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103 W Mahoney St.
Plant City, FL 33563
813-752-5116 TTY 711
405 E Damon St.
Plant City, FL 33563
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20 FEATURE: 2025 LMPC QUEEN CROWNED
By Cierra Craft
On May 3, Delilah Duke was crowned the 2025 LMPC Queen. Learn more about the pageant & the girls who will serve Plant City over the coming year.
32 FEATURE: CLASS OF 2025 SENIOR PORTRAITS
By Cheryl Johnston
We celebrate the high school graduates of the Class of 2025 by showcasing the senior portraits of Plant City High, Durant High, Strawberry Crest, and Simmons. Congrats, grads!
50 SPOTLIGHT: LABOR & DELIVERY AT SFBH
By SFBH
This month’s cover story highlights South Florida Baptist Hospital, Plant City’s community hospital since 1953. Meet the medical team behind SFBH and the state-of-the-art healthcare available on North Park Road.
55 FEATURE: 2025 VALEDICTORIANS & SALUTATORIANS
By Cheryl Johnston
These eight students have reached the top of the class, graduating with incredible grades, achievements, and dreams. Meet the top students of our respective high schools as they prepare for the future.
Photo: Don Vella
LAKELAND 1105 Waynesville Ave. 863-667-BEEF (2333)
KATHLEEN 4441 Old Kathleen Rd. 863-859-BEEF (2333)
AUBURNDALE 1095 Berkley Rd. 863-967-BEEF (2333) HIGHLAND CITY 6143 Hwy 98 S 863-646-1333
1350 SR 60 863-676-3033
VALID THRU 06/30/25
From The Publisher
CONGRATULATIONS, GRADS!
Approximately 1,500 students from Plant City, Durant, Crest, and Simmons are graduating this year. In this issue, you will find the senior portrait of each graduating student. Congratulations, Class of 2025!
This year holds particular significance for me as well. My youngest son, Zy, will be among those walking across that stage. It feels like just yesterday he was a little kid, and now, here he is, a graduating senior from Strawberry Crest. He has enjoyed his time as the quarterback of the football team, and it’s been a joy watching Zy grow and navigate his high school years, both on and off the field.
To all the graduating seniors in our community, whether you’re headed off to college, getting a job, or still figuring things out, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try things you never thought possible. Jump into internships, apprenticeships, or be open to learning new skills on the job. Even after 25 years in business, I am still learning something new every day.
Plant City is your home, and we’re all rooting for your success. Go out there, be bold, and make your mark on the world. The future is yours for the taking!
Mike Floyd
With gratitude and hope,
Libby Hopkins appointed Director of Plant City History & Photo Archives
Plant City History & Photo Archives President, Ed Verner, announced on Tuesday, April 15, that the Board of Directors had unanimously selected Elizabeth “Libby” Hopkins to serve as the new Director. Hopkins, who has worked for the Archives as Community Outreach Manager since July 2024, will begin immediately and will fill the position vacated by David Moon’s resignation.
Current interim Director Gil Gott will continue in a senior position as Director Emeritus for a brief probationary period. After this, he will retire again and assume a position on the Board, serving as Historian and a member of the Writers in Residence Program.
Hopkins previously served as Executive Director of the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, is a Journalism/Mass Communications graduate of the University of South Florida, and has written for the Osprey Observer, In The Field Magazine, and the Plant City Observer.
Hopkins has earned praise from board members for her outreach abilities, as demonstrated in a variety of events that gather publicity and local support. Having recently completed a grant writing program, Hopkins has also been tasked with writing grant applications, organizing membership and annual appeal campaigns, and partnering with the Arts Council of Plant City, the Improvement League, and the Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the American Association for State and Local History and the Florida Society of Archivists.
Other staff members working with Hopkins include Tammy Surratt, Office Manager, and Michelle Tolison, Communications Specialist. The Archives operations require volunteer support and welcome volunteers in scanning, research, and filing tasks. The Archives also welcomes photographers or interested history buffs to donate current or any interesting photographs. For more information, call 813-754-1578 or visit the Plant City History & Photo Archives at 106 S. Evers St. in historic downtown Plant City.
The Plant City Chamber Board of Directors Selects Jerilyn Rumbarger as President & CEO
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the selection of Jerilyn Rumbarger as its new President & CEO, effective immediately. Jerilyn has been serving as the Interim President & CEO since February 2025.
Following an extensive and thoughtful executive search process led by the Chamber’s Search Task Force, the Board of Directors approved Jerilyn’s appointment after final interviews were conducted earlier this week. “We did extensive research and interviewed numerous candidates over the past few months, and Jerilyn was one of the finalists who consistently impressed the committee. I congratulate her on being selected for this position,” stated Wesley Joyner, Chairman of the Chamber Search Task Force.
“Jerilyn has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to the Chamber and the Plant City business community since she joined the Chamber in 2021. During her time as Interim President & CEO, she has continued to elevate the mission of the Chamber,” said John Haney, Chair of the Plant City Chamber Board of Directors. “She has earned the respect and confidence of our Board, our members, and our community. We are excited to have her officially lead the Chamber into its next chapter.”
With a deep understanding of Plant City’s economic landscape and a passion for collaborative growth, Jerilyn brings both experience and a fresh perspective to the position. Her continued leadership will focus on member engagement, community partnerships, and strategic initiatives to strengthen the business community.
“I’m honored and excited to continue serving the Plant City business community in a role that I care deeply about,” said Rumbarger. “It’s been a privilege to support our members and advocate for Plant City’s growth. I look forward to building on that momentum with our dedicated Chamber team, Board of Directors, and Trustees.”
The Chamber extends its sincere appreciation to the Search Task Force and all who contributed to the selection process.
For more information, please contact the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at (813) 754-3707 or visit www.plantcity.org.
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Plant City Champions for Youth’s Annual Law Appreciation Dinner
By Cierra Craft
The Plant City Champions for Youth organization held its annual Law Appreciation Dinner at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center on Monday, May 5. The event was to honor the club’s 2025 Telecommunicator of the Year, Jessica Alexander, and Officer of the Year for the Plant City Police Department, Vincent Wise.
Officer Vincent Wise, a 10-year member of PCPD, was recognized for his service, compassion, and proactive engagement with youth. Notable actions include recovering a stolen scooter for a disabled individual, skillfully negotiating the peaceful surrender of a barricaded teenager and the release of a child, mentoring at-risk youth, which led to significant improvements in their well-being, and arranging temporary care for a veteran’s dog during a mental health crisis. His dedication to youth, mental health advocacy, and community
trust exemplifies his deserving of this prestigious recognition.
Plant City native Jessica Alexander has dedicated nearly two decades to emergency communications, starting as a dispatcher in 2006 and rising to Manager of the Communications Center by 2018. Throughout her career, she has been the vital, calm voice for citizens during emergencies, making critical decisions and offering reassurance. Jessica has also spearheaded significant advancements, including the implementation of Text-to-911, the acquisition of a satellite phone system, and a new dispatcher training program. Her leadership, dedication to her team, and unwavering professionalism have earned her recognition as the 2025 Plant City Champions for Youth Dispatcher of the Year.
Following the introductions, Plant City Champions for Youth President Robert Olszewski
and Law Appreciation Chairman Paul Woods presented both honorees with a plaque recognizing their outstanding professionalism and commitment to public service for the department and the community.
Nationwide, May is the traditional month for honoring law enforcement. This observance was established in 1962 through a congressional resolution signed into law by President John F. Kennedy. It recognizes the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement, particularly those who died in the line of duty while protecting others. In Florida, the legislature has further designated May 1st as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” and May as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.”
For more information about Plant City Champions for Youth, please contact the club at pcchampionsforyouth@outlook.com or visit its website at www.pcchampionsforyouth.org.
C 2025
rowned
BY CIERRA CRAFT
LITTLE MISS PLANT CITY
On Saturday, May 3, the Plant City High School auditorium buzzed with anticipation as families, friends, and community members gathered for the annual Little Miss Plant City pageant. This beloved event showcased the poise, talent, and charm of Plant City’s girls, ages eight to ten. The Little Miss Plant City Queen and court represent the GWFC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club and the community at annual events such as Relay for Life, Empty Bowls, the Christmas Parade, and the Florida Strawberry Festival Parade.
The Little Miss Plant City pageant has a rich history within the community. The first queen, Lisa Sapp, was crowned in 1969. Since then, 55 queens have held the title, several of whom went on to serve as Strawberry Festival Queen. The Little Miss Plant City experience fosters public speaking abilities, poise, and the development of friendships among the contestants.
The evening unfolded with various segments designed to allow each girl to showcase her unique qualities. A crucial part of the competition was the interview segment, which provided an opportunity for the judges to get to know each girl prior to the on-stage pageant. Each contestant came to the stage, introducing themselves to the crowd, and then emcees Callie Smith and Kenley Connell read each contestant’s biography. In addition to personality, appearance, and stage presence, the girls were also judged on poise, appropriate dress, and grooming.
The Top 10 contestants were Sophia Timian, Aubrey Sweeney, Carrigan Brake, Drew Taylor, Charlee Land, Erin Waters, Lillian Jones, Delilah Duke, Finley Henderson, and Bristol Blackwell.
The ten finalists were then asked, “What does being a queen mean to you even when no one is watching?” Many noted bravery, kindness, love, and compassion. Others shared that as LMPC Queen, they would show kindness to everyone they met and radiate pride in the city.
Carrigan Brake was named Miss Congeniality, while Grace Pippin, Ainsley Riciti, and Adelyn Dixon were recognized for the most ad sales. Delilah Duke was recognized for the most funds accumulated.
Delilah Duke was named the 2025 Queen, and Charlee Land will serve as the First Maid, who will serve should Duke be unable to perform her duties as Queen. Carrigan Brake, Bristol Blackwell, and Lillian Jones were named court members.
Duke’s sister, Daisy, was named Little Miss Plant City queen in 2012. At the time of publication, it had not been confirmed whether these two sisters were the first in LMPC to hold the title.
Queen Delilah and her court will assist in fundraising efforts for GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club’s largest community give-back event: The Annual Shoe Project, which gives shoes and socks to elementary school children in need at schools throughout Hillsborough County.
For information about the 2026 Little Miss Plant City competition or the Annual Shoe Project, contact event chair Betty Medina at plantcitylmpc@gmail.com.
In the on-stage question portion, top 5 finalist Lillian Jones said there is more to being a queen than wearing a crown, noting being kind and serving others is important.
Delilah Duke (right) cheers gleefully with court member Carrigan Brake (left) in excitement of being named 2025 Little Miss Plant City queen.
2025 Queen and Court
(L to R): Court Members
Carrigan Brake, Bristol Blackwell, Queen Delilah Duke, First Maid Charlee Land, and Court Members Lillian Jones.
Bristol Blackwell was named to the Top 5 finalists, serving on the queen’s court. Blackwell wore a teal dress with a featured tulle skirt.
Lily Kate Gaschler wore a cream tank dress with a layered skirt.
Elle Alvarez wore a royal blue dress and for a western flair, added a white denim jacket, embellished with rhinestones.
Many contestants, including Collins McGimsey, opted for pink dresses. McGimsey’s dress featured tulle sleeves and a feathered tulle at the hem.
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Local Players Earn Shots at NFL Careers as Unsigned Free Agents
By Cierra Craft
Two local football players have earned the opportunity to prove they belong on an NFL roster with undrafted free agent (UDFA) contracts.
Desmond Watson, a defensive tackle from the University of Florida, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was born in Plant City and played high school football at Armwood High School in Seffner.
At 6’6” and 464 pounds, he now holds the title of the heaviest player in NFL history, a title that caught the attention of national media. At the NFL Combine, held in March, Watson impressed NFL scouts by bench pressing 255 pounds, a whopping 36 reps, topping any bench-press performance held at this year’s combine. He covered the 40-yard dash in 5.93 seconds and recorded 25 inches in the vertical jump.
During his time with the Gators, he rag-dolled South Florida running back Brian Battie in 2022 and ripped the ball out of South Carolina running back Jaheim Bell’s hands for a forced fumble and a fumble return later that year.
Bucs fans are excited to have Watson on the team, alongside nose tackle Vita Vea, to stop the run. The defensive tackle duo is being described as “811 pounds of manpower.” Watson is excited for the opportunity to learn from Vea, sharing in an Instagram story that he is “blessed to learn from a role model.”
Willie Lampkin, also an UDFA, signed with the Los Angeles Rams. The 5-foot, 11-inch, 279-pound Guard played for Coastal Carolina (2020-2022) and transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lampkin grew up in Bealsville and
played for Mulberry High School until his sophomore year, when he transferred to Lakeland High School. He had a great two-year career at UNC, including being named to the All-ACC first team and recognized as a 2024 first-team All-American.
Lampkin is undersized for a Guard at 5’11”, but CBS college and football analyst Emory Hunt rated Lampkin’s signing to the Rams as the number 1 UDFA signing for 2025.
Hunt said, “Size is not a skill. He was the best interior offensive lineman, I thought, within this group at this position. So the Rams got themselves not only a guy who could start center or guard, or even as a sixth offensive linemen, or even a fullback.”
Congratulations to Watson and Lampkin for making their dreams come true, signing with an NFL team.
Former NYC EMT Found His Calling Helping Plant City Seniors
By Cierra Craft
Paul Yang has taken a unique journey to champion the well-being of senior citizens. Formerly an EMT stationed at a bustling Manhattan hospital in 1990s New York City, this advocate discovered a profound need while serving a diverse patient population: helping senior citizens navigate moving into assisted living.
One poignant experience, assisting a Chinese-speaking patient transitioning to assisted living, revealed the overwhelming nature of the process. Witnessing the patient’s confusion and the family’s struggle ignited a passion to serve families to create smoother life transitions.
Yang now owns Caring Transitions of New Tampa, which serves Plant City, Thonotosassa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Zephyrhills. He and his team are hands-on advocates who guide families through the complexities of assisted living. A typical week at Caring Transitions involves personalized consultations, facility visits, logistical coordination, and crucial emotional support.
“Recently, I met a woman overwhelmed by her parents’ situation,” Yang shares. “By offering vetted options and reassurance, I could see her relief – she felt seen and supported.”
Yang emphasizes the emotional weight of leaving a long-time home. Practical challenges, like downsizing decades’ worth of belongings, also demand compassionate guidance.
“My team is trained to recognize when clients are struggling with this emotional weight,” said Yang. “We don’t rush the process—we meet them where they are and offer compassionate, patient support.”
When touring facilities, he advises families to trust their instincts to ensure their loved one feels safe, supported, and welcomed. Yang urges families to look beyond aesthetics and observe staff interactions with residents. “Respectful, patient care is non-negotiable,” Yang asserts.
Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect of Yang’s advocacy is witnessing the relief and gratitude of families.
“Knowing I’ve brought peace of mind and helped a senior feel safe and settled – that’s what makes it all worthwhile,” said Yang.
To learn more about Paul Yang and how Caring Transitions of New Tampa can help you and your loved one, visit www.caringtransitionsofnewtampa.com or call 813-602-5177.
The Plant City Garden Club Celebrates Arbor Day with Tree Dedications
On April 16, the Plant City Garden Club concluded its annual Arbor Day celebration at the Community Care Center by dedicating the two Dahoon holly trees the club donated to the Center in January. The trees were dedicated to Lee Ann Reed and Keith Kolakowski. Lee Ann was a long-time employee of the Center, and Keith was a Plant City resident who lived at the Center for three years.
On January 22, the club also donated and planted five hundred longleaf pine seedlings at McIntosh Preserve with the assistance of Plant City Park Department employees John Holt and Allen Merrill. Last year, the Club donated one hundred Loblolly pine seedlings to McIntosh Preserve. The Club is hopeful it will be able to donate additional seedlings or bushes to the Preserve on next year’s Arbor Day.
In addition to its annual Arbor Day celebration, the Club is responsible annually for the Horticulture Exhibit at the Strawberry Festival, the Junior Gardener program at Jackson and McDonald elementary schools, Flower Therapy at the Community Care Center, and sponsors children to Camp Youth Wekiva in Apopka, Florida.
The Club welcomes new members and guests at its monthly meetings, held from September through May, at the First United Methodist Church at 303
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DON’ T FORGE T THE KIDS !
Brittny Michalski People of Plant City
By Cheryl Johnston
Naples, Florida native, Brittny Michalski, is the daughter of Crystal Robertson Townsend and Ariel Martinez. She and her husband, Jason Michalski, are parents of three adorable children: Annaliese (9), Genevieve (8), and Emerson (5). She graduated from Palmetto Ridge in 2008 and then, in 2014, accomplished her Associate of Science (AS) degree at Southern Technical College, where she majored in the Medical Assistant program. Prior to settling in Plant City in 2013, she lived for two years in Ruskin.
1In addition to being a gamer who loves console games, Brittny enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and crocheting. The family also includes “a bunch of chickens and a mini pig named Rocky, who we hope doesn’t grow anymore.”
What types of career work have you done?
I’ve been a medical assistant for most of my career, but switched to referrals to work from home a few years ago. Now, however, I have another career change – business ownership of AGE Integrated Solutions (named for our three children) with my husband!
You serve on the worship team at church, correct?
Yes. I’ve had a passion for singing since I was a very young child, and I distinctly remember listening in the car to artists like Mariah Carey and Selena Quintanilla. I’ve always wanted to sing just like them. When I was saved in middle school, my sister and I both sang with the church we attended then. We felt honored, because adult singers were the majority. It was eye-opening for me to see that young people can also help lead worship. When I started attending Plant City Church of God, I didn’t come with the expectation of joining a choir. I was simply searching for a place to call my home church. I’m so thankful we’ve been there now for 10 years and enjoy helping our music ministry usher in the Holy Spirit during our services. The family-centered atmosphere is just phenomenal. My favorite topic is King David because he wrote music and poems, played music and sang, and danced. I’m in awe that he was a human just like me who just loves the Lord and displays that through his Psalms.
What advice would you offer to our readers?
Stay weird. Normal is yuck. Be unique. Never care what people think or say about you!
What do you love most about life in Plant City?
There’s always something kid-friendly to do here! I also enjoy having a special seat for the Sun n’ Fun air show in my backyard.
What are you personally focused on at the moment?
This past year, I started a whole new journey in strength training. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s been so rewarding. Since then, I have learned to stop doubting myself, and I’ve stopped saying “I can’t.” I have realized that the only one who holds you back from your goals is yourself. Also, I learned that from starting slow and steady, you slowly prove to yourself (and others) just how much you are capable of.
- Kelly, Plant City Resident
DID YOU KNOW?
They Called Her “Roe”
Writers in Residence Program
Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center
Plant City History & Photo Archives
She was not afraid to try anything. She swam in the creeks or rivers, avoiding the alligators, pumped handcars racing along the railroad tracks, and loved to fly. In 1925, she flew from Paris to London with her sister and landed unexpectedly in a cow pasture where the pilot repaired the plane and continued to London. At twelve years old, she rode one of the first trains to travel from Plant City to Tampa, accompanied by her father, James Taylor Evers, a prominent Plant City merchant.
Rowena Lee Evers was born in 1871 in Suwannee County and moved to Alafia, Hillsborough County, in 1876 when her father moved the family there to start a business in the booming days of free land and the new steamboat river transportation. With the rumors of the railroad being built across Florida, James T. Evers bought acreage in a new area he named Shiloh about 1878. There, he built his store, a sawmill, a grist mill, and a cotton gin, and he offered merchandise from farm tools to ready-made clothing to shoes and farm produce.
Evers made frequent trips to Tampa for supplies using his own horse or mule and wagon. He dreamed of making that trip on a train. He followed the stories about the soon to be railroad, and when he heard that it was now expected to run about 3 miles south of Shiloh, he bought land along the predicted route and moved his store and all his merchandise to the village that became Plant City. Rowena Evers was a part of all this. She loved the
excitement of the store, and talked about meeting the Seminole men who would exchange gator meat and skins for goods. The new store, built about 1883, was the first to be established in the new town later named Plant City. James T. Evers died in 1884 at the age of thirty-nine and was buried in Shiloh Cemetery.
Roe Evers was thirteen; she loved her father very much and remembered all he taught her. She grew up in a young town bursting with activity and potential. The Evers family and the Mays family may have met in the Alafia area years earlier. Now in Plant City, Roe and Samuel Edward Mays, who moved from Alafia to Plant City in 1887, both with driving personalities, met and were married in 1892. Rowena Evers Mays was twenty-one; Samuel Edward Mays was twenty-eight and well established in the Plant City business world and the citrus industry.
Roe quickly became the most prominent Plant City socialite. She belonged to the First Baptist Church of Plant City, across the street from their opulent home on Collins Street, and Eastern Star. Rowena Mays was also active in civic affairs, in addition to her husband and later her son, both of whom served as Mayor. In addition to the Woman’s Club of Plant City, Roe belonged to the Plant City Music Club and hosted many parties in her elegant home. Being active, Roe also liked golf and belonged to the Tampa Women’s Golf Association, where she also played poker.
After Samuel Mays died, in 1932, Roe ran the business interests including real estate, stores, and
many acres of groves. She also loved to travel and in addition to trips to Europe, she had great pleasure in her frequent trips to New York City. When the movement to build a hospital in Plant City began, the leaders were able to acquire only five acres; in June 1945 Rowena Mays donated an additional five acres. In addition to the hospital there was to be a nurse’s home which would then be named for Rowena Mays.
After her death in May 1964, at the age of about ninety-three, Roe had two parks named after her. In November 1964 Rowena Lee Mays Park was established on South Evers Street just south of Renfro Street. A band stand was to be erected for the upcoming Christmas season. In March 1965, Rowena Lee Mays Park gained a monument and became the home of the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) marble drinking fountain.
With the growing expansion of the McGinnes Lumber Company, the City of Plant City sold Rowena Lee Mays Park’s Evers Street property to the lumber company and provided for the naming of the new park west of the tennis courts and Dort Street. Rowena Lee Mays Park has been situated at this location since 1978, being improved several times, and is now to be the site of Rowena Mays Athletic Park. Her new park will include basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts, a pavilion, grills and picnic tables, all of which we are sure she will enjoy. Congratulations, Roe!
A
CARE LEGACY OF
The Labor and Delivery department at South Florida Baptist Hospital has served the families of Plant City for more than seven decades, delivering thousands of babies over the years. With the opening of a new hospital, the department is currently undergoing a transformation, including the addition of the area’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Yet, through it all, some things remain unchanged.
When McKenzie Crespo discovered she was expecting her first child, there was only one choice for where she would be delivering her baby—South Florida Baptist Hospital (SFBH). Like many Plant City residents, Crespo’s connection to the hospital runs deep. She was born there, as was her mother, Teresa Shelby, who has worked in the hospital’s Labor and Delivery unit for almost 28 years. Crespo’s baby would be the third generation of the family to come into the world in the care of the storied hospital.
“My mom has worked at South Florida Baptist my whole life,” said Crespo. “Having my baby at the legacy hospital surrounded by people who have known me since I was born, who love me and who I love, was really special.”
Crespo delivered her newborn son by Cesarean section in the exact same operating room in which she was born, becoming one of a long list of new mothers who started their families at the 70-year-old facility.
Prior to the opening of SFBH in 1953, the closest hospital with a maternity ward was nearly 30 miles away in Tampa, which created a travel burden for women and their families. Instead, many Plant City babies were delivered by Dr. Thomas Maquire in a clinic above White’s Central Pharmacy on Collins Street downtown.
Although most children were delivered healthy, occasionally, women and infants suffered complications that could have been prevented with access to high-quality obstetrical care—a problem which was remedied with the opening of Plant City’s first and still only hospital.
“Providing high-quality health care for women has been a foundational pillar for South Florida Baptist hospital since its inception,” explained SFBH President Karen Kerr. “There was a tremendous need in the community at the time, and now, for more than 70 years, generations of Plant Citians have chosen to start their families in our care. It’s truly humbling and something of which we are very proud.”
It is estimated that more than 30,000 children were born at the legacy hospital on Alexander Street—a familial commonality that has anchored the community and forged lifelong connections among residents.
So, when it was announced that the hospital would be closing and replaced with a new hospital nearby, many residents had mixed feelings, including SFBH Labor and Delivery team members like Shelby and Nurse Manager Mayra Garcia, who also gave birth to her three children at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
“This hospital has meant so much to many of us, both personally and professionally, over the years. It was bittersweet going from the legacy hospital to being here on the new unit,” said Garcia referring to the Labor and Delivery department at the new South Florida Baptist Hospital on Park Road in Plant City that opened in August 2024.
The new department encompasses two floors of the hospital, with Labor and Delivery located on the second floor and Mother/Baby on the fourth floor. There are 22 spacious private rooms in all, seven Labor and Delivery rooms and 15 Mother/Baby rooms, each with oversized windows that provide soothing natural light and showcase the hospital’s wooded setting.
Like every department throughout the hospital, the Labor and Delivery unit was designed with future growth in mind.
According to Plan Hillsborough, a planning agency which identifies community growth trends, the population of Plant City is expected to increase by 92% by 2050, nearly doubling. The Labor and Delivery department is already experiencing the effects of the anticipated growth.
McKenzie Crespo & her mom, Teresa Shelby, kiss baby Giavanna, representing three generations of their family to be born at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
“Since we opened nine months ago, we are delivering 20-30 more babies each month than we were at the legacy hospital,” said Garcia.
As the number of patients continues to increase, the unit has implemented significant measures to keep up with demand and ensure it is able to meet the highest standards of care for expectant mothers.
• With the Labor and Delivery department encompassing two floors of the new hospital, the number of team members has more than doubled, and additional labor and delivery nurses are being hired.
• SFBH recently partnered with a hospitalist group to ensure that an OB-GYN physician is on staff 24 hours a day/7 days per week.
• Most significantly, the hospital has begun construction of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
South Florida Baptist Hospital to Add Level II NICU
As a leader in women’s health care in West Central Florida, BayCare (SFBH’s parent company) has committed to providing NICUs at each of its seven hospitals that provide maternity care. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North will open its new NICU this summer, and SFBH recently
began construction on its $2.4 million project, which is expected to be completed by fall of this year.
The new Level II NICU will be located on the fourth floor, where a portion of the current Mother/Baby space will be converted into eight private rooms upgraded to accommodate NICU babies and their families. One of the rooms will be built to accommodate twins.
“We are very excited about our new stateof-the-art NICU,” said Kerr. “Adding a Level II NICU ensures that we have the training and equipment necessary to assist newborns requiring advanced care.”
Each NICU room will include sleeping accommodations as well as a bathroom and shower for a parent or loved one to stay overnight with their newborn(s). Should a child require an extended hospital stay, the rooms will also be equipped with AngelEye technology, thanks to a gift from the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation.
AngelEye is a visual monitoring system that allows family members to remain connected to their newborn when they can’t be by their side physically. Parents can view real-time video of their baby in the NICU through a secure app on their phone, tablet or computer. The app also has messaging capabilities that allow doctors and nurses to send personalized updates of a child’s care.
Incorporating new technology is just one of the myriad of ways that SFBH is preparing for the new NICU. Nearly every department within the hospital, from Lab, Rehab, Pharmacy, Imaging and others, has undergone additional training to ensure team members are prepared for the specialized care NICU babies require.
“The great thing about being part of a larger health system is that we have the support from other BayCare hospitals that already have established NICUs,” said Nurse Manager Garcia. “St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in particular has been incredibly helpful.”
As a Level II NICU, SFBH will be able to treat most conditions associated with children who are born prematurely or underweight, such as jaundice, respiratory therapy and feeding support. Babies requiring more robust interventions, will be transferred to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital’s Level IV NICU, which offers the highest level of care possible.
Although the new NICU at South Florida Baptist Hospital is in the initial phase of construction, the effort to support the venture is well underway. Specially trained NICU nurses will staff the department, and the hospital has secured skilled neonatologists to deliver high-quality, specialized care.
SFBH Labor & Delivery team members pose in front of the new NICU, which is currently under construction.
Once complete, the new NICU will be the first in the area dedicated to serving the families of Plant City, continuing South Florida Baptist Hospital’s long history of community-centered care.
The Legacy Continues
Over the last year, South Florida Baptist Hospital has undergone tremendous change. The excitement of the opening of the new 146-bed facility on Park Road nine months ago is met with nostalgia as the demolition of the legacy hospital on Alexander Street is nearly complete. Yet,
through it all, one thing has remained unchanged.
“Our new building reflects our commitment to provide world-class health care to the residents of Plant City and our surrounding areas,” said President Kerr. “But it is our people, our culture, and the love that our team members and physicians have for this community and for those we serve, that makes South Florida Baptist Hospital truly special. That remains the same.”
McKenzie Crespo agrees. Continuing the family tradition, she recently welcomed
her second child by C-section, this time at the new South Florida Baptist Hospital, becoming one of a handful of moms to deliver a child at both facilities.
“The new hospital is beautiful. It’s bright and calming with a lot more space. But the best thing about bringing my daughter into the world, was the comfort I felt being surrounded by the same amazing team.”
Her baby daughter was delivered by the same doctor, the same anesthesiologist, the same nurse and care team. Different operating room.
Before the opening of South Florida Baptist Hospital in 1953, Plant City babies were delivered in a makeshift clinic above White’s Central Pharmacy by Dr. Thomas Maguire. Photo credit: Plant City Photo Archives & History Center.
Baby Glam! Little Giovanna grabs a nap in her cozy new onesie.
Oversized windows in the Labor and Delivery rooms at SFBH provide natural light and showcase the hospital’s wooded setting.
2025 Valedictorians & Salutatorians
By Cheryl Johnston
Each year in our May issue we are pleased to present the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of our three area high schools – Durant, Plant City, and Strawberry Crest. Their carefully considered responses to the questions we pose are typically inspiring and personality-revealing.
Always, we’re so encouraged by the intelligence and dreams of these diligent young adults. And we hope you are, too!
Be encouraged, Focus Readers – our future is in very capable hands.
Valedictorian 2025
Pride Elementary in New Tampa and TCMS in Temple Terrace.
Favorite classes: HL Analysis and Applications, AP US History, and Chamber Orchestra Scholarships Awarded: Bright Futures; National Merit ($2500) Scholarship, which allowed qualification for the Benacquisto Scholarship. College Plans: University of Florida for a combination of degrees in the CS and Business field.
Regarding your goals, where do you see yourself in the future?
I hope to find a steady internship or co-op during college, and complete a collection of retro Nintendo consoles (Nintendo 64, Game Boy, NES, and SNES, etc.) I don’t know where life will take me, as it depends on the opportunities I find while in college. I may be working or earning my Master’s degree. College is the chance I need to find myself.
Share your thoughts with the students following behind you who might aspire to be valedictorians.
Don’t sacrifice your happiness. If your happiness comes from the rigor and the feeling of accomplishment or success that comes from such an achievement, then go for it. But please don’t push yourself past a breaking point and become burnt out, and please don’t shun your friends for the sake of this goal.
What have you loved most about life in Eastern Hillsborough County?
I enjoy the ease of access to some of the best restaurants, beautiful nature spots, amusement parks, and the tight-knit community formed in Hillsborough County. That applies especially for me, as I have a large extended family, and seeing them all the time adds to the sense of community and belonging I feel here.
Nelluri Anish
Strawberry Crest High School IB
Tampa native Anish Nelluri, son of Srini and Neelima Nelluri, has lived in the same community his entire life. His parents are from Andhra Pradesh in India, and his brother Abhiram Nelluri is from Houston.
As a family, they enjoy Steak N’ Shake milkshakes during Happy Hour or watching NBA games together. Anish’s favorite hobbies include reading, Pokemon, and volleyball. This summer, the “outgoing, curious, and amicable” scholar, employee, and busy volunteer looks forward to a “well-earned rest,” which will include attending a Kendrick Lamar concert.
His passion for music included playing violin in the Chamber Orchestra, where he is currently the first chair of the 2nd violin section. Regarding other extracurricular involvement, the National Honor Society officer has been involved in Crest Buddies, Florida Business Leaders Association (FBLA), Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), and Mu Alpha Theta.
From his impressive resume, one might wonder when Anish sleeps. Gifted as a teacher and tutor, he has trained students in languages like Telugu, subjects such as English grammar/sentence structure, basic Algebra, and complex computer languages like Python and HTML. During the past six years, he has personally taught more than 70 students and has helped more than 100 graduate from the SiliconAndhra ManaBadi program and gain credit hours from a Telugu college. As a volunteer with the VT Seva Organization, he assisted food bank operations and translated PDFs of famous books into Braille for Books for the Blind. Anish is also conversant in the Spanish language.
Anish credits his mother for his success, saying, “She’s been the driving force, the one to push me and get me off my butt whenever I lose the motivation to work or think I can’t push myself further.”
Clark Elementary, Benito Middle School
Salutatorian 2025
Favorite classes: Chemistry, Biology, History, English Scholarships Awarded: Presidential Elite Scholarship ($28K/yr); National Recognition Scholarship ($2.5K/yr); Supplemental Scholarship ($5K/yr); John B. Ervin Scholars Program at WashU ($33,540/yr); 2025 Dr. Kristine Bennett Honorary Scholarship ($2K); 2025 East Hillsborough Historical Society Scholarship ($500); and 2025 BJWC Sandy Waldron Scholarship ($1K).
College Plans: In pursuit of a career in medicine, Anika is presently deciding where to attend after being accepted at major FL universities, Washington University, Emory, and for an 8-year guaranteed BS/MD program at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Who would you like to thank for your successes in school and life?
My parents, of course, and for certain my teachers and friends!
What advice can you offer to students who might aspire to your top honor?
Work hard but also have fun—you’re only in high school once! This is your last time of truly being a kid, so enjoy these four years. They really do go by so quick. Best of luck to you guys!
What have you enjoyed most about living in this area?
While there are a lot of fun things to do in East Hillsborough County, what I love most are the people and the community within it. Everyone is always willing to support one another and help them out when needed.
Prasad Anika
Strawberry Crest High School IB
The 2025 International Baccalaureate Salutatorian at Strawberry High School describes herself as “fun, spontaneous, adventurous.” She’s also been recognized for being organized, driven, responsible, and supportive. What a combination!
Anika Prasad has lived in Tampa her whole life, after her parents, Veenu Gupta and Ashutosh Prasad, moved to Florida from India. She has an older brother, Aarush, and every few years the family travels together to India.
Anika enjoys “painting, baking, dancing, and anything artistic!” She’s long been involved with Desi Dhamaka Bollywood-Fusion Competition Dance Team and Yogini’s Art Palette, where she studies and assists others. She has painted, mostly with oils, for the last eleven years, and her works have been displayed and even sold at the Florida State Fair and the Florida Strawberry Festival as well.
From her impressive resume, it’s obvious other passions for the multi-literate Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) officer and Director of the Crest Critique school newspaper include conducting research projects and entering them into the State Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) of Florida and winning awards for her roles in robotics competitions (while she also mentored four younger teams).
Anika has accomplished memberships in the National Honor Society, the National Speech and Debate Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta, which recognizes excellence in mathematics. She is currently employed at the Aloha Math, Reading, and Writing Center.
As to her future career, the AP Scholar with Distinction designee also has a passion for “studying Public Health and Biological Sciences in order to address healthcare disparities.” She continued, “I see myself going into medical research or practicing as a physician. I also hope to travel a lot and make lifelong memories.”
Enrollment, and AICE classes
Valedictorian 2025
Prior Schools: Walden Lake Elementary; Williams IB Middle Magnet (Tampa)
Favorite Classes: Science, AP Bio, Band College Plans: Will complete AA at Santa Fe College this summer and transfer to the University of Florida to major in Biology; hopes to attend an Ivy League school for her doctorate.
In which clubs have you served?
In addition to Raider Band, I helped establish our school’s Speech and Debate Club and serve as President of Girls Interact, VP of our National Honor Society chapter, and Treasurer of our Science National Honor Society chapter. I’m also in the Letter for Rose Club. Regarding sports, I played varsity soccer as a junior and swam on the varsity swim team in my freshman year.
Who would you like to credit for your accomplishments?
I’d like to thank my family and teachers. My mom and dad have always shown me what it means to be a good person and have supported me in everything I’ve done. Since a very young age, I’ve also been close to my grandparents, Laurel and Billy Williams, who gave me confidence and influenced the person I am today. I’m also thankful for our Band Director, Dr. Blair, for the valuable life lessons and for sharing his perspective on what’s truly important in life. In AP Biology in my freshman year, Mr. Johns inspired my passion for the medical field.
What suggestions would you offer future students? Plan it. Everything in life that takes years to form will require a plan, or you won’t do it. Follow your plan and don’t become discouraged. I stuck to my own plan and just kept trying. Never give up.
What have you enjoyed most about growing up in Plant City?
The Florida Strawberry Festival. Our roots are six generations deep here, and my grandpa is a strawberry farmer. This has always been so important to me and my family.
Williams Savannah Plant City High School
Savannah Kaye Williams, the 2025 Valedictorian of Plant City High School, is the daughter of Christopher Williams and Ashley and Jesse Dalton. Her four Dalton siblings are Elijah, Caleb, Emily, and Maisie. For fun, the certified diver enjoys scuba diving with her father and trips with the family.
The “empathetic, stubborn/determined, and creative” clarinet section leader of the Raider Band has been in the PCHS Marching Band all four years. She has performed in two musical pit ensembles, performed at Carnegie Hall, and appeared twice at Steinmetz Hall in Orlando. Savannah added, “I’ve enjoyed band as a creative outlet. We were also accepted to perform in the Music for All National Festival. I’m proud to be an Honor grad with the Fine Arts seal on my diploma. I will also be the first in PCHS history to earn the AICE Diploma before graduation.
Her career choice will offer creativity options also, as she serves in the medical field to be innovative with new technologies. In five years, Savannah sees herself finishing her degree and working as a biomedical engineer, developing medical solutions for diseases without current cures (using the gene editing technology CRISPR –Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which allows scientists to make specific, targeted changes to DNA). Within 10 years, she hopes to have her own family and continuing her career. She explained, “I want to impact other people and speak to young people, to be involved in changing environmental policies in the government, helping with medical cure research, and making the world a better place.”
Dual Enrollment – 18
Prior Schools: Walden Lake Elementary School; Tomlin Middle School
Salutatorian 2025
Favorite classes: AP Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, and AP U.S. History. She appreciates that Mr. Eatman showed multiple ways to solve calculus problems and Mr. D, the energetic History teacher made lessons more enjoyable, enough so that she passed the AP exam.
Scholarships Awarded: Florida Medallion Scholarship, plus $6,000 more in scholarships. College Plans: Attend the University of Florida to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing and eventually become a labor and delivery Nurse Practitioner.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In five years, I hope to be working at a Florida hospital doing what I’ve wanted to do since elementary school: helping people. In ten years, I’ll be more trained in my field, probably living in the U.S., but possibly not in Florida. Apart from work, I see myself with my dream dog, a Great Dane. My future goals include: 1) Assisting patients with love and care; 2) Becoming the best version of myself; and 3) Growing a stronger personal relationship with God.
What advice would you offer to students following behind you?
Those who aspire to be salutatorian must not be afraid to push themselves to the limit. While staying motivated and making the effort is not easy, with persistence in embracing life’s challenges, the rewarding end goal can be accomplished. Not only will your loved ones be proud, but so will you. Ultimately, stay dedicated and work hard.
Madera Sheyla
Plant City High School
The optimistic, compassionate and ambitious Sheyla Madera is the eldest daughter of “two amazing parents: Cristina Garcia and Emilio Madera.” Her father is a Florida native, and her mother moved to Florida from Guanajuato, Mexico, in 2000. Sheyla’s sister Emely is two years younger. They enjoy spending as much weekend time together as possible, sitting in the living room, “talking about random topics and cracking jokes to make each other laugh.”
For relaxation, Sheyla has found that family time, video games, and playing with her dogs has “helped keep me sane throughout these four years.”
Since age ten, Sheyla has desired to work in the medical field. She explained, “I cared about individuals in ways many others do not, and I want to be able to use my compassion to do good. Whether it’s just making people laugh or letting them talk about their day, I want people to feel heard and seen. As a nurse, I’ll be able to talk with people and care for them in ways they may have never been.”
Who or what do you credit for your success in achieving this top honor?
First, my parents taught me to never give up and to always push myself. Their tough love kept me motivated, supporting me in ways no one else could have ever done. They also reminded me to work hard now so I can get whatever I please in the future. They want me to obtain a career I’ll love because, unfortunately, they never had that chance, and they don’t want me to follow the same path.
With their guidance and support, my school counselors helped me achieve this amazing goal. I’m the first person in my family to do the things I did in high school, such as the dual enrollment and college courses offered at Plant City High School. I possibly annoyed them with my many questions, but I’m glad they continued to be patient and were there for me.
And I’ve adored my teachers and the support they all give. Every teacher I’ve had always seemed excited to teach their subject, which made me excited to learn as well.
Prior Schools: Buckhorn Elementary and Mulrennan Middle School
Valedictorian 2025
Favorite Classes: Sociology (Mrs. Thompson), AP World Modern History (Mr. Pirotta), and AP Capstone Research (Mrs. Martin) because “All these teachers made the classes engaging and a great learning experience.”
Scholarships Awarded: Bright Futures; National Gypsum (sponsored by C.D. Spangler Foundation); and the East Hillsborough Historical Society College Plans: Attend the University of Florida to major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and earn a Master’s degree to become a speech pathologist, focusing on special needs children.
Use three adjectives to describe yourself.
1. Determined, I hold myself to a high standard and always want to improve and achieve my goals.
2. Caring- I care deeply and always want what’s best for others.
3. Leadership- Being a Valedictorian isn’t solely about academics: it also involves leadership qualities. I was captain of Durant’s dance team and a leader as President of Durant’s chapter of the National English Honor Society, VP of the Freshman Class Council, and Secretary of the Junior Class Council
What advice would you offer to aspiring valedictorians?
Remember, being at the top doesn’t mean you’re the smartest. The qualities of being a valedictorian extend beyond intelligence. Dedication, discipline, humility, and hard work played a role in shaping my experience. Although taking classes and getting ahead is important, enjoying your time in high school is as well. It goes by so fast, so make time to create long-lasting memories with friends and classmates.
Share a fun fact with us.
I really don’t like condiments, especially ketchup. If it touches any of my food, I won’t eat it. So yes, I eat my fries and nuggets sauceless.
Greenwell Leah Durant High School
Brandon native Leah Greenwell, Durant High School’s 2025 Valedictorian, would like to thank her parents, Dina and Joseph Greenwell, and two brothers – Jake (23), a mechanical engineer in Dallas, Texas, and Grant (21), a junior at Florida Gulf Coast University, for their unwavering support.
A dancer since the age of three, Leah has spent most of her free time at the Brandon School of Dance Arts, where she is a competitive dancer trained in various styles, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, contemporary, and tap. She also hopes to continue to dance in college.
Leah desires to: “1) Be my most authentic self in every situation; 2) Take something away from every experience and grow; and 3) Give back to the special needs community and educate the world on the importance of inclusion and kindness.” In five years, she sees herself “hopefully with a steady job as a speech pathologist.” She added, “In whatever life I live down the road, I just hope to imagine myself as happy, financially successful, and loving my career, all while being able to impact a community wherever I end up.”
To whom do you offer credit for your successes?
This top honor would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my teachers, friends, and family. I’m so blessed to have been taught by caring and attentive teachers and faculty interested in our learning and individual lives. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to family and friends. Your unwavering love and support have been the foundation of my journey, and I’m eternally thankful for your belief in me. I’m so grateful for my parents and all they’ve done in pushing and challenging me to be a better person. An endless list of people I’ve encountered have somehow impacted me, and I cannot thank them enough for the overwhelming support.
What have you loved about growing up in Hillsborough County?
Growing up here has given me the biggest support system and the resources to be successful. It also gave me a place where I met my friends and teachers.
Salutatorian 2025
Favorite Classes: Avid, AP Statistics, and Holocaust. College Plans: Attend the University of South Florida to major in Nursing.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Because I enjoy working with children, I’ve been a babysitter throughout the school year and have worked as a camp counselor during the summer. I see myself earning a Master’s degree to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, working in a hospital where I can help children.
What advice would you offer students who aspire to achieve top educational honors?
Work hard and try your best in everything you do. Also, don’t procrastinate, because eventually it will catch up to you.
What I have most loved about living in Eastern Hillsborough County?
I love all the fun places where we can spend quality time with friends and family.
Shill-Reyes Alanna Durant High School
North Carolina native Alanna Shill-Reyes “grew up as a military kid,” so the family moved often. In fact, Alanna has lived in six states, including Hawaii. Her parents, Jocelyn and Daniel Shill, are from Puerto Rico and Louisiana, respectively.
The “quiet, hardworking, and compassionate” 2025 Salutatorian at Durant High School also has three brothers: Daniel, Preston, and Cale Shill. Together, the family enjoys movie or game nights, boating, and beach trips.
Alanna was active in school, playing volleyball for six years and being involved in many clubs. Among those are the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, English National Honor Society, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Two of her life goals include graduating from college with honors and honoring God in everything. She credits Him with her success “because with Him, all things are possible, and He provided me with the resources I needed to succeed.” She spends much of her spare time volunteering at Bell Shoals Church. She added, “I am supposed to honor Him in everything, so by using the gifts He gave me, I can do that.”
Lithia Springs Elementary; Bell Creek Middle School
Dual Enrollment: (26)
Prior Schools: Cork Elementary; Tomlin Middle School
Favorite classes: AP U.S. History; Veterinary Assisting; English.
Scholarships Awarded: Florida Bright Futures; Athena Society Young Woman of Promise; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Rising Star; Florida Strawberry Growers Association; Florida Ag Hall of Fame; and East Hillsborough Historical Society.
College Plans: Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English on a pre-law track at the University of Florida before attending UF’s Levin Law School to serve my community as a criminal prosecuting attorney.
Who would you credit for your accomplishments?
Valedictorian 2025
Storter Hope
First, I owe all my success to the grace of God. I also credit my family, who have instilled within me a strong work ethic and desire to always do my absolute best, along with the teachers who’ve poured into my life and encouraged me. FFA has also been a major influence with some of the best experiences I could ask for, such as holding many officer positions, including President three times, and winning 11 FFA state competitions.
Any advice for future students?
To those aspiring to be valedictorians, know why you want it and do what it takes to achieve that honor. Although it requires sacrifice, long hours, and late nights, if you’re doing it for the right reasons, it’s completely achievable.
How has growing up in this area impacted your life?
I’ve absolutely loved growing up in this supportive community. When my father Mike Storter passed away from Leukemia, people were at our doorstep every night with a warm meal. To this day, those friends encourage me and support me in all my undertakings, and I wouldn’t trade this town for the world.
Strawberry Crest High School
“Hardworking, kind, and persevering,” Hope Starter has earned the title of Valedictorian 2025 at Strawberry Crest High School. She grew up in Plant City, where she enjoyed time with her parents, Laura Storter and the late Mike Storter, her sister, Taryn Storter Couch, and grandparents Coleman and Sue Davis, and Alvarene Storter and the late Gavin Storter. Together, they’ve attended and served at First Baptist Church of Plant City, attended Gator football games, and enjoyed great conversations at her grandparents’ homes.
With a servant’s heart, Hope has long volunteered for community efforts and church outreaches. She also expresses her love of music through singing, songwriting, playing piano, musical theater, and as a worship team member. Fluent in American Sign Language, this talented vocalist has sung the national anthem for 15 different organizations, everywhere from the Florida State Fair and Strawberry Festival to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. As well as being a poet and Poetry Jam winner in 2021, Hope enjoys writing fiction novels and “using the Oxford Comma as much as possible.” Within 10 years, she hopes to be a published author.
Blessed with brains and beauty, the AP Scholar of Distinction and Honor Society member in multiple organizations (NHS, International Thespians, ASL) has been privileged to compete in numerous pageants, including those for Florida Strawberry Festival Queen, SCHS Calendar Girl, SCHS FFA Sweetheart, and Hillsborough County Fair Junior Harvest Queen. As a seven-year member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), Hope was recently chosen by the Florida FFA Association through a rigorous screening process to be one of the two presidential candidates for Florida FFA, from a field of 39 candidates. With the most votes, she will become president; with the second most votes, her role will be that of the new secretary.
Having already earned her Associate of Arts degree, Hope sees herself finishing law school at the University of Florida and seeking to work as a criminal prosecuting attorney at the 13th Circuit Court of Tampa. Ultimately, her goals are “to honor God in all” she does, “to help others draw closer to Him, to be successful as a lawyer and author, and to positively impact” those around her.
hours)
Prior Schools: Cork Elementary; Tomlin Middle School
Favorite classes: AP Chemistry (with Mr. Love); PreCalculus, AP Calculus AB and BC (with Mr. Flaws); Agriculture (with Mrs. Cesario, Mrs. Mayo, and Ms. Mendenall, who she considers family and where she spends 90% of her time).
Scholarships Awarded: Bright Futures, Davis Island Garden Club College Plans: University of Florida, pursuing degrees in Mathematics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and a Ph.D. in Plant Science with a specialization in Medical Botany to research how plants on the molecular level can kill cancerous cells.
Who would you like to credit for your accomplishments?
Salutatorian 2025
Much of my success came from my involvement in FFA. If you’re a parent, signing your kid up in middle or high school is the best way to set them up for the most successful life possible. FFA taught me self-discipline and my advisors helped me with Dual Enrollment signups. Truly, this organization’s experiences offer students a toolbox of life skills. Public speaking, leadership, teamwork, and connections with industry professionals in numerous fields. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful support system of family, friends, and teachers I’ve had over the years. Along with many others, Mr. Love, Mr. Scott, Mr. Grant, Mrs. Wu, Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Telfer are some of the best who’ve been there for me.
What advice would you offer future students?
If your sole goal is to be valedictorian or salutatorian, you may need to rethink your why. I don’t say this to discourage, because it is amazing to be first or second in your class, but it shouldn’t be your only goal. Dual enrollment classes saved money and gave me a head start in college. AP classes challenged my mind. Work hard, but do it for you and your future, not for a title that will be simply a cool talking point after graduation.
Carey Jaylene Strawberry Crest High School
Dependable, authentic, and determined, Jaylene Carey feels blessed to have grown up in Hillsborough County. Her family has lived in this area for many years, as well as in rural Wisconsin. They once owned a large farm where Brandon Town Center Mall is now. Jaylene’s biggest supporters are her four parents, LeAnn and Shaun Boddy, and Jason Carey and Michelle Reeder, as well as her brother Jacob, a freshman at SCHS.
In addition to owning dairy cattle, one favorite hobby is reading, especially romance fantasy books by Sarah J Maas. She also loves to “dance and sing, either alone or in a choir.” And caring for “approximately 200 plants” in her bedroom keeps her busy, too. She desires “to find a way to use my love of plants to fight cancer mutations, because I’ve lost too many family members to cancer.”
She added, “I see myself doing something I love and hopefully making an impact with that passion. I also see myself as someone who won’t give up when life becomes harder. I have faith I’ll get through it in my own way. In college, Jaylene hopes to join the swim team and take her high school sport to the next level, while being “super active on campus and in clubs. Perhaps, I’ll also pursue a more serious route with singing one day because many have said I sound similar to artists like Halsey and Demi Levato.”
As to lifelong goals, Jaylene plans to: “1) Always help the next person in line (a lifelong goal, whether literally or metaphorically. 2) Become the best version of myself. 3) Follow God’s will for my life. As a firm believer in Jesus Christ, I attend a Baptist Christian church and believe God has a reason for everything, good or bad. I simply want to follow His commands and what He has already written for my life.
cooper Sean RISING STAR
By Cierra Craft
Sean Cooper’s journey in baseball began unconventionally, sparked by playing on his brother’s Wii at age two. This early interest soon transitioned to the real field, and by age six, Sean was playing in Plant City Little League under the guidance of his first coach, Donnie Newman. Sean’s dedication and talent led him through Pinecrest Little League, Pinecrest’s All Stars, and South Brandon Little League.
Sean and Newman’s connection continued years later when, in 2022, Sean joined the Plant City OutKasts, a travel ball team also coached by Newman. Joining the OutKasts wasn’t just about honing baseball skills; the OutKasts foster a leadership culture, encouraging their players to excel not only on the diamond but also within their schools and the wider community. The team’s strong camaraderie was highlighted by their invitation to the 12U Tournament in Cooperstown, New York, in June 2024 – a memorable experience for Sean.
“Going to Cooperstown last summer was really fun and made our team feel like even more of a family than we do already,” Sean shared.
Sean’s versatility on the field is notable. Primarily a catcher, he is also a capable closing or backup pitcher. His pitching prowess was evident in April 2025 at the Grand Slam Super Regional, where his fastball reached a top velocity of 69 miles per hour, an impressive feat for a 13U player.
Donnie Newman said, “Coaching Sean since his very first year of baseball has been an absolute privilege. He may be quiet at first, but he lets his game do the talking. With a heart of gold and a relentless drive, I’ve watched him grow, not just as an athlete and teammate but as a remarkable young man. No matter which path he takes, his future is undeniably bright.”
As his family relocates to Georgia, Sean’s time with the Plant City OutKasts has concluded. He values the experiences and relationships gained with the team, especially his continued mentorship with Coach Newman. He is now looking forward to continuing his baseball journey with a new team in Georgia.
Plant City Filthy Pelicans 12U
By Cierra Craft
While this marks the Plant City Filthy Pelicans 12U officially taking the field, the seeds for this promising squad were sown with a clear vision and a deep connection to the local community, all under the guidance of Head Coach David Beveard.
“My goal was to create a team with a majority of local kids,” explains Beveard, “to provide them with the opportunity to learn what I think is proper baseball, and have fun doing it.”
When asked about players showing exceptional growth, Beveard said it’s hard to choose just one player, but points to Drake Raulerson for tremendous growth.
“This young man never hesitates to do what he’s asked,” he notes. “Drake still has a little ways to go, but his determination will never fail.”
Beveard says Hunter Prescott and Milik Lewis are also stepping up. “These two young men are
transitioning into the leadership role,” Beveard says. “They both have a good general knowledge of the game and support their respective teammates. Our goal is to have 12 leaders.”
Beyond the diamond, Coach Beveard is focused on instilling life lessons in his players, including respect, prioritizing academics, and aiming to build good men for our society. Faith plays a significant role, with the team embracing their “Lord and Savior on and off the field.”
The Filthy Pelicans 12U have their sights set on a trip to Cooperstown Dream Park in New York.
“The boys are very excited,” shares Beveard. “We have several events planned in Cooperstown outside of playing baseball. They can’t wait. Although I do have one that is not exactly thrilled about flying for the first time – Jordyn Sheppard!”
The team received a lot of support from the community, and hopes the community will rally
around them while the team makes its final fundraising push. The team will host a Bingo Night on June 5 at Bullfrog Creek Brewing in Valrico.
Before their pilgrimage to baseball’s hallowed grounds, the team has a busy schedule, including four more tournaments, culminating in the GSA World Series next month. Coach Beveard sees the World Series as a valuable opportunity to refine their strategy for multi-day competitions.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated coaching staff plays a vital role in the team’s progress. Coach Beveard extends his gratitude to Assistant Coaches John Caine and Ricky Morris, Hitting Coach Marty Roland, Pitching Coach Dylan Prescott, and Statistician Garret Freeman. He also gives a special shout-out to his son, Easton Beveard, “for always helping these boys and for being a positive influence.”
2025 WINNER
BEST CLEANER
Meet the Maker:
Toast the Town Bakeshop
By Cierra Craft
In 2023, Taylore Sedelmeyer was intrigued by a
TikTok trend: the art of making Sourdough bread.
Sedelmeyer began working on perfecting her starter and baking loaves for family and friends.
“What began as a simple experiment quickly blossomed into a passionate hobby as I perfected my recipe and technique. I started by gifting loaves to friends and family, and before long, word began to spread. One day, my husband brought a loaf to his workplace, and to our surprise, his coworkers began placing orders.”
Toast of the Town Bakehouse specializes in artisan sourdough breads, boasting a delightful array of flavors, from the classic original to tempting specialties like Jalapeño Cheddar, Roasted Garlic and Rosemary, and Cinnamon Sugar.
The natural fermentation process of making Sourdough makes it easier to digest and potentially better for those with mild gluten sensitivities. Fermentation unlocks essential nutrients and contributes to a lower glycemic index, aiding blood sugar regulation. The naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria further promote gut health, all while lending that signature tangy flavor and satisfyingly chewy texture.
Beyond their signature loaves, customers can also savor baked goods, including cookies, cinnamon
rolls, and popular bread dip seasoning packets. For those eager to embark on their sourdough journey, the bakehouse offers dehydrated starter.
Taylore is thankful for the community’s support, which has led to the Toast of the Town Bakehouse’s expansion.
Taylore said: “Thanks to this overwhelming encouragement and success, I’ll soon be transitioning into running Toast of the Town Bakehouse full time. This exciting step not only allows me to devote more time to crafting our sourdough bread and expanding our offerings, but it’s also given me the invaluable opportunity to stay home and raise my family. With this growth, we hope to increase production, participate in more local events, and continue sharing our passion for artisan sourdough with even more people.”
Want to try Toast of the Town Bakehouse’s artisan baked goods? Orders can be placed at www.hotplate.com/toastofthetownbakehouse for convenient porch pickup from Taylore’s Walden Lake home. Customers can shop in person at the Lakeland Farmers Market nearly every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., while supplies last. Follow Toast of the Town Bakehouse on Facebook & Instagram for market announcements and new flavor releases.
Leaders in Faith
Pastor Roosevelt Broadnax
By Cheryl Johnston
For peace and relaxation in his spare time, Pastor Roosevelt Broadnax enjoys traveling. The bi-vocational Associate Pastor of Greater New Mt. Zion Ministries Inc. also serves as Operations Manager of the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. Both roles allow him to “enjoy the ability to lead people by example.” He added, “I enjoy that my company and my church is full of people helping people.”
The father of three children – Gabrielle, Victoria, and Ayden –attended Florida Southwestern State College (FSW) to earn a degree in Business Administration. Pastor Broadnax is also the Founder and President of VENT - Vigilant Encourage Nature Trust (a safe place where Men just need to Vent).
A “birthday book signing” event is scheduled for July 12 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Greater New Mt. Zion here in Plant City. This new author especially values the “small town, home feel that Plant City so sweetly gives” and shared, “Even though we are growing fast we still give residents a reason to want to be in Plant City.”
How did you come to faith in Christ and has there been a defining moment since?
I came to Jesus at the age of 7 in 1997. During a late night encounter in my bedroom, I felt an unexplainable presence. The Lord allowed my mother to be led into the room to question how I was feeling (as tears were flowing down my face). She was able to lead me through the sinner’s prayer after I acknowledged I wanted to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The day my father passed quickly gave me the ability to cherish people while I have them. It caused me to grow even more to what God has called me to and to TRUST only in the Lord.
“ I’ve always waited for a safe time and place to write a book that might help others and believe the perfect time is always NOW.
Tell us what prompted you to write your first book?
I have a story to tell but this is just a piece of my heart, sharing that how my earthly father (Roosevelt Broadnax, Sr. - deceased 7/13/2013) loved me in grace just as my Heavenly Father still does. I’ve always waited for a safe time and place to write a book that might help others and believe the perfect time is always NOW. This book is about transformation. It’s dedicated in honor of my father, whose wisdom, strength, and unwavering love continue to guide me, even in his absence. I’d like to remind him and everyone who reads the book that “Your legacy lives on in my heart and in everything I do. I miss you and honor you always.”
Encourage us with your favorite Scripture?
Philippians 1:6 reminds us: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” I love this verse because since God has started this good work in me…He has promised He will take care of everything until He returns. I just need to have faith.
Do you have a favorite way to share yours?
I enjoy sharing my faith through simple conversations daily, by using examples that gain the listeners’ interest and then concluding with pointing them to Jesus Christ unto Salvation.
What would you suggest to Christ-followers and to those not yet?
I suggest to everyone that Jesus Christ Yeshua is the only way to eternal life with God!!! Hide the word of God in your hearts so you will not sin against Him. Do it now…while you have time.
Candy’s Corner
By Candy Owens
I was driving down Wilder Road this past week and I noticed a man pushing an Ice Cream/Frozen Treat cart towards Mike Sansone Park. I thought to myself that he better have lots of frozen goodies in his cart because the park was full of hot and sweaty kids playing ball.
The thought of Ice Cream, Frozen Treats, and playing outside in the heat made me reflect back to my childhood when we as kids in Plant City beat the summer time heat by chasing the “PinkyDinky” Ice Cream truck, climbing those old red cement steps at the Dairy Queen, or taking a trip to “Dipper-Dan” at the old Plant City Mall.
I can remember those hot summer days when I was busy at play with my next door neighbors Kimberle and David Edison when out of nowhere we would hear the faint chords of the song: Mary had a little lamb. We would scream and we would shout: “It’s the PinkyDinky Man!!!!!!!!!” It did not matter if we were watching a T.V. show, building a fort, playing a game of kick ball, riding our bicycles, playing under the water hose, having a hula hoop contest, or sitting high up in a tree, the whole world stopped for the “Pinky-Dinky” Man. If Kimberle and I were inside and we did not think that we could get outside fast enough, we would yell for David to go outside and flag him down. David would hurry outside and run like the dickens down the street yelling and screaming for him to stop. You see… dealing with the “Pinky Dinky” Man was serious business. He might not come back for a few weeks and then where would we be? I can remember once or twice when it seemed like the “Pinky-Dinky” Man was trying to ignore us. It seemed as if he saw us and proceeded to step on the gas. Well, we could not have that, so we quickly put “Little David” on his trail. David who was wearing his favorite Batman/Superman cape at the time, hopped on his “Big-Wheel” and peddled with the speed of lightning (and his cape flapping in the wind) down the street after him. Needless to say: David got his man! I can remember the yummy treats that we selected: Kimberle would get a “2 Ball Screwball” which was a Sorbet like frozen treat, something like Cherry with a twist of Lemon or Blue Raspberry in an upside down see through plastic cone with two gumballs at the bottom. David would get an orange “Push-Up Pop” which was like an Orange creamy Sorbet encased in a paper roll that was pushed up from the bottom until
it was all consumed or a “Drumstick” which was Vanilla Ice Cream in a sugar cone with Chocolate on the top and wrapped in a paper wrapper. When it came to me it was a “Bomb Pop” all the way. The “Bomb Pop” was a Cherry, Lime, and Blue Raspberry- red, white, and blue, rocket shaped Popsicle. My sister Karen would always choose a “Bomb Pop” as well. Those frozen treats were so good and so valuable to us that “Heaven-forbid” if you dropped yours! Well, back in those days we would cry a little, then pick it up and eat it any way. Ha! Ha!
WELLS MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME
Mother’s Banana Splits were always served up in a big plastic boat that came with a long plastic spoon which she always saved for us to play with in the bathtub. My Father would get the same thing every time……..one small Vanilla cone that was dipped in Chocolate and rolled in nuts. Sometimes my parents would order Cuban sandwiches from the Dairy Queen. They swore that they were the best in town.
“During those hot Summer months when my sister and I were kids my family always enjoyed a trip to the Dairy Queen...Back in those days there were three flavors to choose from: Vanilla, Vanilla dipped in Chocolate, or Vanilla dipped in Chocolate and rolled in nuts. HA! HA! My sister and I always got a Vanilla cone dipped in Chocolate.”
During those hot Summer months when my sister and I were kids my family always enjoyed a trip to the Dairy Queen. I can remember my parents pulling into the parking space and my sister and I jumping out of the car to get in line. If you were a kid and it was your turn to place an order, you would step up to the window on little red cement steps and give your order to this pretty blonde teenager named Rose Hall Peacock. Rose was the girl responsible for the all important signature curl on top of your ice cream cone. Back in those days there were three flavors to choose from: Vanilla, Vanilla dipped in Chocolate, or Vanilla dipped in Chocolate and rolled in nuts. HA! HA! My sister and I always got a Vanilla cone dipped in Chocolate. My Mother would always get something like a Banana Split which consisted of: Bananas, three swirls of Vanilla Ice Cream that were covered with Chocolate fudge, Pineapple, and Strawberries, and topped off with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.
So many years have come and gone since the days of the waiting outside for the Ice Cream truck and there are so many unique and expedient ways to order Ice Cream these days, but nothing will ever taste as wonderful or make you feel as happy as sitting in those red heart shaped chairs licking a sugar cone filled with Pink Bubble Gum Ice Cream or climbing those little red cement steps and getting a Vanilla Cone dipped in Chocolate with Rose’s famous signature curl or devouring a red, white, and blue “Bomb Pop” , “Push-Up Pop”, or a “2 Ball Screwball” that was chased down by a seven year old little boy on a “Big Wheel” 813-752-1111
When my Mother said that we needed to go to the mall for something (which was the old Plant City Mall) my sister and I wasted no time getting in the car. Whatever it was that she needed, or my Father needed, or we needed from Grant’s, Publix, Eckerd Drugs, Goody Shoes, The Colony Shop, Fabric King, Fremac’s, McCrory’s, or The Strawberry Pond, my sister and I knew that we would be able to beg and plead our way into the “Toy King” Toy Store and the “Dipper Dan” Ice Cream Shop. I can remember the long glass freezer cases filled with the most delicious flavors of ice cream and how I would walk back and forth trying to figure out which flavor to choose. You could have a single wafer cone, a double wafer cone, a sugar cone, a sundae, a parfait, a milk shake, a cup, candy sprinkles, whip cream, nuts, fruit toppings, or even the unbelievable double cone with a third scoop on top. We thought we had died and gone to Heaven. This again was serious business. We as kids felt like we were making a life altering choice. HA! HA! After all of this decision making, I usually ended up with Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, or Pink Bubble Gum in a Sugar cone. My sister would always get Strawberry Cheesecake, my Mother would always get Dutch Chocolate, and my Father would always, without fail, get Pistachio. It was… “Indescribably Good!”
DAN AND SONDRA
HE POPPED THE QUESTION
“In
The Morning”
There are many times in my childhood I remembered having a bad day which often led into a bad night. The frowning, the sulking, the (you fill in the blank here) that just added to the already dark clouds of “gloom, despair, and agony on me…” If you are too young to remember this great song of sadness, look up “Hee Haw” to get an education.
We think about those moments, and smile when we hear the old words of gentle correction from our parents, usually our moms, saying, “If you keep your face like that, it will freeze that way!” Oh, good times, good times. In my home, it was often followed up with a true moment of hope that it will be better “in the morning”.
But what happens when we grow into adulthood and the stress, impacts, and losses are real and reverberating through our life, heart, and soul? Do these words actually help? That will depend on what adds to these words. Let me add to them…
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” NKJV (Psalms 30:5)
In 2024, there were many grieving nights, the greatest was the loss of my wife of 36 ½ years on September 30 th . She was fighting stage 4 cancer and yet, still smiled and was the greatest of encouragement to those that visited, called, and wrote her notes of love. It was a time that a long dark night of the soul started and took months to walk through.
We had to change her celebration of life three times due to the hurricanes and multiple adjustments for the Sarasota National Cemetery internment. The night kept going and yet there was a promise at the end of that verse that I kept holding onto. It was not the “in the morning” part as it was the breaking of the darkness to the daylight with this amazing word, JOY! How was this word possible when it seemed as though my heart was in shambles? Let me go back to 2015 when I was the senior pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church.
After accepting Christ, I baptized Sondra and her husband Jerry, and from that point forward, they became family friends, fellow workers in praise and worship, developing training videos for my Chaplaincy Care organization, launch of a First Responder church in 2019, and part of the family at holiday food fests at mom and dad’s home.
Three years ago, Jerry died of cancer and then two years ago, Sondra’s mom passed away. In 2024, I lost both my mom just short of her and dad’s 76 th anniversary and my wife, Arienne, just four days after her 60th birthday. The night began but the JOY was coming. After talking with my dad (wise man) and my accountability partners, I asked Sondra out on our first date this past January. Before the third date, I talked with about my Godly Deacons and Mighty Men my plans for a third.
Here is what a “Jesus Joy” looks like. Someone that empathizes in the pain and not just sympathizes with it. One that shares a love for the Lord, music, and teaching that can come along side to pour into others as Christ pours in and through us. One that is not here to replace a first love but helps to begin a new journey to fulfill the happiness of the cherishing love. To draw this to a close, let me invite you to a new beginning of joy.
On July 12 th at Turkey Creek First Baptist Church, stop by from 2-5pm and let me introduce you to my new wife, Sondra. Weeping does come through the long dark night of the soul…but JOY breaks through the darkness and brings the light of a new wonderful day and the days ahead; especially when it is a Jesus Joy that comes in the morning!
Young Professionals Night
4:00PM
Young
and
Propagation @ 101 N Palmer St
Cost: Chamber members, free; Non-members $15
Info: plantcity.org
June 07
7:00PM
Enjoy a night of community, culture, and purpose! Wendy Watson Goodman will be this year’s special guest speaker. Proceeds will be used to preserve the historic Glover School Landmark. Attire: Sophisticated Chic
Bealsville Rec Center @ 5909 Nesmith Rd
Cost: $50
Info: bit.ly/heritageandharmony
Kimi Tortuga @ Keel Farms Heritage & Harmony Banquet
12:30PM
Enjoy wines and ciders at Keel Farms with live music by singer-songwriter, Kimi Tortuga on the patio! Everyone is welcome, including your little ones and furry ones.
Keel Farms @ 5202 Thonotosassa Rd
Cost: Free parking & admission Info: (813) 752-9100
June 13
The Hawaiian Heist
6:30PM-9:30PM
Enjoy a mystery dinner night with a delicious luau and discover the identity of the villain! Hawaiianthemed attire encouraged. All funds are to benefit the Bruton Memorial Library HCC Trinkle Center @ 2206 E Cherry St
Cost: Individual tickets, $100 Info: fbmlpc.org
June 14
Gallery of Plant City
LITTLE MISS PLANT CITY
On May 3, Plant City Junior Woman’s Club crowned its 2025 Little Miss Plant City Queen and selected the five girls who will represent Plant City in the coming year. Congratulations to Queen Delilah Dukes, First Maid Charlee Land, and court members Carrigan Brake, Bristol Blackwell, and Lillian Jones.
a. The Top 10: Sophia Timian , Aubrey Sweeney, Carrigan Brake, Drew Taylor, Charlee Land, Erin Waters, Lillian Jones, Delilah Duke, Finley Henderson, & Bristol Blackwell.
b. Callie Smith (left) and Kenley Connell (right) served as emcees for the 2025 pageant. Each had competed in the pageant in the past.
c. Carrigan Brake was named Miss Congeniality and a member of the 2025 court.
d. On May 3, 2025, Delilah Dukes was crowned the 2025 Little Miss Plant City Queen by 2024 Queen Olivia McDowell. Dukes and her court will represent Plant City and the Junior Woman’s Club at the various community events throughout the year.
e. Charlee Land was named the 2025 First Maid. Land wore a denim dress embellished with rhinestones. The theme of this year’s pageant was “rodeo queen,” with a glam western style.
