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Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County celebrated graduating seniors from local high schools at the agency’s annual Senior Banquet & Graduation Celebration on Thursday, May 10, thanks to a grant from the Taco Bell Foundation that empowers youth to pursue a college degree or career after high school graduation. “We founded the Taco Bell Foundation to invest in youth and to ignite their futures, starting with graduation. These youth are our customers, friends, families, employees and our future leaders,” said Frank Tucker Chief People Officer at Taco Bell and President for the Taco Bell Foundation. “Our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides an opportunity to deliver on our commitment to ensure youth are empowered to graduate from high school and go onto pursue their dreams. We’re proud of the effort put forth by every youth being honored at this wonderful event.” The Class of 2018 included 67 teens from 10 different high schools who have participated in a variety of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County’s leadership, service, workforce development and entrepreneurial programs such as SRQVolunteen, STAR Leadership Training, Perlman Price Young Entrepreneurs and Keystone. Graduates include Ana Bravo and Kayla McGann from Booker High School; AJ Benate, Caitlin Blanchard, Ryan Blechta, Danielle Bourque, Sara Dramis, Cesarae Jensen, Harrison Jones, William Lloyd, Bo Lumpkin, Madison Reyes, Lucas Richter, Savell Robinson and Hannah Sanborn from Cardinal Mooney High School; Celeste Morales and Kyle Parsotan from North Port High School; Ali Ahmed, Alex Anacki, Katie Bonner, Jabin Chambers, Alice Fatula, Mary Good, Dylan Hawley, Ryan Jordan, Emma Knego, Soumya Kona, Jonathan Michalik, Mikaela Michalik, Arya Nalluri, Yho Phillip Namgoong, Caroline Nosal, Will Riesenberger, Delaney Smith, Minnah Stein, Isabella Stepanek and Reed Windom from Pine View School; Cullen Bolkey, Maya Brook, Bobby Brunner, Kayla Escobar, Michelle Gondek, Thomas Harper, Benjamin Heath, Qyasia Jackson, John LaCivita, Samantha Meier, Seth Morton and Alyssa Nasi from Riverview High School; Conor Andrich, Jalynn Booker, Emma Johnson, Max Kunkel, Ian McLean, Will Morton, Katelin Nguyen, Kaylee Prosser, Michael Rozmus and Zack Terres from Sarasota High School; Brandon Stewart and Timothy Taylor from Sarasota Military Academy; Katie Holstein from STC; Max Hamel from Suncoast Polytechnical High School; and Nick Degenaro, Elijah Rodriguez, Rickey Tedesco and Chesne Van As from Venice High. “The youth we’re celebrating tonight are outstanding examples of what comes from our dynamic programming with unique opportunities and caring staff,” said Suriya Khong, Director of Teen Outreach at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. “We appreciate the Taco Bell Foundation for helping us celebrate our new grads and committing to our future ones.” Special recognition and awards were distributed to exemplary seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to leadership and service while planning for success after high school graduation. Seth Morton and Minnah Stein received the Shannon Staub Leadership Award provided by the Shannon Staub Excellence in Leadership Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Isabella Stepanek was awarded the Evie Anderson Memorial Civic Engagement Scholarship presented by the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA); Mekayla Ford, Kayla McGann and Brandon Stewart were recognized for receiving the Robert and Patricia Gussin Endowed Scholarship at Duquesne University; and Rickey Tedesco was recognized for being named the 2018 Florida Youth of the Year. For more information, visit www.bgcsarasota.com.