Coleen Peggs – Academic Excellence 

University of Florida

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my microbiology research in Mr. Bart’s experimental class, especially my project on bacterial cell communication that was led me to be a Florida State Science Fair
finalist.

What will you study in college?
In college I plan on majoring in public health and microbiology in order to work at the CDC to combat infectious disease outbreaks around the world. My top college pick is Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It is a huge honor to be nominated. I am so grateful for the support from my peers and teachers and their faith in my academic achievements.

What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I want to be an epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I hope to work around the world to combat disease outbreaks and bring better healthcare to less developed areas. I also want to work on combating bioterrorism attacks in multiple countries.

Alison Rivero – Art
University of Central Florida

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the small business I have created with my art. In less than one year, I have sold over 500 prints, stickers, shirts, and keychains of my original artwork. My 5-star shop has over 80 reviews, all giving positive feedback about the products bought. I have also sold over 70 commissions shipped to different locations around the country. One of my greatest accomplishments is being able to monetize doing what I love.

What will you study in college?
I plan to take on an Art (BA) major. This major will give me access to a wide range of art classes, providing me with the opportunity to explore different styles. I also hope to get an internship in Orlando to help kick off my future art career.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
Being nominated for Pathfinders brings me one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a more well-known, well-rounded artist. Being chosen as the art nominee makes me feel like my hard work is starting to be more appreciated. While I make art for myself and my online supporters, it feels wonderful to have outside recognition.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue growing my small business and selling more of my original artwork. I also hope to expand my art skills in college and go on to produce my own adult cartoon someday.  I would love to learn animation and watch my creations come to life. Maybe someday you’ll stumble across my show on Adult Swim while flipping through TV channels on a Friday night.

Matthew Lehman – Business
University of Florida

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It was awesome to become the Pathfinder for Business. I was able to show how I learned the operations of a business environment and how to be a successful adult in the future. I was the president of FBLA for two years so I was very happy to show my dedication to business in high school.

What will you study in college?
My first choice is the University of Florida double majoring in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

Skylar Finkel – Community Involvement
University of Florida

Why do you think you were nominated for this Pathfinder category?
I was chosen for the Community Involvement Pathfinder because of my overwhelming involvement in benefiting my community. Many of these involvements include organizations I am a part of thanks to my school’s emphasis on getting involved, but also my willingness and drive to help out my local community wherever I see fit. My biggest accomplishment within this category would have to be my involvement with Dance Marathon. I have been involved with DM since my freshman year, but I never expected to be where I am today. As a dancer for DM, I dreamed of being up on that stage in a leadership role where I can have a direct impact on these kids, but I never saw this dream becoming a reality. However, at the end of my sophomore year, I was appointed to interview with the University of Florida for the DM Junior Relations Overall, and I was fortunate enough to be given this position. The following two years were so incredibly stressful but so overwhelmingly worth it. From hitting comma club that year to surpassing our goal and raising upwards of $120,000 for the kids, I am so incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to serve as an Overall for Palm Beach Central High School Dance Marathon for two consecutive years and I cannot wait to see what this year brings.

What will you study in college?
I plan on majoring in Advertising on a Persuasive Messaging Track with a minor in Statistics and Business at the University of Florida. I have always been interested in the world of marketing and advertising, but on a mathematical and analytical level. The idea that we can target advertisements to specific groups of people and look at consumer behavior/data and markets seems incredibly fascinating to me. Because of this, I plan on using my major to become a Marketing Analyst.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to attend the University of Florida as the Class of 2025. Following this, I may attend graduate school and begin my career as a Marketing Analyst. I am also looking forward to having kids and starting a family, and while that is not expected for a long time, it is certainly something that I look forward to in the future.

Sonya Smith-Tembe – Drama

University of Central Florida

What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of just all the work I did for the sets of our school’s musicals for the past 3 years. Each of them is special and unique, so it would be hard to choose just one!

What will you study in college?
I plan on majoring in Theatre Design and Technology. It wasn’t my original plan to major in that, but joining the theatre program at our school gave me a new passion for the performing arts.

What are your plans for the future?
I hope to graduate with my BFA in Theatre Design and Technology and move on to the professional world while also trying to give back to struggling arts programs right here in our community.

Garrett Gouveia – Debate
Florida State University

What are you most proud of?
As far as personal achievements go, it’s a split between placing 6th at states in Duo Interpretation and being able to sustain running my debate club at Polo Park and still see my students have success in it considering the current situation. In both cases, I was able to achieve success even with limited resources available based on the dedication I put in, and it’s an amazing feeling to see the dividends come out with the odds stacked against me.

What will you study in college?
I’m going to be attending FSU but still have no clue what my major is going to be. If I was forced to choose now it would probably be something in law or economics, but the fortunate thing about FSU is that they have a class that gives me resources detailing all the different majors and what they entail. That way, I can get my prerequisites out of the way and then focus my energy on a major I really enjoy in later semesters.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
I’ve always put everything I have into speech and debate but it’s still strange to be nominated for awards to this degree. It’s partly self-image issues, partly because of the success I’ve seen in
others, but I never really considered myself a top-tier competitor. As I mentioned before it feels fantastic to see my time and passion in this craft pay off, and I can objectively see that my
accolades stand very well, but there’s still a little part of me that feels inadequate.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are both detailed and very vague. I’m going to go to FSU, continue to try and better my physical, mental, and emotional health, commit myself to the major I eventually decide and further explore any opportunities that present themself to me. It can mean a lot of different things based on a lot of different situations, but I like its flexibility and overall focus on adapting to my environment and making the best out of it.

Kyle Balfour – Political Science
George Washington University

What are you most proud of?
Meeting with political leaders and foreign diplomats is definitely what I am most proud of.  I want to pursue a career in domestic politics and foreign diplomacy, so my meeting with various professionals in these fields provided a deeper insight into those careers!

What will you study in college?
I plan to double major in political science and international affairs.  Those areas within the social sciences deeply intrigue me.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
To be nominated for such a prestigious program is an honor.  It means that I, and the other nominees, embody leadership, academic excellence, and integrity.  We possess a unique skill set within our field of interest that we can utilize to propel our nation and world towards a better and brighter future.  This nomination not only serves as a stepping stone to my future career but also opens doors to several other opportunities.

What are your plans for the future?
After completion of my Master’s, I plan to enter Foreign Services and spend several years working as a diplomat.  Afterward, I plan to continue political work in the United States and
eventually serve in Congress.

Alyssa Leong – Literature
University of Florida

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of winning fourth place in FBLA districts and states for Business communication.

What do you plan to study in college?
I plan to major in graphic design because I want to incorporate my love of art into advertisements.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It means a lot for storytelling because graphic design is all about communicating a message to a viewer from a business perspective, similar to how literature communicates a story to a reader.

Nicolas Namia – Math
University of Florida

What are you most proud of?
I am very proud of the students I get to interact with during math tutoring and within Mu Alpha Theta. It is an honor to be the president of the organization and I am most proud of the members that dedicate their time and effort towards tutoring and lending a hand to our community.

What do you plan to study in college?
I’m planning on majoring in Psychology and entering college as a Pre-Med student. I had a very memorable experience in Dr. Alper’s AICE Psychology class and I found it to be the subject I’m most interested in and invested in.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It is very gratifying to be nominated for Pathfinders. It is rewarding to be commended for my work and service. My hope is that more people will rise to the occasion and further improve the math community at PBC.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to study hard in college, get involved in different school-related organizations, volunteer at nearby health centers or other locations, and prospectively go on to medical school.

Michael Johnson – Reach for Excellence
Florida Atlantic University

What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of earning all A’s during my high school career.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It means the world to me. It means that my peers and my teachers are proud of me and they believe in me.

What do you plan to study in college?
I plan to attend FAU and major in their inclusion business program.

Diane Altidor – Science
University of Florida

What are you most proud of?
There are so many things I really worked hard for in my category and am proud of. However, my top two would have to be getting selected for an internship at a highly reputable research institute and earning first place at the regional science fair for a project I have been working on for three years now.

What do you plan to study in college?
I want to major in Food and Nutrition Sciences to help me on my path to becoming a gastroenterologist.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It’s really an honor to be selected to represent the school based on my efforts in science throughout the years.

What are your plans for the future?
After college I want to go to medical school to study to have my dream job as a gastroenterologist. It just fascinates me how the body is able to break down food into the
simplest forms for our bodies to use as energy. I also want to continue to do research and help solve the big scientific issues in the world.

Isabella Thomas – Sports
Florida State University

What are you most proud of?
Out of all I have achieved in the Sports Category, I am most proud of being involved in the Bronco Readers Program. Before joining the Athletic Honor Society in its inaugural year, I was able to read to elementary school kids and instill the importance of literacy and involvement in physical activities. This year, I had the opportunity to continue reading to students virtually and spread the program to the Athletic Honor Society.

What will you major in at college?
In my undergraduate studies, my major will be biochemistry; I want to understand both biology and chemistry as comprehensively as possible. Florida State University offers a plethora of opportunities to first-generation college students like myself, and the exigent coursework will thoroughly prepare me for medical school.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
Being Palm Beach Central’s nominee for Sports is significant to me because it highlights my dedication to sports in the past four years. Not only have I been on Varsity Lacrosse at Central, but I am also the Sports Section Editor of the Bronco Beat Newspaper, the Coordinator of Community for the Athletic Honor Society, and a member of the Sports Medicine Club. I have been immensely involved in sports on and off the field.

What are your plans for the future?
After undergrad, I aspire to continue to medical school and practice cardiology. I have a fervent enthusiasm for cardiology as both my father and brother had congenital heart diseases. Invasive cardiology is exceptionally compelling to me and I look forward to impacting the health of my patients.

Joey Remillard – Music
Florida State University

What are you most proud of?
There’s not really one thing I am the most proud of. For me music is not really about achievements and collecting them, but rather the active pursuit of being a musician. It’s a journey and I guess I am most proud of the one I am on that has introduced me to great people and taken me to cool places all in the love of music.

What will you major in at college?
I will be attending FSU going in under exploratory, because I have so many interests in many varying fields I really want to make sure I find the right one for me.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
The Pathfinders nomination to me meant recognition for my talent and hard work. Like I said in the first answer, music is not really about collecting achievements, mostly because you usually do not get a tangible item for the work you put in. But the Pathfinders nomination for this moment represented some kind of recognition that I am on the right path.

What are your plans for the future?
As of now, it’s to find my path at FSU and keep playing music.

Sofia Guerrero Barrera – Foreign Language
University of South Florida

What are you most proud of?
I’m truly proud of having the opportunity of helping others through my passion for languages and for advocating the advantages and virtues of learning languages; encouraging students to explore heterogeneity throughout linguistics.

What will you major in at college?
I hope to pursue a major in Economics, and Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
I believe being a Pathfinder nominee represents the capability of overcoming any limitations on my path towards learning and loving languages, while also giving back to the communities around me. It’s to be someone courageous enough to grow on adversity, and dedicated enough to become the best one can be.

What are your plans for the future?
In the future, and by accessing a post-secondary education, I would like to explore thoroughly the socio-economic variables that reduce access to fundamental resources and their impact on a global framework. It is my goal that one day I can be able to contribute to society on a macro scale by providing sustainable assistance to children who today find themselves in an
unfavorable situation.

Angela Priore – Technical/Vocational
Illinois Institute of Techonology

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being accepted into a top 10 ranked university for my major.

What will you major in at college?
Architectural Engineering because it incorporates both the architectural design aspect and engineering aspect of building a home, ultimately being the best of both worlds. I will be pursuing a Masters of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
It’s a great honor to know that my teachers selected me to represent out school.

Angelina Zitelli – Music/Vocal
Florida Gulf Coast University

What are you most proud of?
The thing that I treasure and value most is the feeling of inspiring others with my music and my sound. I’ll never forget the time a young girl came up to me after recognizing me from a previous performance and told me that she is inspired by me. It’s moments like that I hold closest to my heart and that I am most proud of.

What will you study in college?
I plan on majoring in psychology because I have always dreamed of becoming a therapist. Learning about the psychological impacts music can consequently plant in our body, spirit, and mind is something that has always fascinated me as well.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
Being nominated by Pathfinders is an honor and a blessing. This prestigious nomination to me does not necessarily mean “the best”, but instead displays determination and drive to become accomplished in your field.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan on becoming a licensed therapist, and I hope to work at a hospital or rehabilitation center, possibly with a focus on children.

Brielle Young – Communications
University of Central Florida

What are you most proud of?
While I am proud of every achievement I have made in this category, I am most proud of my work with The Bronco Beat as Co-Editor in Chief this year. Our transition to a new, online platform while working virtually was definitely difficult, but I am proud of the content we have released.

What will you study in college?

I am planning on double-majoring in Journalism and Business in college. I think these two majors go hand in hand, as journalism allows me to take a more creative approach with my studies while business allows me to understand economic situations and analytics that I can use when reporting factual information and tailoring the news to certain demographics.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
I am very honored to be nominated for the Pathfinder Scholarship. Since I heard about the program in my freshman year, I knew that I could not pass up this opportunity when my senior year came around and nominations were beginning. I am grateful that my teachers have supported me and believed in me enough to nominate me for this category; their support means the world.

What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I plan to attend UCF and study Journalism and Integrated Business. I was accepted
into the Burnett Honors College at UCF, which will definitely help me secure internships and
positions with local media in Orlando, with the hopes of becoming a news correspondent or
broadcast journalist in the future.

Kristopher Ratz – Computer Science
Florida Polytechnic University

What are you most proud of?
Being selected for computer sciene was quite the honor. What I am most proud of isn’t anything special. The ability for me to even understand what I am doing makes me proud. If you told me two years ago that I would be working with machines I didn't even know existed, let alone own six 3D printers, I would’ve called it a bluff. I’m proud to see what I have turned into.

What will you study in college?
I have already been accepted into my main college. I’m studying mechanical engineering at Florida Poly. I chose ME because of my dad. I grew up around his car body shop, so experiencing machines at work was a real eye-opener. I was going to choose computer engineering, but I found that I enjoyed mechanical systems more.

What did it mean to you to be Central’s nomination for this Pathfinder award?
Being nominated was one of the most exciting things of my senior year. My grades were slipping, and I was losing motivation really quickly. After getting nominated, it gave me a sense of hope. A feeling of “If I can do this, I can do anything!” The nomination not only put into perspective that there are people watching me, but also inspired me to try harder to be the best that I can.

What are your plans for the future?
I see my future with high hopes. Since getting accepted into college, I have access to information that I have been looking for all my high school career.

Photos courtesy of Cady Studios