Four students who participated in the Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay’s 3DE program, this school year, graduated at or near the top of their class, with an additional seven students earning scholarships for excelling in the program’s learning experience.
Ciara Ferlita of Chamberlain High School and Isabella Rodrigues of Hillsborough High School each graduated as Valedictorians, while Sam Rico of Chamberlain High School and Tate Keber of St. Petersburg High School graduated as Salutatorians.
The seven students who earned scholarships, totaling $32,000, include Kenyon Clarkson of St. Petersburg High School; Keber; Keyla Mendoza-Bayron of Hillsborough High School; Gabe Long of Hillsborough High School; Vittoria Bonus of Chamberlain High School; Rico; and Rachel Roberts of Dunedin High School.
Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay established the 3DE program in Hillsborough and Pinellas schools, in 2020 in four high schools including Chamberlain, Dunedin, Hillsborough and St. Pete High. The nonprofit organization has now expanded into nine schools.
The program partners with local businesses, such as ReliaQuest and Raymond James, to teach students skills through a business lens.
Junior Achievement plans to expand, this fall, in Alachua County and Polk County, with additional additions in 2025 planned for Pinellas County at Largo and Seminole High Schools.
Overall, the organization has provided mentoring and education to nearly 44,000 students, spanning more than 1.2 million instructional contact hours, as of the 2022-23 school year.