Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (May 13, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) has been honored with the prestigious Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. This recognition highlights HCPS’s unwavering commitment to ensuring music education remains an integral part of student learning and development. Hillsborough is proud to be one of only five school districts in Florida to receive this honor.

Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education distinction is awarded to school districts that demonstrate exceptional dedication to providing comprehensive and accessible music education for all students.

 

To earn this designation, HCPS underwent a rigorous evaluation, answering in-depth questions about its funding, graduation requirements, student participation in music programs, instructional time, facilities, and community engagement in music education.

 

“Music fosters creativity, discipline, and collaboration—skills that extend far beyond the classroom,” said Van Ayres, Superintendent of HCPS. “We are honored to receive this national recognition, which reflects the dedication of our educators, students, families, and community partners who champion the arts as a fundamental part of a well-rounded education.”

For more information about music education programs at HCPS, visit hillsboroughschools.org/musick-5

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To learn more about the NAMM Foundation, visit https://www.nammfoundation.org.

 

**For Media: link to footage of music in our schools>>

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (May 12, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025. As seniors prepare for an exciting day to receive their high school diplomas, the district is thrilled to honor their hard work, dedication, and achievements.

 

Over an eleven-day period, thirty-seven graduation ceremonies will take place, including those of exceptional student education centers, adult schools, technical colleges, career centers, Hillsborough Virtual School, and traditional high schools. This year, more than 15,000 seniors will don a cap and gown and walk across the stage, marking a significant milestone in their educational journey.

 

Superintendent Van Ayres expressed immense pride in the graduating class, stating, "We are incredibly proud of each and every student and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the world. I know they will embrace the challenges ahead with confidence and courage and will continue to strive for excellence in everything they do."

 

The graduation ceremonies will not only celebrate academic achievements but also highlight the diverse talents and contributions of the students. From academic excellence to artistic achievements and athletic prowess, the Class of 2025 has showcased a wide range of skills and passions.

 

Graduation ceremonies begin on Tuesday, May 13, for exceptional student education centers and on Wednesday, May 21, for traditional high schools. All traditional high school ceremonies will be held at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall (4800 US 301, Tampa).  

 

Family members who are unable to attend the ceremony in person, can watch the entire graduation live at https://hillsboroughschools.tv/, Spectrum cable channel 635 and Frontier cable channel 32. 

  

For security reasons, media interested in covering any of the graduation ceremonies must contact Debra Bellanti or Tanya Arja in the Office of Communications. Once the Office of Communications is notified, reporters and photographers should enter the fairgrounds in a marked media vehicle at the Highway 301 gate and proceed to the Expo Hall. Once inside, the media will be escorted to the area where they will be permitted.  

 

Please see a list of our valedictorians and salutatorians below and click on the link for a full list of each graduation date and time: 

 

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

     

  

   

    

      

  

 

  

 

 

  

  

   

 

   

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

    

 

  

 

 

 

 

   

   

    

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

   

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (May 9, 2025) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (May 9, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools is proud to announce eight students have been named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®). This is the second round of scholarship winners who were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 outstanding students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

 

These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, based on their academic record, including difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

 

“We are so proud of our students who have joined an incredible list of accomplished graduates across the nation,” said Superintendent Van Ayres.

 

Students may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

 

Congratulations to HCPS National Merit Scholarship Winners:

 

Jamie Alison Lu, Strawberry Crest High School

Tanvi Balan, Strawberry Crest High School

William L. Eudaly, Plant High School

Blaze H. Flasterstein, Gaither High School

Anish Ram Nelluri, Strawberry Crest High School

Makana O. Salim-Uesi, Tampa Bay Technical High School

Hari A. Patel, Tampa Bay Technical High School

Om A. Patel, Tampa Bay Technical High School

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (May 8, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that it has been named the U.S. District of the Year for the 2024-2025 academic year by Cambridge International. This prestigious award recognizes school districts that have demonstrated consistently strong student performance and have expanded their offering of the Cambridge Pathway.

 

HCPS was selected as the top district in the large district category, which includes districts with over 20,000 students enrolled in high school. The award highlights HCPS's commitment to providing access to rigorous Cambridge curriculum and maintaining high standards of academic excellence.

"We are incredibly honored to receive the US District of the Year award from Cambridge International," said Van Ayres, Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff. We are committed to continuing our efforts to provide high-quality education and opportunities for all our students."

 

The Cambridge Pathway offers a flexible and challenging curriculum that prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. HCPS's recognition as the U.S. District of the Year underscores the district's leadership in promoting academic excellence for all students.  

    

At a recognition event held last evening, Mark Cavone, Cambridge’s Regional Director for North America, presented Superintendent Ayres with a prestigious award in honor of the occasion. The event also celebrated students for their exceptional performance on the Cambridge AICE examinations during the 2023–2024 school year.

 

“It is a true pleasure to recognize the remarkable achievements of Hillsborough County Public Schools,” said Cavone. “Through our partnership, we have had the privilege to witness your visionary approach to education - where choice drives student-centered strategy.”

 

To learn more about Hillsborough County Public School’s Cambridge AICE opportunities visit hillsboroughschools.org.

To learn more about Cambridge International visit Cambridge International Education.

 

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (May 2, 2025) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (April 25, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools will hold a Health Insurance Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to discuss general health insurance trends. The meeting will take place in the Instructional Services Center, room #161, 2920 N. 40th St., Tampa.

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fla. – (April 24, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools honored our winter sports student athletes for individual awards and team GPA awards at their Winter Sports Awards on Thursday, April 24th.

Lennard Girls Basketball – 3.790 GPA
Wharton Boys Basketball – 3.684 GPA
Steinbrenner Girls Soccer – 3.909 GPA
Plant Boys Soccer – 3.684 GPA
Bloomingdale Girls Wrestling – 3.710 GPA
Newsome Boys Wrestling – 3.629 GPA
Bloomingdale Cheerleading – 3.742 GPA

A standout four-year letterman and team leader, Noelle Mengel excelled as a guard for Bloomingdale High School. Averaging 14.3 points per game on 62% shooting from two-point range, 31% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 89% from the free-throw line, she’s known for her elite scoring ability at all levels. Noelle was a key contributor in Bloomingdale’s dominant 106-15 four-year run, which included four district titles, three regional championships, a state runner-up finish, and a state championship. Her high basketball IQ, leadership, and defensive improvement helped drive her team’s success. Noelle holds a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 5.88 weighted GPA. She will attend the University of Tampa on a full athletic scholarship and plans to major in medicine.

A four-year varsity letterman, Gavin Tinsley dominated as a 6’7” forward at Plant City High School. With career stats that include 1,232 points and averages of 19 points, 7.8 rebounds, and nearly 2 assists per game, Gavin led his team in scoring for multiple seasons. His coach describes him as a versatile, team-first player with a high basketball IQ and elite efficiency, shooting over 60% from the field. Gavin has a 3.24 GPA and will continue his academic and athletic career at Mississippi State University, where he plans to major in social work.

A three-year varsity cheerleader and team captain, Skylar Mayer is known for her leadership, resilience, and skill. From standing tucks to layouts, she brings strong technique to every routine. As a captain, she guided her team through a season of changes, helping teammates adjust to new roles and routines. She’s a UCA All-American, Western Conference MVP, and a key part of the 2A Small Varsity State Runner-Up team. Skylar is also a National AP Scholar, maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 6.8 weighted GPA. She plans to attend Wake Forest University and major in business management.

A four-year letter winner, Ariel Goble finishes her high school wrestling career with an 89-29 record and 54 pins. She’s a two-time state qualifier, three-time county champion, and has earned titles at multiple major tournaments. Ariel’s leadership helped grow the girls’ team from just 3 athletes to over 15, culminating in a county team title. She is an IB student with a 3.4 unweighted GPA and a 5.5 weighted GPA, all while supporting her family and training outside of school. Ariel is considering a major in criminal justice or law.

A two-year varsity wrestler, Alecsander Rego boasts a 78-18 record with 43 pins. He capped off his senior year with a 46-5 record, a fourth-place state finish, and victories in six individual tournaments. Known for his unmatched work ethic and academic excellence, Alecsander helped lead his team to top performances both on the mat and in the classroom. He has a 3.4 unweighted GPA and a 5.1 weighted GPA. Alecsander plans to attend the Merchant Marine Academy in Maine.

Adam Cain has revitalized the wrestling program at Armwood High School, transforming it into a competitive powerhouse for both boys and girls. His leadership has produced multiple divisional champions and top-ranked wrestlers, leading to the team’s #21 ranking in Class 3A. Cain also championed opportunities for female athletes by hosting the Girls’ District Tournament. This season, his team finished as district runners-up and placed two athletes in the top four at state. Known for his character and commitment, Cain has made a lasting impact across the county’s wrestling community.

 

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (April 24, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce the completion of a new electric bus charging station located at King High School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m., marking a significant step forward in the district’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation in student transportation.

 

The charging station is designed to simultaneously charge 28 electric buses, with infrastructure in place to expand capacity for 8 additional buses in the future. The project also resulted in a complete reconfiguration of the transportation site to better serve the needs of students and staff.

 

In May of 2024, the school board voted to purchase the electric buses to serve specific inner-city routes to underserved communities. Funding was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who awarded HCPS $7.9 million as part of their first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. The charging station was the last part of the project to make the electric buses fully operational.

 

As part of the improvements, HCPS also milled, re-paved, and redesigned the bus yard at King High School, enhancing traffic flow and efficiency. The site now features a newly constructed Drivers Education range, as well as additional parking to accommodate 19 additional non-electric buses on paved surfaces—a major upgrade in functionality and space utilization.

 

“This project highlights how innovation and collaboration can drive real, tangible improvements in our schools,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “We’re proud of our transportation and construction teams who worked a very tight timeline, so the station was ready to charge when the buses arrived.”

 

This project was made possible thanks to the expert design work of Campo Engineering, responsible for the civil engineering, and WGI, Inc., which led the electrical design.

 

The April 25 ribbon-cutting event will bring together district leaders, transportation staff, and community partners to celebrate the completion of this milestone initiative, which positions Hillsborough County Public Schools as a leader in clean and efficient school transportation.