Spotlighting exceptional students, athletes, educators and all-around boons to the Greater Orlando area.

Star Athlete
Shawn Coultoff
A fourth-grade honors student at Whispering Oak Elementary, Shawn Coultoff competed in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championships in Pinehurst, North Carolina, during the first week in August. Playing against 145 of the world’s best 9-year-old golfers, Coultoff shot rounds of 69, 70 and 69, finishing eight under par for the week and second place overall.

Star Athlete
Luke Rosser
A 14-year-old, Type-1 diabetic swimmer and triathlete, Orlando resident Luke Rosser again made sports news by earning first place in his age group at the USA Triathlon Youth and Junior 2016 Championship. The competition, which took place in Ohio in July, hosted more than 600 young athletes.

Star Athletes
Grand Cypress All-Stars
Consisting of players aged 13 or younger from Orlando’s Grand Cypress Golf Club, the Grand Cypress All-Stars advanced to the PGA Junior League Southeast Regional tournament on September 17-18. The 10-player team earned their berth after winning their sub-regional championship.

Star Citizens
Ken Facey & Brandon Peters
In September, Ken Facey and Brandon Peters were named to the 2017- 18 Walt Disney World Ambassador team, in which role they’ll represent more than 74,000 cast members and share the inspiration of Disney throughout the resort and community. Prior to the honor, Facey was a leader at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, while Peters was a performer and part of the 2016 Disney University Traditions team.

Star Citizen
Matthew Girgenti
U.S. Navy Ensign Matthew Girgenti, who graduated from Boone High School in 2009, has joined the “Wise Owls” Training Squadron (VT-31) as a student pilot, where he’s learning to fly the T-44A Pegasus aircraft. As a student, Girgenti is also being trained to handle difficult flight situations.

Star Citizen
Tonya Walker
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 34, Baldwin Park resident Tonya Walker began using her successful blog, The Shoe Maven, to not only share her passion for fashion but to inspire other people living with Parkinson’s. She recently partnered with Parkinson’s More Than Motion on a series of real-life videos about her diagnosis, life with Parkinson’s, and how she’s using her blog as a platform for advocacy.

Star Citizen
Dr. Joshua Stephany
In June, Dr. Joshua Stephany underwent a figurative baptism by fire, being confirmed as Orange County’s chief medical examiner and division manager of the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office on June 14—just two days after the Pulse tragedy. On his first day on the job, Stephany and his team completed the final 18 autopsies of the victims.

Star Teachers
Abudlkerim Akyalcin & Ozlem Akyalcin
In August, Maitland residents and Orlando Science Schools teachers Abudlkerim Akyalcin and Ozlem Akyalcin were presented with the Edyth May Sliffe Award for distinguished mathematics teaching. The annual award is given to middle- and high-school teachers, and educators must participate in one of the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics competitions.

Star Citizen
Steve Beres
Orlando native Steve Beres was honored in June with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Chief of Navy Reserve. Beres, who serves as vice president of service members and veterans affairs at Regions Bank, was recognized for his dedication and support of Navy Reserve members.

Star Educator
Dr. B. David Rowe
Lake Highland Preparatory School (LHPS) welcomed their new president, Dr. B. David Rowe, in July. In his new position, Rowe will lead the eighth-largest independent day school in the country. Prior to coming to LHPS, Rowe served as president of Louisiana’s Centenary College for nine years, among numerous other accomplishments.