PHOTOS INCLUDED: Port Charlotte High School celebrates graduates

PORT CHARLOTTE — Eric Bell wore a personalized sash with photographs showcasing his career as a safety for the Port Charlotte High School Pirates to graduation Wednesday.

On the bottom left corner of the sash is a photo of Jace Norus, a Pirates coach who died in July.

"We are thinking of him, he's here with us," the 18-year-old said of his tribute to the coach.

Bell earned the Coach Jace Norus MVP award and plans to play football at the University of South Dakota, he said.

Bell was joined by about 240 seniors at the Charlotte Sports Park for graduation. During a slight rain delay, seniors talked about their future.

Michael Desrosiers, 18, will attend Florida Southern College for pre-med biology. He was offered $180,000 in scholarships.

"I want to go to college and become a cardiologist because of my faith," Desrosiers said. "Helping people get better is seems like the right thing to do."

After graduation, twins Lyndsey and Lianna Hamsher, 18, are headed to the University of South Florida. Lianna is studying civil engineering and Lindsey is studying health science and social behavioral biology.

The pair also spoke to the class at graduation. They were adopted from China while in elementary school. They said they love their PCHS pirate family.

Alyssa Ross, 17, is going to Florida Gulf Coast University to become an occupational therapist.

"I was in junior leadership Charlotte in my junior year and I got to see a lot of careers in the medical field," said Ross, who is the treasurer of the National Honor Society.

Hailey Lorenz, 17, said she really enjoyed senior activities, especially when the class met at the football field to watch the sunrise at the beginning of the school year. Then not too long ago, they watched the sunset together, more mature and ready to graduate.

Sam Clerjuste, 18, is going to University of South Florida to play football and major in psychology. He plans to join a few clubs.

Friends McKayla Richmond, Dominique Taveras, Sabrina's Zidor, Lino Lopez and Lexi Jarvais joked and hugged each other before walking across the stage to get their diplomas.

"When I graduate I'm going to be an artist and marry Brad Pitt," Zidor joked.

Lino Lopez, 19, said he wants to become an actor.

"I love acting because of Marvel," he said. "Chris Evans is the reason I want to be an actor."

Taveras is leaving to study at Queens College in New York to become an elementary school teacher.

Jarvais is staying local. She wants to work for Charlotte County Sheriff's Office as a community service assistant while pursuing a real estate license.

For Kaylee Abel, 18, she wants to join the Air Force like her father did.

"I want to be more disciplined, then I feel like I will have a purpose," she said.

Isabella Woodward, 18, wants to be a child psychologist and work with children who are nonverbal or have other disabilities.

"I want to help children who can't really speak for themselves," she said. "My little brother goes through it, so I understand."

Jai Smith, 18, plans to continue doing automotive work through a local technical college.

"I'm already doing it now," Smith said. "I enjoy it."

Valedictorian Gabriel DeGuzman led the Pledge of Allegiance. The pre-med student received thousands in scholarship after receiving perfect scores on state tests.

Senior Doninic Cintron played the national anthem on the electric guitar to kick off the ceremony.

Anindita Carlsen addressed the class. She dedicated her speech to her best friend — her mom and her older sister. She said her sister dropped her a few times as kids. She said now, as a graduate, she's prepared to stand on her own.

Avery Gauthier told the class that high school is like a roll of toilet paper: "You miss it when it's gone."

He collected other quotes from school advisers, including PCHS Assistant Principal Paul Curtis who said: "Your vision is your destiny."

PCHS Principal Lou Long invited his record-breaking athletes and scholars back to the school. He said he wanted to shake their hand and see them smile again.

During his speech, Evan Dunbar compared life in high school to all three of the "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" movies. He said the class of 2024 could all learn from the "knucklehead."

"They (Bill and Ted) created the greatest rock band ever, all because they believed in themselves," he said. "Don't give up and follow the best path in life. Be excellent to each other and party on dudes."