Eight Plant City High School students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments.
The Plant City Optimist Club held its annual Youth Appreciation Ceremony recognizing eight local high school students for their outstanding accomplishments at a dinner this week, attended by the students, their relatives, school representatives, and Optimist Club members.
The eight students from Plant City High School (PCHS) were selected for recognition because of their efforts in athletics, academics, and community service work. Each student received an award for their accomplishments.
PCHS College & Career Counselor Jamie Stephens introduced the students and summarized the youths’ amazing accomplishments and involvement in community service through projects and school clubs which make them role models for the underclassmen to look up to for leadership and guidance.
In addition to the recognizing the students, the Plant City Optimist Club made a $500 financial contribution to the PCHS Senior Awards Ceremony to be held in May.
Plant City Optimist Club president Robert Olszewski spoke to the students sharing some words of support and appreciation for their outstanding contributions to our community and wishing them the best in the future.
Honorees included:
Kaleigh Salmon, who among other achievements is a member of the National Honor Society, a part of leadership council for Youth Alive and class of 2024 secretary. She is also serving as a 2023 Strawberry Festival Queen’s Court member.
Peyton Eatman, whose laundry list of achievements includes being a member of Letters for Rose, Senior Council, Science National Honor Society and National Honor Society. She has served in numerous leadership positions with Plant City FFA Chapter and Florida FFA District Nine.
Axzarey Hernandez, a member of the National Honor Society, Vice President of Latin Quarters and Key Club and is president of the HOSA Future Health Professionals. She plans to further her career and become a registered nurse.
Ryan Bentrovato is actively involved in FFA, the Science National Honor Society and the National Honor Society. This year his Ag Business team won the state FFA contest and qualified to compete at the National FFA Convention.
Creighton Long is a member of the Plant City High School Senior Varsity Basketball team, Youth Alive, Key Club and the Historian for the PCHS Senior Council. He has been on two mission trips, one to the Czech Republic and one to Pittsburg, Pa.
Michael Bell serves as senior class president, student government president and is a member of the AVID club and National Honor Society. He loves sports and works to be a leader on and off the field.
Alexa Vazquez is ranked in the top ten of her class and will earn her associate’s degree before she graduates high school. She is president of Spanish Honor Society and Latin Quarters as well as National Honor Society secretary.
Caleb Day is currently in the top tenth percentile of the senior class and is a member of AVID, where he has earned more than 100 community service hours volunteering with the club.
Plant City Optimist Club President Robert Olszewski was impressed with each and every one of the recognized students. “I walked away from the event thinking that we have some amazing future leaders from Plant City,” he said. “It’s good for the community to know that.”
For more information about the Plant City Optimist Club, please visit their website at plantcityoptimistclub.org.
