Head of School Letter: Celebrating the Class of 2024
Source/Author: Nancy Spencer, Head of School
May 17, 2024
On May 18, 2024, we will celebrate and honor the first graduates of Shorecrest’s second century, the Class of 2024. Their achievements reflect the resilience, hard work and vast talents of this diverse group of 68 individuals. Throughout their time at Shorecrest, this group of seniors has seen remarkable physical changes in the Shorecrest campus and experienced learning in the time of a global pandemic. As Shorecrest embarks on its second century of creating lifelong learners who value academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and a commitment to social responsibility, I want to share some of the impressive accomplishments of the Class of 2024.
These seniors have challenged themselves academically throughout their Shorecrest careers. This month, they took a total of 205 Advanced Placement Exams and throughout their four years at Shorecrest, most have participated in Honors and Advanced Placement courses. A number of students elected to be a part of Shorecrest’s Signature Programs; five Chargers will graduate with their Global Scholars Initiative (GSI) diplomas and seven seniors will earn STEAM certificates. Five students created six Independent Studies in subjects such German Reunification, Advanced Choreography, Historical Fashion Design, Carbon Sequestration, The Implications of Illegal Drug Trafficking on the Colombian Economy, and Writing in the Sciences.
This year, 62% of the applications submitted by members of the Class of 2024 resulted in acceptances from an impressive array of colleges and universities. Members of the Class of 2024 were accepted by a total of 129 different schools and will attend 46 colleges in 17 different states and 1 foreign country. Forty members of the graduating class are choosing to attend college outside the state of Florida and 37 students will be the only Shorecrest student to attend their college or university. Nearly 20% of the senior class applied and were accepted Early Decision into their chosen college or university. A number of students will enter the Honors programs at their colleges, entering their universities as designated Scholars, selected for special talents and skills. In addition, thus far, the Class of 2024 has earned over $7 million dollars in scholarships for their college careers, with additional scholarship funds still being awarded for this fall.
Of particular note, this year one of our seniors is the recipient of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Morehead-Cain, the first merit scholarship program established in the United States, is among the most prestigious undergraduate educational opportunities worldwide, with only three percent of candidates gaining admission each year. In addition to covering all expenses for four years of undergraduate education at UNC, the scholarship also includes fully funded summer enrichment activities and funding for independent research, internships, and international study. Shorecrest is a Morehead-Cain nominating school and our graduate will be one of only 200 Morehead-Cain scholars at UNC, one of only three individuals from the state of Florida.
The Class of 2024 includes a National Merit Scholarship winner and one National Merit Semifinalist. Four additional Shorecrest seniors were named Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. One senior was a Finalist for the 2024 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar Program, one member of the Class of 2024 was named a National African American Recognition Award Recipient, and four seniors received National Hispanic Recognition Awards.
Of the students in the Class of 2024 who applied for Bright Futures, 57% were awarded Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholars and 32% earned the distinction as Florida Bright Futures Medallion Scholars.
The Class of 2024 includes numerous talented athletes who have been role models for the school’s younger students. Their involvement has supported the Shorecrest athletic program; their sportsmanship and participation leave a positive legacy. This class has athletes who over their four years of interscholastic competition have been leaders in our athletic programs. Seven seniors will be pursuing NCAA sports at schools such as Harvard, Columbia, Notre Dame, Villanova, Sarah Lawrence, Colorado State and Barry College as they move into their college athletic careers. We will miss their talents at Shorecrest and wish them well as they compete on the collegiate level.
Artists abound in the Class of 2024! There are thespians who earned recognition and awards for their talents in the class. This year, seniors earned seven nominations from the Broadway Star of the Future program, which honors artistic excellence in Tampa Bay and is presented by the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Visual artists in this class also earned Gold and Silver Key recognition, along with Honorable Mentions distinction from the 2024 Pinellas County Art Region of The Scholastic Art Awards program. Student artists from this class were also recognized as 2024 Emerging Artists of the 21st Century Pinellas County High School Exhibition. Student musicians performed in the Shorecrest rock and concert bands throughout the school year and dazzled their audiences with their talent. A number of students will continue their artistic career in performing and visual arts on the collegiate level. We are delighted with their artistic pursuits and look forward to their successes on the stage and in galleries.
Service learning is an important component of Shorecrest’s educational mission. This year’s Senior Class completed over 7,500 service hours. They traveled locally and across the nation for their Service Week commitments, venturing as far away as South Dakota and Tennessee. Some notable or popular nonprofit organizations served by Shorecrest students include Kind Mouse, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Ronald McDonald House, Feeding Tampa Bay, Special Olympics, and the St. Pete Free Clinic.
Family connections are an important component of community-building here at Shorecrest. The Class of 2024 includes six legacy students, with at least one parent who attended Shorecrest in the past. In addition, 16 students are “lifers” at Shorecrest. This senior class also includes four students who are children of current faculty/staff members.
Near or far, we know that the Shorecrest Class of 2024 will remain Chargers, committed to lifelong learning and to making a positive difference in the world. We are so proud of these accomplished individuals and look forward to watching them excel not only in colleges and universities, but also in their professional and personal adult lives.
We are proud of the Class of 2024 and send congratulations to our graduates and their families on this milestone occasion.
All the best,
Nancy
~ Learn more about the Class of 2024 or stream Commencement online at www.shorecrest.org/2024. ~
