
Resource Room. At the gala $21,159.33
was collected to fund this project.
Glades Day School held its first annual
Skeet Shoot and what a blast it was.
The event took place at the
Hilliard
Cabin with seventeen teams of four
participating.
The
event
raised
$12,524.00.
1st place team- Stein Farms
2nd place team - Orsenigo Farms
Homecoming, sponsored by the Student
Council, is always a fun, exciting and
special time at GDS. Our students
enjoyed the traditions of dressing up for
spirit week and participating in different
competitions each day. Our families and
friends came together on Thursday night
for Gator Growl, to cheer on our team
and for the introduction of our
homecoming court. At halftime, Kassidy
Roberts was crowned the 2014
Homecoming Queen. The court included
of Amanda Hernandez, Danielle
Holloway, Loren Mosley, Jessica Onega
and Olivia Pope.
5 years - Kerry DesRochers
10 years - Bobbi Lou Christmas
Angela Johnson
Bobbie Matos
Mayra Perez
Shelia Sanchez
15 years - Craig Dobson
20 years - Nizi Hernandez
Betty Ruiz
40 years - Mandy Perez
We want to thank these dedicated
hard working men and women who
continue to make Glades Day
School a wonderful institution for
our children everyday. We couldn’t
do it without them!
7th Annual
Alumni and Friends
Golf Tournament
The Golf tournament will be held at
Mayacoo Lakes Golf and Country Club
on May 16, 2015. The four man scramble will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Student Population by City/Area
Please contact Amy Wilkins at
[email protected] if you
have any questions.
Curre nt Population - 313
Stude nt Population by City/Area
College Tours
Twenty two Upper School students
toured six college campuses in
Florida in February. They had a
chance to speak with admissions
officers, school ambassadors, and
college students.
The students ate their meals on
campus, visited dorms, as well as
classrooms.
Students received
valuable information to help them
make their future choices.
They returned to Glades Day
motivated to put in the work
needed to attend one of these
phenomenal universities!
Student Representations At various
Conferences and organizations.
Youth Leadership Conference: Jaxon Smith
HOBY: Jonathan Nichols and Katherine Weeks
RYLA: Clayton Stein and Jaxon Smith
Palm Beach Youth Leadership: Clayton Stein and Jaxon Smith
ACE Leadership: Piper Stamm, McKenzie Redish, Maddie Mills and Ginny Donn
10/9: Digital Footprint Assembly
Dr. Joan McGettigan of North
Broward Prep spoke about the
dangers and proper use of social
media
11/10 and 11/12: The Palm Beach
County Sheriff’s Dept. presented
the Good Samaritan Law and
Overdose Signs and Symptoms to
the science class
1/15:
Social
Studies
class
presentations, grades 7-9 Mr. Ed
Skowron of New Tribes Mission
discussed geography and cultures
of tribal groups
2/6: Mayhem Poets Spoken Word
provided by Dolly Hand Center
The ACE program was established
to create a pathway for young
men and women to achieved the
highest standards of leadership in
Athletics,
Community
and
Education (ACE). Students meet
each month to discuss and learn
about topics including ethics,
personal leadership, respect,
managing money and integrity. A
major component of ACE is the
Business Affiliate program, which
enables students to experience
real life leadership by pairing them
with community leaders.
This year, Maddie Mills, Ginny
Donn, Piper Stamm and McKenzie
Redish
were
selected
to
participate in the Student ACE
leadership program.
“I really enjoyed Student ACE, and
I would recommend it to anyone
interested in learning how to
become a true leader.” Maddie
Mills
GLADES DAY SCHOOL
FUTURE FARMERS
OF AMERICA
FFA/AG Program: The agri-science
Education program is quickly developing
a tradition of excellence at Glades Day.
While exploring agri-science based
curriculum,
students
are
learning
principles of plant and animal science,
carpentry,
metal
fabrication
and
leadership. Students are constantly
exposed to the Agribusiness in our area
which creates real world learning and
interest in the agriculture industry. Our
FFA chapters have competed in multiple
leadership development events with
tremendous success. Glades Day School is
known and respected state wide for the
talented and competitive students we
possess.
 Attended
Rotary
Club
meetings,
Aviation Day, Deere Day and COLT
Conference, State FFA Convention
 Participated in the Quail Creek Skeet
Shoot
 Planted a garden with various vegetables
National FFA Week Activities:
 Monday– Provided Teacher Luncheon
 Tuesday– Guest Speaker –Mr. Tellechea,
Florida Crystals
 Wednesday– Elementary Livestock Day
 Thursday– Ag Class Cookout
 Friday– Tour of U.S. Sugar Mill, Hosted
by Mr. Ken McDuffie
Career Development Events:
Sub-District Contest-Senior Division
 Buddy Griswold - Tractor Operations
Agri-science/FFA Activities:
Sub-District Contest - Middle School
Division
 Participation in local, sub-district,
district, and state career developing  Creed Speaking - Rett Lohmann
 Prepared Public Speaking - Chase Dixon
events
 Extemporaneous Public Speaking  Contests include all areas of public
Kamryn Kennedy
speaking, prepared and extemporaneous
 Opening & Closing Ceremonies - Chase
speaking, parliamentary procedure, FFA
Dixon, Kamryn Kennedy, Jack Hilliard,
creed speaking, tractor operations, tool
Kennedy DesRochers, Kendall Kennedy,
ID, land judging, and livestock judging
and Paige Potts
 Raised eight steers and 43 hogs for the District Contest:
South Florida Fair
 Opening and Closing Ceremonies
They will be competing in the state
 Hosted speakers from Earth University,
competition this June
Warner University and the State FFA
State level Events:
officer
team
(Brandon
McKee,
 Middle School Tool I.D.
President and Angie Patino, Area 6
 Land Judging
Vice President)
 Senior Chapter-Livestock Judging
 All students completed a Hunter Safety
State Champions!!
Course and received a Hunter Safety
Glades Day FFA currently holds three state
Licenses
titles! A great deal of hard work, studying
 Built picnic tables, garbage can holders, and determination prevailed this year. We
grills and steer grooming shoots
are very proud of our accomplishments and
look forward to even greater success in the
future.
Our Current State Title Holders are:
Swine Proficiency: Haden Redish
Tractor Proficiency: Dillon McMillian
Middle School State Livestock Team:
Jack Hilliard, Chase Dixon, Kennedy
DesRochers, and Layton Price
High School Individual: Chase Dixon
Tracie Milliron Gold, a 1992
graduate is a published
author
of the book, Bonnie the Bunny and
Bonnie the Bunny and Freddy the
Fox, with a third and fourth book
in the making. Tracie stays busy
promoting her books, writing the
Bonnie sequels and raising her two
daughters, Amanda and Alyssa.
She is married to Mark and resides
in Loxahatchee, FL.
Ashley Cunningham Bielling, a
1998 graduate is the author of
Amazing Gracie’s Valentine’s Day.
Ashley graduated from Valdosta
State with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys reaching out to children of all ages and
showing God’s love through her
writing. She stays busy with her
two girls, and husband Zeb. Ashley resides in Jacksonville, FL.
Heather Evans Anderson is a 1995 graduate. She is currently an Assistant
Professor of Biology at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She
teaches Human Physiology and Cell Biology to undergrads, and also teaches
graduate courses in Advanced Cellular and Developmental Biology. As a
scientist, she is a Developmental Biologist who studies heart development,
primarily how the muscle cells of the heart form the myocardium during
embryogenesis. Heather graduated with a degree in Biology from Vanderbilt
University and received a Ph.D in Biomedical Science from the University of
South Carolina School of Medicine. She went on to Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital Medical Center Research Foundation for a Postdoctoral Research
Fellowship in Molecular Cardiology. Heather has received numerous honors
and awards, the most recent in
2014, Scientific Advocate Network
award recipient, SC EPSCOR/IDEA.
As if this isn’t enough to keep her
busy, Heather is married to Matt
Anderson and has two children,
Evan and Annabel.
Tanner Miller, a 2008 graduate, is a CrossFit trainer with Justin and General
Manager of CrossFit Lawless. Tanner competes in CrossFit competitions. He
placed 1st and 2nd in 2014, and in
2015 placed 3rd in his first Olympic
Competition. Tanner is also a
licensed phlebotomist.
Casey Underwood is a 2003
graduate. He is currently the
assistant baseball coach at
Snead State. Coach Underwood
is over the team’s practice
organization and hitters. He is
r esp on sib l e f or tr ain in g ,
motivating, coaching and recruiting athletes to play at
Snead State. He was awarded
Assistant Coach of the Year by
the Alabama Baseball Coaches
Association in 2014. Casey
played baseball at Snead State,
graduated and finished his
Bachelor’s in Sports Management from Ashford University.
He currently sits on the Board of
the Alabama Baseball Coaches
Association and is an associate
scout for the Atlanta Braves.
Justin Miller is a 2002 graduate.
He went to Florida Gulf Coast
University and graduated with a
degree in Business. Justin was a
right-handed pitcher for two
seasons at FGCU and then played
two years in the minor leagues for
the Detroit Tigers. After baseball,
Justin developed a passion for
CrossFit, a strength and conditioning regimen developed by Greg
G la ssm a n. He cu rr e n tly is
part-owner and trainer at CrossFit
Lawless in Fort Myers, FL.
The Edward’s Brothers
Eric (’01), Nathan (’04), Jeffrey (’06) and Samuel Edwards (’09) are brothers from Clewiston. Eric graduated from
Florida State University with a degree in Political Science and is Chief Legislative Aide for Senator Don Gaetz. He resides
in Tallahassee. Nathan graduated from Flagler College with a degree in Communications. He and his wife, Katherine,
moved to South Korea for 27 months to teach English and travel. They have since moved back to the states. Nathan is
the Creative Director/Communications for Governor Rick Scott, traveling and producing campaign commercials. He and
Katherine reside in Tallahassee and are expecting a baby girl in July. Jeffrey completed his undergraduate at Emory
University with a major in Anthropology. He will graduate from Emory Medical School in May. He will be attending the
University of South Florida / Tampa General for Vascular Surgery. Samuel graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. At this time, Samuel owns and operates Edwards Brother’s BBQ.
Eric
Nathan
Matt Sanchez is a 2002
graduate and an attorney with
Hackleman, Olive and Judd in Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. Matt graduated
Summa Cum Laude from the
University of Florida with a
degree in Journalism. In 2009, he
he aded to
Camb r id g e ,
Massachusetts to attend Harvard
Law School. In his spare time,
Matt is the bass guitarist and
sings vocals for the heavy metal
band SORUS. You can hear them
all over south Florida. He resides
in Ft. Lauderdale.
Jeffrey
Kelly Alvarez Vitale is a 2000
graduate and was Co-Valedictorian.
She is currently the owner of Strategic
Philanthropy, Inc., a community
relations consulting firm. Strategic
Philanthropy assists companies in
devi sing an eff ecti ve c orporate
philanthropy program that benefits
society while also serving business
interests. Kelly graduated from Florida
State University with a BA in
Communications and Spanish. She
went on to receive an MA in Integrated
Marketing Communications with an
emphasis in Hispanic Marketing. Prior
to Strategic Philanthropy, she worked
in the nonprofit sector for seven years.
Kelly has been published in numerous
industry publications. Kelly resides in
Ft. Lauderdale with her husband,
Randall.
Samuel
Nick Sanchez is a 2003 graduate.
He is currently the cornerbacks coach
and Director of Football Operations at
the University of New York/Albany.
He was a four-year letter winner and
three-year starter at Stanford
University. After graduating in 2008,
he signed with the Oakland Raiders
as an undrafted free agent and went
on to play in the Arena Football
League. In 2010, he began his
coaching career as the defensive
backs mentor at Pace University. He
joined the Syracuse staff in 2011 and
assisted with coaching the Defensive
Backs and in 2012 the Linebackers. In
July 2012, Nick became the Defensive
Coordinator for the Ave Maria University Gyrenes. He now resides in
Saratoga, NY with his wife, Karmen.
WE ARE GLADES DAY!