School recognizes 4 senior leaders

School recognizes 4 Outstanding Senior Leaders

Senior Jeffrey Drew returns a ball during tennis practice. Drew was a captain this year after his fourth season with the team. "I like to hit balls and I like to yell at people," Drew said. PHOTO BY ZOEY KATZ Seniors Chela Gelfano and Stephanie Vagelos work together in their AP Computer Science class. “PBHS has brought me so many opportunities to grow, thrive and learn in a fantastic environment with amazing people,” Vagelos said. PHOTO BY ZOEY KATZ

By Alisha Durosier, Opinion Editor

Four seniors were given the Outstanding Senior Leader award, an annual honor that recognizes those who have demonstrated not only academic success, but also tremendous contribution to their school and community.

This year’s winners from Pompano were Dairys Montes de Oca, Jeffrey Drew, Stephanie Vagelos and Emilee Kurdziel.

“I was so honored to be nominated,” Montes de Oca said.

Throughout high school, Montes de Oca aimed to acquire officer positions in the clubs she participated in and continuously climb up the hierarchy of officer roles. This ultimately led to her current position as president of the Film and Tech Association.

“I am trying to grow my clubs so that when I am gone they can continue to prosper and be welcoming environments for students,” Montes de Oca said. “To see that I made it to the top four took me completely by surprise.”

Like Montes de Oca, Drew said that his aim in his extracurriculars was not recognition.

“The goal is to make a lasting impact, not to win an award doing so,” Drew said.

Drew aided in the organization of the last two international summits in 2019 and 2021 and launched a tutoring program in the wake of the pandemic.

“I did not aim for it as much as I strived to make the community a better place,” Drew said. “But overall, Pompano would not be the same without the influence of every leader, and each deserves recognition.” Drew said.

Vagelos said she was a little surprised about her nomination although she admitted, “I’ve been very involved on campus since pretty much day one.”

After creating the Make Our Schools Safe club, Vagelos organized the fundraiser for stop-the-bleed kits and was involved in the arrangement of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas memorial garden and helped create the NHS remote tutoring program. Vagelos said she wishes her projects will continue and leave a long lasting legacy.

“Gotta pass the torch,” Vagelos said.

Kurdziel, who said she only became aware of the outstanding senior leader award last year, believed it was mainly her work as the student government president that secured her nomination, though she recognized that her contributions in other organizations also helped.

“All the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my PBHS community throughout high school has led me here,” Kurdziel said.

As SGA president, Kurdziel aimed to make up for time lost during remote learning.

“I really hope to work alongside our senior class officers as well as the other SGA officers,” Kurdziel says. “We have some special things planned especially for school spirit for the end of the year.”

The winners agreed that leadership and making a difference has been particularly challenging this year.

“I think this senior year didn't meet many of our expectations, but I am extremely pleased with the achievements I have made and how well everything is being handled,” Montes De Oca said.

The winners also agreed that their experience has prepared them for the future.

“PBHS didn’t just prepare me for college, but it prepared me for the real world.” Vagelos said.

School recognizes 4 Outstanding Senior Leaders

Where are they going?

Dairys Montes de Oca is going to attend the University of Florida. "I'm really excited to get out of my comfort zone and grow," Montes de Oca said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @PBHSNEXTCHAPTER21

Stephanie Vagelos is planning to attend Georgia Tech next year to study public health.

GRAPHIC BY EMMA PARKER

Senior Jeffery Drew will be attending the University of Florida after he graduates. "(I'm excited for) the new setting, new classes, and new professors," said Drew. Emilee Kurdziel is commited to the University of Alabama. "It had like everything I wanted, the campus was beautiful... it's close enough to home and they offered me a really good scholarship," Kurdziel said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @PBHSNEXTCHAPTER21

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