ENGLEWOOD — As Aydan Wear’s name was called, his peers shouted for the popular Lemon Bay High School graduate who was a varsity football captain, lip sync champion and Senior Hall of Fame inductee.
The 18-year-old is headed to the University of Central Florida to study business.
“I was Ken from the ‘Barbie’ movie at school in my senior year,” he said. “But the most special night for me was when I was inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame. It was the highlight of my senior year.”
Wear joined 320 seniors at the Lemon Bay High School gymnasium Friday.
As they walked across the stage, seniors shook hands with former longtime Principal Bob Bedford, who was promoted this year as an assistant superintendent of learning for Charlotte County Public Schools.
Bedford handed them their diploma covers as new Principal Robert Murphy turned their tassels. Murphy was the assistant principal before being promoted during the school year.
Each senior was photographed with Murphy by photographer Tim Kern, whose son, Brady graduated this year. Murphy thanked Kern for making all photos from the ceremony available online to families.
After senior Cadence Zalopany sang the national anthem, Murphy thanked senior class President Peyton Mazza, Vice President Kaden Keir Wells, Secretary Emerson Adams and Treasurer Haley Hall.
Mazza told the class in her address that her father died. She remembered him as supportive and funny. After graduation, she’s headed to the University of Florida.
While speaking, senior Rose Lowder recited the class motto from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
“’Life moves pretty fast,’” Lowder quoted it. “’If you don’t stop and look around once in a whole, you could miss it.’”
Manta Award recipient Isabelle Ragazzone reminded seniors that life is short so “be present” and live for today.
In his farewell address, Murphy boasted of the accomplishments of the class of 2024. He said 210 seniors have a 3.0 grade-point average; 135 have a 3.5 GPA; 72 have a 4.0 GPA and 18 have a 4.5 GPA.
The band received overall excellence and superior ratings at the district competition, and the solo ensemble received a superior rating.
ROTC cadets donated 1,000 community service hours, including presenting the colors at Tampa Bay Rays spring training games. They donated 3,000 in-school service hours and sent 60 cadets to Key West for training. They received an “outstanding” in their Navy inspection. Murphy said they created a new program introducing L.A. Ainger Middle School eighth graders to ROTC.
The student government students held pep rallies, did toy drives, held club days and bake sales.
There were sold-out musicals with the drama troupe earning four superior ratings at the district competition.
He said seniors volunteered 31,502 community service hours or a savings of $409,500 to Englewood. He said five seniors volunteered for 500 hours and two had more than 1,000 hours before they graduated.
He said 86% or 287 students are college ready. There were 400 industry certifications earned. There were 21 seniors who took dual enrollment classes; 43 completed Advanced Placement classes and 185 graduated with AICE diplomas.
Ian McDowell, 18, is one of those AICE students and volunteers.
He will attend the University of South Florida to study to become a neuropsychologist.
“I want to help diagnose dementia, Alzheimer’s and autism and help people get resources,” he said.
McDowell was one of dozens of students who volunteered outside of high school, giving back to the community. He spent hours at Englewood Elementary School where his sister attends.
Caleb Whitmore, 17, a Senior Hall of Fame inductee, stayed busy in high school. He played football, was in the Interact Club, was a Manta Mentor, was in the Manta Leadership Group teaching others how to be a better team captain.
He received $7,500 in scholarship offers. He will attend Florida Gulf Coast University to study physical therapy.
“I was injured in the past,” he said. “It sparked an interest in helping others heal.”
Seniors like Whitmore, Mazza, Ragazzone, Wear and many others helped the class earn than $1 million in local scholarships.
Several others, including Coast Guard enlistee Zane Meade, 18, are beginning a career in the military.
Murphy announced the first diploma posthumously to Jacob Halunen, 19, who died in Englewood on Thanksgiving night. His family received the diploma.
His mother, Yvonne, teared up at times throughout the ceremony, including at the end when she saw short video of Jacob playing the guitar. On the screen, the words said, “In Loving Memory of Jacob Halunen You will always be remembered by your community and the class of 2024.”
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