Nearly 120 students honored at awards event
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Robert W. Webb Award of Excellence winner Lizbeth Espinoza holds her award at the Putnam County School District’s Top Scholars ceremony Thursday night. From left, Superintendent Rick Surrency, Robert Webb’s son, Doug Webb, and Palatka Daily News Editor Wayne Smith join Espinoza. -
Sarajean McDaniel, the state’s 2020 Principal of the Year and Putnam County School District’s leadership development executive director, speaks during Thursday’s honors ceremony. -
Positively Putnam FL
The Putnam County School District honored its top scholars for the 2020-2021 academic year Thursday night, with the top award going to a Crescent City High School senior.
The ceremony was conducted virtually last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted Superintendent Rick Surrency to ask students’ family and friends to applaud for the fact they could attend in person.
The district’s 119 honorees consisted of seniors from the district’s four public high schools – CCHS, Interlachen High, Palatka High and Q.I. Roberts Junior-Senior High – and charter school Putnam EDGE. Principals read the students’ extracurricular and volunteer activities, accomplishments and collegiate aspirations.
The Palatka Daily News served as the sponsor of the event, where the Award of Excellence, named after the late businessman and philanthropist Robert Webb, was given to one top scholar. This year, CCHS student Lizbeth Espinoza took home the award.
Espinoza participated in track, volleyball and soccer and plans to attend the University of South Florida with a focus on biomedicine after graduating with her Cambridge diploma. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.
Many of the students honored have a 4.0 or higher grade point average and/or are in the top 10% of their graduating class.
In her keynote speech, SaraJean McDaniel, the district’s executive director of leadership development, focused on the word “shine,” coming up with a word for each letter. She came up with “servant leaders, honorable, immune, navigators and empowerment.”
“I’ve watched so many of you grow and so many of you shine,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel, the state’s Principal of the Year in 2020 for her work at Moseley Elementary School, said the students will make mistakes and have disappointments throughout their lives. But with the right care, support and effort the students can overcome challenges, she said.
McDaniel urged students to turn burdens into opportunities and change their mindsets from having to do something to getting to do something.
“Successful people find answers and never create excuses,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said future judges, scientists, engineers and medical professionals among Thursday’s honorees. She noted one of the students aspires to be a nurse who wants to contribute to Putnam County.
“We are among greatness in this room tonight,” McDaniel said.
Graduation ceremonies for the five schools begin May 29 with Putnam EDGE and conclude June 12 with Q.I. Roberts.
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