Student Spotlights – June 2025

Last week, third grade students had the opportunity to visit Alligator Alley Alligator Farm in Summerdale, AL after wrapping up their reptile unit in science. They learned all about these fascinating creatures and some were even brave enough to hold one.

Aletheia Christian Academy’s 11th and 12th grade AP English students took a special trip to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery to see a live performance of Hamlet. It was a memorable experience that helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and the power of live theater—making the literature feel more real, relevant, and impactful.

The Florida FFA Association recently selected twelve (12) students as candidates for state FFA office. Thirty-nine (39) FFA members from throughout the state took part in the 2025 State Officer Screening Process. These student members were challenged with an intense interview process, which included an individual interview, individual problem-solving activity, State Degree interview, agricultural knowledge Interview, and a conversational exercise.
We are proud to announce that PHS ‘s own Isabelle Jenkins has been nominated for the position of President of Florida FFA. Based on this nomination, she is automatically a state officer. After the vote at convention, she will either be president, or state Secretary. Florida FFA has upwards of 65,000 members, so this is an incredible honor. The 2025-2026 State FFA Officer Team will be announced during at the 97th Florida FFA State Convention and Expo this summer.

The West Florida High School Criminal Justice Club students had a very successful state leadership competition event in Kissimmee April 9th through the 12th. Multiple CJ students finished in the top 5 in over 32 events.
The following students finished 1st in the state in the following competitions:
911 Dispatch Test – Aiden Richter
Use of Force Team – Joshua Hatcher, Timothy Kinsella, Aiden Richter, Waylon Whitaker
Obstacle Course-Female – Sabrina Dixon
Latent Fingerprint Comparison – Utahna Lewis
Public Information Officer – Carly Anderson
Organization Marketing Video – Makayla Dawkins
Makayla Dawkins received a $1000 scholarship. Both Makayla Dawkins and Hannah Larrabee received plaques commemorating 4-year participation in the leadership competition.

The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, a beloved downtown Pensacola church, recently hosted a generous fundraiser in support of Global Learning Academy (GLA). Thanks to their remarkable efforts, over $15,000 was raised—paving the way for a powerful new partnership that will deeply benefit our students.
This incredible support will open the door to expanded field trip opportunities, help meet individual student needs, and provide meaningful resources that will enrich the lives of our learners. We are truly grateful for the kindness and commitment shown by our downtown neighbors.
A special thank you to Greg Stone and Michael Carro, whose servant leadership made this collaboration possible. We’re excited for the journey ahead and grateful for this growing friendship.

Escambia County Public Schools (ECPS) hosted the annual Battle of the Books competition Saturday, April 26th, for 32 schools at Booker T. Washington High School. The opening ceremony included a Presentation of Colors performed by Booker T. Washington High School NJROTC cadets and the National Anthem sung by Booker T. Washington High School senior D’Onnee Henderson.
A total of 77 teams comprised of 341 students competed against each other to see who had the most knowledge of this year’s Battle of the Books titles. Participating students read up to 15 titles from this competition year’s Sunshine State Young Readers and Florida Teens Read book lists. Teams met before, after, and during school with their coaches to develop their problem solving and collaboration skills, and to discuss the books’ themes, characters, settings, and main events.
The competition included four rounds of fifteen questions each, culminating with a final Lightning Round as a tie-breaker. Congratulations to all of our teams for their excellent work.

On Wednesday, April 23, West Florida High School 11th graders received hands-only CPR training, guided by Nemours Children’s Health, staff from ECPS Health & Physical Education Department, and the American Heart Association. West Florida High School was the seventh and final school in the county to have its students trained. With the completion of this hands-only CPR event, more than 2,200 Escambia County students have been trained and equipped with critical, potentially life-saving skills.

Aletheia Christian Academy hosted its first ever Lions Spring Fine Arts Festival in April. Families poured into the school to check out the amazing artwork their children created inspired by different countries and to watch them perform musical selections from around the world. International food trucks were also serving up global cuisine to finish the evening. It was a wonderful evening of creativity, culture, and community fun.

Ferry Pass Middle Odyssey of the Mind Teams make the TOP 10 at State Tournament, one team is headed to the WORLD FINALS in Lansing, Michigan. Four Ferry Pass Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Teams competed at the Florida Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament in Orlando, Florida on April 12. Students represented the Emerald Coast Region, competing against teams from all over Florida.
Three of the four teams placed in the TOP 10 of the Florida rankings. One of the teams placed 3rd, qualifying them for the World Finals at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. That tournament is scheduled for May 20-24. The students will represent Florida against teams from all 50 states and International teams from Switzerland, Poland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and many more.

Alicia Gifford, art teacher at Escambia High School, was selected as a mentor for the prestigious Art21 Educators program. Art21 provides experiences with contemporary art, artists, and themes to support innovative curriculum development and teaching across disciplines. Ms. Gifford will also be a speaker during the 2025 Art21 summer institute in New York.
Ms. Gifford was an educator participant in the program in 2024, and was selected as a mentor for the 2025-2026 school year. In the role of mentor, Ms. Gifford will guide new Art21 educators as they learn about teaching with contemporary art, use Art21 resources, and refine new facilitation skills. Mentors help new Art21 Educators implement the work initiated during the Summer Institute into their classroom over the course of the program year.

Jael Dixon, art student at Escambia High School, was selected as the featured artist for the downtown event, Night on the Tracks. Jael’s work was first featured in the “How Can You Use Your Voice” art show at End of the Line Cafe, organized by EHS teacher Alicia Gifford.
Jael has placed in several art shows, including Bright Images 2025 and Youth Art Focus at the Pensacola Museum of Art. Night On The Tracks is a downtown event organized by 309 Punk House and features culturally driven nonprofits and eclectic art. Way to go, Jael.

Pensacola Christian Academy students in grades 9-11 worked diligently on the STEM Fair projects for five months. The 1st-3rd place winners earned a free excursion to the Hyundai Plant in Montgomery, AL, as well as the Montgomery Zoo. The students enjoyed a guided tour through the Hyundai Plant in which they learned the steps involved in building a car. They observed mathematics and engineering, and how it is used to build the best products with the latest technological innovations. The next stop was the Montgomery Zoo, which houses over 500 animals from five different continents. The day was filled with examples of how man has taken the principles of math and science and used them to fulfill God’s command of subduing the earth to better mankind, as well as allowing us to marvel at the majestic animals He created.

Booker T. Washington’s SGA conducted its 20th annual 5K race on April 26th. This group solicited 48 sponsors and 300+ runners netting $10,000. The school donated this $10,000 to Communities Caring at Christmas. Over the last four Booker T. Washington has raised $40,000 for Communities Caring at Christmas.

St. Paul Catholic School’s musical theater students and teachers have been working hard since January to bring Aladdin Jr. to the stage! Bravo to our talented musical theater students and teachers, Emily Stubblefield & Meghan Carr, for an incredible performance!

Strings students at St. Paul Catholic School gave a wonderful concert to end the spring semester. All third grade students learn the basics of the violin and then have the opportunity to continue in violin or other string instruments in fourth grade and beyond. Each year our orchestra continues to grow and gets better and better!

Every spring, Creative Learning Academy’s fifth grade students depart on a field trip that brings Florida’s history and government to life. This year, the students left Tuesday morning on a three-day adventure spanning Tallahassee and St. Augustine, where they participated in hands-on learning and enjoyed many new experiences. Our lucky students explored the roots of our state while building strong bonds with classmates and teachers.
This learning adventure began in Tallahassee, where students toured the State Capitol and got a close look at how Florida’s government operates. Standing in the chambers where laws are made, many students could picture themselves as future leaders. The group also ventured to Wakulla Springs for a glass bottom boat tour, enjoying the crystal-clear waters and spotting native wildlife. A stop at Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna offered a chance to see stunning underground formations, adding a sense of adventure to the trip.
St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, was a highlight filled with interactive history lessons. The class explored the mighty Castillo de San Marcos, walked through the Colonial Quarter, and discovered long lost “booty” at the Pirate and Treasure Museum. Touring Flagler College’s grand halls gave students a glimpse into the city’s rich architectural heritage. Throughout the trip, teamwork and service opportunities were introduced into each activity, making this field trip a perfect blend of education, discovery, and fun for every CLA fifth grader.

Congratulations to Tate High School senior Jacob Wallace, winner of this year’s Superintendent’s Choice Art Award. His piece will hang in the Superintendent’s Gallery at the Vernon McDaniel Building alongside past years’ winners. His art instructor at Tate is Elerene Walters.

Members of the CHS National Honor Society are not only “smart” academically, but they are also dedicated to the CHS Core Value of ‘Selfless Love’. Members collected 192 Easter baskets that were delivered to children receiving care at the Lakeview Center and Gulf Coast Kids’ House. Baskets were delivered on Holy Thursday by six NHS members, Seniors Kaitlynn Campbell, Rakibe Islam, Nicole King, Molly McCarthy, and Alexandra Morales, and Junior McKenna Hindman. Thank you, Chris Gulig and Jennifer McCarthy, for moderating the NHS and assisting the students with their deliveries.

Crubotics, a.k.a. the CHS Robotics Team, competed in the 12th Annual Gulf Coast Regional MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) competition, hosted by Dauphin Island Sea Lab during the last weekend in April. The Crubotics team is 17 members strong and competed in two different classifications. A combined total of 900 hours was spent by the Ranger and Navigator teams to plan, build, and test two Remotely Operated Vehicles (underwater robots) to accomplish simulated real-world scenarios. The Ranger Team placed second, and the Navigator Team placed third in their respective divisions. The Navigator Team also earned the Buoyancy Award (best attitude). Thank you to STEM Coordinator, Dana Lupton, and Math Teacher, Justin Cutchin, and Mac McKinley Class of ’24 for moderating the teams and helping them prepare for and maneuver this year’s competition. Congratulations Crubotics!

On Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5, the Pensacola Catholic High School Performing Arts Department performed the musical Godspell. The story is based on the Gospel of Matthew and follows Jesus as he gathers followers and teaches them through parables and songs, exploring themes of love, acceptance, compassion, and the importance of living a life of service. The CHS production was the culmination of the talents of many including Faculty: Producer – Denny Turner, Director – Katie Aguilar, Musical Director – Tom Baroco, Sets – Leo Bowersox, Media – Peyton Finelli & Keith Haynes, and Vocal Coaches William Guillot & Emily Vickery; Student Crew – Ava Bullard, Kam’meren Caldwell, and Matthew Pugh; and Student Cast, pictured: Front Row – Maya Chavan, Madeline Bryant, Milana Trotter, McKenzie Taylor, and Isabella Johnson; Second Row – Olivia Jens, Michael Baroco, and Silas Riner; Third Row – Molly McCarthy, Mercedes Concepcion, and Avery Hale.

Pensacola has done it again. Five figure skaters from the Greater Pensacola Figure Skating Club (GPFSC) recently participated in the 56th Annual Robert Unger ISI Competition and won gold, silver, and bronze medals for their performances. With more than 150 skaters competing at this international event held in Knoxville, Tennessee, our local skaters have made Pensacola proud.
GPFSC was represented by figure skaters Kristen Gaubert, Lindsay Carbone, Kassia Albarran, Mila Markulin, Norah Ortlieb, and skate director Kristie Albarran. Each skater won gold for their main event, the individual solo routine. In addition, all five skaters scored in the top three for each event they participated in. These events included couple’s spotlight, jump and spin, freestyle, and more. After months of preparation, these GPFSC skaters brought home fourteen gold, six silver, and four bronze, for a total of 24 medals. Congratulations to these figure skaters on their incredible results.
Pictured L to R: Lindsay Carbone, Kassia Albarran, Kristen Gaubert, Norah Ortlieb and Mila Markulin

Montessori School Pensacola Upper Elementary students took a field trip to downtown Pensacola for a meaningful blend of education, history, and fun.
The day began at the Federal Court House, where students talked about the Constitution, the legal system, and participated in a fun and interactive legal skit to bring the courtroom experience to life. Next, the group walked to a notable location for civil rights-era luncheons and sit-ins. They then visited the Artel Art Gallery where students explored a variety of exhibits. Following the red brick line through downtown, the group was guided past several key historical monuments, learning about Pensacola’s role in shaping both state and national history. They wrapped up the playtime at Discovery Park!

“Illuminate Space: Exploring Space through Light” is an immersive glow art experience created by Julie Fink, art teacher at St. Paul Catholic School, that was made possible, in part, because of a partnership with the Pensacola MESS Hall and NASA Universal Learning grant. They brought the science which inspired student art. It should come as no surprise that the two disciplines, which we often put in their own silos, speak and harmonize together creating fresh and innovative ideas. The arts have this powerful ability to illuminate and excite the wonder and awe that is inherent in all of us. Our favorite part of the event is seeing the kids surprised reaction when they walk in and see their art anew and are so proud to share it.