Each month, Stars features exceptional members of the Greater Orlando community.

Each month, Stars features exceptional students, student athletes, educators and all-around boons to the Greater Orlando area. Know someone who deserves “Stars” treatment? Submit your nominees to Nate@OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com.

Star Athlete
Kiersten Nevergold
A junior at University High, Kiersten Nevergold has played varsity soccer for three years, is on the Junior Class Cabinet and Key Club, and holds a 3.4 GPA. What’s more, she’s the new kicker for University’s football team, making her the first female kicker in the school’s history.

Star Student
Tuan Luong
Originally from Vietnam, Tuan Luong has attended Lake Mary Preparatory School since ninth grade. In the time since, he’s been involved in debate, the G-Force dance team, the National Honor Society, baseball, bowling and the Student Government Association. He credits his participation in these activities with helping him adjust to American life and make friends, and he wants to pursue an aerospace engineering degree and career path.

Star Student
Jessica Meena
A senior at The First Academy, Jessica Meena was recently named as a National Merit Semifinalist. The honor is reserved for approximately 16,000 of the 1.5 million juniors who took the PSAT last year. Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis, and they are the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Star Student
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams has Down syndrome, but it doesn’t stop her from achieving. In addition to recently playing the lead in a Walt Disney World television commercial, she’s done print ads and performed at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. She’s also an avid Girl Scout, in which capacity she collects food for the homeless, reads books to children at shelters and sings carols to the elderly.

Star Student
Parker Coye
Lake Highland Preparatory School senior Parker Coye was recently presented with the Congressional Award Gold Medal in Washington, D.C. To attain the honor, Coye had to perform a minimum of 400 hours of voluntary service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a four-night/five-day expedition, and she exceeded all requirements.

Star Students
Orlando Science School Scholarship Winners
In September, Orlando Science Schools students Mehmet Akin, Saardhak Bhrugubanda, Justin Kim, Peter Penev, Tanvi Ranade and Sheel Trivedi were among 150 applicants nationwide chosen to receive a MathMovesU scholarship from the Raytheon Company. The scholarship can be used for a math, science or technology program, or saved for the first year of college.

Star Civic Program
Summer of Dreams
The City of Orlando again partnered with Fifth Third Bank for Summer of Dreams, a free, 10-week program that provides homeless students with meals, academic enrichment, mentoring and school supplies, as well as financial counseling for parents and students. As part of the program, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer worked alongside Fifth Third employees and volunteers to help pack backpacks with school supplies for the children.

Star Civic Organization
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando
In October, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando (HCCMO) received the Chamber of the Year Award from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). The award was received by HCCMO Board Chairwoman Lourdes Mola at USHCC’s National Convention in Miami.

Star Animal
Prospect the Diving Dog
At the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals in October, Lakeland’s Shannon Taaffe and her mixed-breed dog Prospect took first place in the Diving Dog competition. The National Finals featured several Olympics-style events for dogs. In diving, the dogs take a running leap off a 40-foot dock into a 19,000-gallon pool.

Published and copyrighted in Orlando Family Magazine (November 2016).