BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Although the program has been around for several years, it is still a new concept for some students. It’s called the Star Academy and it allows students who are one or two years older than average 8th graders to “skip” a grade.
The students who sign up for the program attend either Giunta or Webb Middle Schools. They sign up during their 7th grade year. To enroll, the student must be 15 years old by December 31st, must score Level 2 on the FCAT, must make certain scores on other tests, and must complete an interview process with his or her parents.
If the students successfully complete 8th grade, then they advance to 10th grade the following school year. The students refer to this as “skipping” a grade. However, the teachers said the students actually cover all of the course requirements for both 8th and 9th grades in a single school year.
On Tuesday evening, the Hillsborough County School District held a celebration for the students who have successfully completed the program. Ms. Allison Edgecomb served as the Mistress of Ceremony.
Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb represented Superintendent MaryEllen Elia and the Hillsborough County School Board. “These students had the opportunity to say “yes” or “no” and they said “yes.”
She reminded the students that they had reached the end of one chapter of their lives, but their journey did not end there. She encouraged them to embrace the future.
All of the students were presented certificates of completion.
Giunta Middle School students who completed the program are: Lavardice Alexander, Rebecca Allen, Coral Aponte-Romero, Nardina Baker, Jo’Quan Cannon, Cesar Carrera, Myrenna Colon, Matthew Colwell, Alexis Cortez, Zechary Fauber, Romillio Fields, Joseph Figueroa, Zugey Galarza, Ismael Garcia, Richard Garcia, and Genesis Gomez.
Other students who completed the program are: Victory Gomez, Emily Grajales, De’Shauna Hamilton, Aaron Hannum, Jose Hernandez, R’Claudia Hicklin, Quartez Higgins, Ashley Hunter, Jovany Irlanda, Terence Lewis, Rosa Macias, Morgan Mahaffey, Miguel Marrero, and Justin Mathis.
Sergio Mendoza, Natalia Miller, Nora Montalvo, Abram Munoz, Jayson Nunez, Maria Orlando, Omar Ramirez, Jesus Ramones, Travion Reid, Deion’Dre Sanders, Christabelle Sedita, Calob St. Cyr, Dyllan Tanner, Anthony Wallace, Kevis Warren, and Marcus Williams also completed the program.
Webb participants are: Broc Abrahms Josiah Allen, Kevin Anderson, Tyrek Anderson, Reinaldo Arrieta, Brandon Barrett, Krista Bartow, Joshua Buenano, Jephan Chambers, Iris DeLeon Ruano, Sabino Delgado, Christopher Estevez, Armando Fernandez, Sebastian Fundora, Francis Day Gonzalez, and Destiny Hayes.
Others are: Isabella Hernandez, Noslen Hernandez, Timothy Herret, Kimone Kryzun, Rosemercy Lebron, Doralis Leon, Angelo Lopez, Victor Lopez, Luisander Marrero, Rafael Martinez, Ediel Navarro, Jose Ortiz, Jeremiah Paulino, Daylin Perez, Dennis Perez, Jayanna Powell, Alejandro Rivera, and Andrew Rivera received certificates.
Certificates were also presented to: Ana Ruiz, Manuel Serrano, Warren Thompson, Alexsandra Torres, Taylor Treanor, George Urbina, Lizbeth Velazquez, Jose Vera, and Sherreana Williams.
Others who appeared on the program were Matthew Rothenberger, Director of the Star Academy; Michael Bobo, Principal of Giunta Middle School; Marcos Murillo, Principal of Webb Middle School; and Michael McHugh.
Pictured: Some of the Giunta Middle School students participating in the program shown are: Alexis Cortez, Jose Hernandez, Jovany Irlanda, Terence Lewis, Miguel Marrero, Sergio Mendoza, Christabelle Sedita, Anthony Wallace, and Kevis Warren. (Photography by BRUNSON)
