The Community Paper

Highlanders excel in spring competitions



Congratulations to senior Daniel Liu for winning the $50,ooo Lin Arison Excellence in Writing Award. The National YoungArts Foundation selected him for his poetry from 21 writing finalists across the nation.

Upper School teacher and debate coach Rebecca Traber earned the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award from the National Speech & Debate Association. The remarkable award achievement indicates that coaches have earned 10,000 coaching points — one point for every merit point earned by their students through competition, service and leadership activities.

On Feb. 20 at Orlando Shakes Theater, senior Briley Coleman advanced to states at the 40th Annual ESU National Shakespeare Competition: Central Florida Branch, making her one of the top 18 contenders in the state of Florida vying for a spot at nationals being held in New York City.

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL)

Congratulations! These students received awards at the National CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools) Chinese Essay Contest: ninth graders Olivia Reich and Sarrina Wen (gold awards) and Samantha Xu (honorable mention); 10th graders Sarah Vankorlaar and Sophia Coelho (silver awards); 11th grader Jennfer Cen (honorable mention); and 12th graders Jim Qin (silver award), Miya Okuda (gold award) and Elle Dafnis (honorable mention).

Congratulations to LHP’s Speech & Debate Team for winning the state championships and being named the No. 1 Speech & Debate Program in the State of Florida. Additionally, Ayman Badawy won the state championship in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Yash Agrawal took the state title as the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Speaker. LHP also earned the World Schools State Championship for the first time with the student team of Amukta Vennam, Emma Okaty, Sam Go, Harleigh Demchak and Alec Clemens.

Isabella Delbakhsh was selected as a 2023 Carson Scholar and will receive a scholarship, medal and certificate. Isabella was chosen for demonstrating the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, and civic and social responsibility.

Congratulations to the 2023 Middle School National Science Bowl team for winning the regional competition, thereby securing a spot in the national finals.

Ms. Delicia Egerton and LHP’s Lower School Chorus students earned a rating of superior as they showcased their musical talents at Universal Orlando’s Music USA Festival on March 10. The group also received Elementary Concert Choir (first place) and Choral Music (grand champion) awards.

The LHP Girls Basketball team won the Class 4A Girls State Basketball Championship against Bishop Kenny in Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 25, making LHP state champions for the fourth year in a row.

LHP wrestlers — seniors Eligh Rivera and Ethan Mojena and sophomore CJ Torres — captured three individual National Prep Championships and took home the gold jackets and first-place trophy on Feb. 25.

Julian Clarke

Congratulations to Eleecia Carter, who earned the FACA District 11 Class 4A Player of the Year award, and to junior Julian Clarke on earning the FACA District 11 Class 4A Player of the Year.

Dempsey Brown was named this year’s Orlando Sentinel Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Dempsey has been a team captain and varsity starter since the eighth grade and is committed to play at Wake Forest University next year.

 

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