Graduations 2020

Collier County’s 2020 Graduates of Distinction are ready for what’s next

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The Naples Daily News is recognizing 17 top Collier County high school graduates nominated by their school.

This year, with the Class of 2020's senior year cut short by coronavirus, the Graduates of Distinction annual honors will look a little bit different.

Graduates answered a questionnaire while portraits were taken with social distancing in mind, but the graduates' passion and initiative were not dulled.

Read what each Graduate of Distinction had to say about everything from quarantine life to their hopes for their next life chapter.

Conner Rainey, 2020 graduate of Barron Collier High School.
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Barron Collier High School: Conner Rainey

From student body president to the University of Florida, Conner Rainey wants to focus on international studies with hope others will branch out in the world too. "I hope that people go out and travel more to see that the world is not this big and scary place as so many people make it seem," he said. Read profile »

Ashley Cruz, 2020 graduate of Community School of Naples.
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Community School of Naples: Ashley Cruz

At 8:10 p.m. on March 26, Ashley Cruz opened her Harvard applicant portal and everything changed. "I dream of a world where I have faith in my government, but more importantly, a world where my government has faith in people like me and like my mom," she said. Read profile »

Quentin Fairchild, 2020 graduate of Donahue Academy.
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Donahue Academy: Quentin Fairchild

J R.R. Tolkien words encapsulate how Quentin Fairchild feels about his senior year and the Class of 2020.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."  – J.R.R. Tolkien

"This quote says that all we can do is the best we can with our circumstances," Fairchild said. "When there is a problem, instead of looking at the actions of others or the circumstances, we should look to improve how we handle it ourselves." Read profile »

Everglades City School Graduate of Distinction Evan Richards
Everglades City School Graduate of Distinction Evan Richards Special to the Naples Daily News

Everglades City School: Evan Richards

Evan Richards plans to pursue fire school after graduating this year. "He has worked tirelessly to ensure he would graduate to continue on with his dreams. He is an incredible young man," wrote Everglades City School's Principal Cherie Allison. Read profile »

First Baptist Academy's Graduate of Distinction, Joey Stover.
First Baptist Academy's Graduate of Distinction, Joey Stover. Submitted by Joey Stover

First Baptist Academy: Joey Stover

Joey Stover's last week before schools shutdown was spent in Belize with his fellow classmates. "During this time we bonded as a community dedicated to service and grew closer as friends," he said. "In retrospect, it was a bittersweet moment to end our high school careers on as we embark on our next phase of life." Read profile »

Jefferson Valladares, 2020 graduate of Golden Gate High School.
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Golden Gate High School: Jefferson Valladares

Jefferson Valladares loves people. He wants to continue impacting peoples' lives whether as a lawyer or medical doctor. "I want to make a change in people’s lives and learn to craft my words to build people up," Valladares said. Read profile »

Evan Cohen, 2020 graduate of Gulf Coast High School.
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Gulf Coast High School: Evan Cohen

Evan Cohen is off to the University of South Florida, but he will never forget when a genetic lab mistake stunk up the room for a week. "I accidentally washed shrimp DNA down the drain in genetics," he said. Read profile »

Cindy Velazquez, 2020 graduate of Immokalee High School.
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Immokalee High School: Cindy Velazquez

For Cindy Velazquez, her parents are the fuel to her ambition fire. "My parents are my biggest inspiration. They’ve shown me what I want and what I don’t want in life," she said. Read profile »

Victoria Novotny, 2020 graduate of Lely High School.
Alex Driehaus/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY - FLORIDA NETWORK

Lely High School: Victoria Novotny

Victoria Novotny's passion for health and fitness is going to new heights this fall at the University of Florida. "Understanding the health of the human body, and how to maintain that health, is extremely important to me," she said. "Fitness has always been a large part of my life and I hope to continue that passion throughout my future." Read profile »

Gisselle Hernandez, 2020 graduate of Lorenzo Walker Technical College.
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Lorenzo Walker Technical High School: Sandra “Gisselle” Hernandez

Sandra "Gisselle" Hernandez is excited to continue her path to becoming a nurse. "Interacting with patients and learning from other nurses is always an exciting experience. It's something I missed during quarantine," she said. Read profile »

Sarahi Lopez, 2020 graduate of Marco Island Academy.
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Marco Island Academy: Sarahi Lopez

Wellesley College, a historically women's college with notable alumna, including Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton, adds Sarahi Lopez this fall where she plans to study political science. "I strongly believe that people should have equal rights, equal accountability, and equal opportunity, despite all current factors of dispute like gender identity or sexual orientation," she said. Read profile »

Patrick Seaton, 2020 graduate of Mason Classical Academy.
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Mason Classical Academy: Patrick Seaton

Patrick Seaton reflects on a recent trip to Greece where his classmates began their own rendition of "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond. "As we all know, when you put 20 or so teenagers in a small space together for several hours, crazy things always happen," he said. Read profile »

Quinn Rieger, 2020 graduate of Naples High School.
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Naples High School: Quinn Rieger

Before attending Columbia University this fall, Quinn Rieger spent his time in quarantine watching "Apocalypse Now" after an English assignment piqued his interest. "I really appreciated the fact that the filmmakers were able to take the central ideas and themes of the book and apply it to a relatively more modern situation," he said. Read profile »

Anthony Bonet, 2020 graduate of Palmetto Ridge High School.
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Palmetto Ridge High School: Anthony Bonet

Anthony Bonet enjoyed his time on Palmetto Ridge's marching band that "was its own world within the school." "I really think that the best lessons I learned in band had nothing to do with music and everything to do with forming relationships and having a strong work ethic that follows the motto, 'If you're on time, you're late,'" he said. Read profile »

Sabrina Perez, 2020 graduate of Seacrest Country Day School.
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Seacrest Country Day School: Sabrina Perez

Sabrina Perez is the daughter of two immigrants "who were not able to go to college and sacrificed so much." Now, she will attend Georgetown University this fall. "They taught me that it does not matter what you have but how much you are willing to work at something and the sacrifices you make that make the difference," she said. Read profile »

Alberto Macia, 2020 graduate of St. John Neumann Catholic High School.
Alex Driehaus/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY - FLORIDA NETWORK

St. John Neumann Catholic High School: Alberto Macia

Alberto Macia's second semester of high school, like many, came to a screeching halt. "I made the best out of my high school experience and am ready to move on to my next chapter," he said. Read profile »

Preston Beckner, 2020 graduate of Village School of Naples.
Alex Driehaus/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY - FLORIDA NETWORK

The Village School of Naples: Preston Beckner

Space and its exploration have captured Preston Beckner's full attention while he spent time acquiring his private pilot's license. He will put it all to work in his next chapter. "Ever since I was a young boy, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut," he said. Read profile »

The Class of 2020 Graduates of Distinction questionnaires were pulled together and shared by Rachel Fradette, an education reporter for the Naples Daily News. Follow her on Twitter: @Rachel_Fradette, email her at rfradette@gannett.com.

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