Meet the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians from Lake County high schools.
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Editor’s note: The Sentinel has published details for public and private school student honorees based on information provided by their institutions. Some schools did not provide information.
Also see: Orange County | Seminole County
Eustis High
Valedictorian: Kalyn Nix
Hometown: Eustis
GPA: 4.0 (5.33 weighted)
Accomplishments: Graduating with an AA from Lake-Sumter State College
Salutatorian: Alex Matthews
Hometown: Eustis
GPA: 3.95 (5.23 weighted)
Accomplishments: Graduating high school with an associate’s degree.
Planned college: He plans on enlisting in the Air Force.
Inspirational quote: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore
Lake County Virtual
Valedictorian: Justin Coffman
Hometown: Eustis
GPA: 3.96 (5.19 weighted)
Accomplishments: Student Attorney at the Lake County Teen Court, Lake County Chamber of Commerce Essay Contest Winner, Dual Enrolled at Lake Sumter State College
Planned college: UCF
Inspirational quote: “Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. You stop doing useful things if you don’t learn.” – Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft
Salutatorian: Jonah Sterling
Hometown: Clermont
GPA: 4.0 (4.9 weighted)
Accomplishments: Video Game Creator, Accomplished Celloist, Church Volunteer and Youth Leader, Dual Enrolled at Lake Sumter State College
Planned college: Brigham Young University
Inspirational quote: “It is always the right time to do the right thing.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Lake Minneola High
Valedictorian: Jainish Patel
Hometown: Clermont
GPA: 4.0 (5.44 weighted)
Accomplishments: Four published papers at conferences & top conferences, International Science & Engineering Fair 3rd place in my category, FIRST Robotics Competition World Champion!
Planned college: Stanford University
Inspirational quote: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs
Salutatorian: Shayla Reeves
Hometown: Groveland
GPA: 4.0 (5.38 weighted)
Accomplishments: My most prized accomplishment during my time at Lake Minneola High School has been reviving and leading Pink Night for the last 3 years. Pink Night takes place at a home volleyball game where clubs, sports, and local businesses partner together to raise money for the Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation. In the past 3 years we have raised an astounding 4.5k, but I am most proud of being able to honor over 30 breast cancer fighters. We recognize each distinguished guest with a rose ceremony where they also receive handwritten notes from the LMHS Volleyball team. Besides that, I am involved in the National Honors Society, Varsity Club, and Student Government Association. In SGA I have served as the Club and Class Historian for the past 2 years. From planning homecoming and freshmen orientation to helping with teacher appreciation week, our SGA does it all. This year, we worked to achieve the National Council of Excellence award for the first time and we certainly succeeded having earned the gold status. In my senior year I also founded our school’s first book club! While being involved in extracurriculars, I have earned my Associate’s Degree through the Health Science Collegiate Academy, dual enrolled with UF, cheered for 2 years, worked as a certified trainer at Chipotle and a barista at 7Brew Coffee. – Pink Night (4.5k raised and 30+ fighters recognized), SGA Club and Class Historian (National Council of Excellence award), founded Book Club, Varsity Club Philanthropy chair, AA through Health Science Collegiate Academy, UF dual enrollment, cheer, part time job (Chipotle and 7 brew)
Planned college: University of Florida majoring in Health Sciences with a specialization in Applied Brain Science on the pre med track.
Inspirational quote: “The amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them.”
Mount Dora Christian
Valedictorian: Ethan LeMoyne
Hometown: Lady Lake
GPA: 3.983 (4.586 weighted)
Accomplishments: President of the Peer Tutor Club, Student Leadership Association Member, Youth Philanthropy Council Member, Mount Dora Police Department Leadership Program Graduate, School Ambassador, Grand Marshall for the Class of 2025 Graduation, Academic Success Center Peer Tutor, 180+ Service Hours in Academic Support, Buddy Ball Volunteer, Teen Court Volunteer, Camp Counselor for Baseball Camps, Dolly Parton Imagination Library Volunteer, Mu Alpha Theta Member, National Beta Club Member, Varsity Baseball Player (4 Years), Mathlympics Participant, AP Scholar, Highest GPA in Algebra II Honors, Highest GPA in AP Precalculus, Highest GPA in Geometry Honors, Highest GPA in Bible I, Highest GPA in AP Research, Peer Tutoring Award for Outstanding Service in Academic Support
Planned college: University of Florida, Warrington School of Business
Inspirational quote: “Be relentless and compete with purpose.”
Salutatorian: Jackson Graves
Hometown: Eustis
GPA: 4.0 (4.571 weighted)
Accomplishments: Golf Scholar Athlete, Heart of a Bulldog Award for MDCA Golf
Planned college: University of North Florida
Inspirational quote: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
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Mount Dora High
Valedictorian: Cayden Provencher
Hometown: Mount Dora
GPA: 3.88 (5.38 weighted)
Accomplishments: He graduated from Lake-Sumter State College Magna Cum Laude with his Associate of Arts degree through the Health Science Collegiate Academy. While attending LSSC, he was consistently recognized for his academic achievement, earning placement on both the President’s List and Dean’s List.
Planned college: University of Central Florida, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Geology
Inspirational quote: Inspired by his mom (Loretta Provencher), “If you are ever struggling, take a step back and realize you can do it.”
Salutatorian: Jarilys De La Rosa
Hometown: Mount Dora
GPA: 3.98 (5.26 weighted)
Accomplishments: She graduated from Lake-Sumter State College Summa Cum Laude with her Associate of Arts degree and earned the Academic Excellence Award. In high school, she served as president of the National Honor Society and was recognized as a 2025 College Board AP Scholar for her outstanding academic achievement.
Planned college: Florida State University majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience
Inspirational quote: Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. – Albert Einstein
South Lake High
Valedictorian: Itzel Reyna
Hometown: Mascotte
GPA: 4.0 (5.42 weighted)
Accomplishments: Winning first place in the EnvirothonXXX
Planned college: University of Florida
Inspirational quote: “Let yourself experience the moments, don’t be so focused on the future that you miss what is meaningful in the moments as they are happening. Find peace in those times.”
Salutatorian: Leila Palanza
Hometown: Clermont
GPA: 3.98 (5.37 weighted)
Accomplishments: Receiving her Cambridge AICE diploma and being Salutatorian.
Planned college: Florida State University
Inspirational quote: I always tell myself its not serious and no one really cares. Just do your own thing.
Tavares High
Valedictorian: Kayla Enix
Hometown: Tavares
GPA: 3.93 (5.24 weighted)
Accomplishments: FCA Leader / Huddle Captain, You’re Not Alone,. Mental Health Ambassador, Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Track, Varsity Soccer, Varsity Softball, Leadership Chick-fil-a, Associate of Arts Degree (LSSC), AP Scholar Award
Planned college: University of South Florida
Salutatorian: Kishun Ramjeet
Hometown: Tavares
GPA: 3.85 (5.17 weighted)
Accomplishments: Varsity Baseball – 3 years Unified Special Olympics Athlete National Honor Society Student Leader President, Tavares High School Student Government Association
Planned college: University of Florida
Inspirational quote: “For much of our lives, success is defined for us. Through grades, rankings, awards, titles, and expectations, we are taught to measure ourselves by what can be seen and recognized. And while those things hold value and represent discipline, sacrifice, and achievement—they should never become the sole definition of a meaningful life. There is an old riddle that asks: If a tree falls in the middle of a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? For the longest time, I thought the answer was simple. Of course it does. But over time… that question stopped being a riddle. I realized—it’s not about the sound the tree makes when it falls. It’s about whether it was ever noticed when it stood. It is so often we become performative people, trying to be seen, trying to be recognized, trying to live up to expectations. But trees don’t grow for any of this. They grow because it’s in their nature to reach higher—even in the middle of a forest where no one is watching. As one chapter ends and another begins, my hope for future generations is this: pursue achievement, but do not lose yourself in the pursuit of being perceived as successful. Continue to grow quietly, authentically, and relentlessly. Because the strongest roots often form long before anyone notices the height of a tree.”
Umatilla High
Valedictorian: Kassandra Clow
Hometown: Sorrento
GPA: 3.98 (5.59 weighted)
Accomplishments: Cambridge AICE Diploma with Merit (Sophomore year), Associates in Science from Lake Sumter State College (Junior year), 105 college credits from Lake Sumter State College, Bright Futures Academic Scholar, Secretary of National Honors Society, Varsity Girls Golf Captain, President of SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco), Peer Mentor and Tutor, Lifeguard at Umatilla City Pool, Cashier at Publix.
Planned college: Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida – Major: Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Business
Inspirational quote: “Just be yourself, there is no one better.” – Taylor Swift
Salutatorian: Deanna Vaca
Hometown: DeLand
GPA: 3.9 (5.5 weighted)
Accomplishments: Academic: Cambridge AICE Diploma with Merit, Dual Enrollment Student at Lake-Sumter State College, Associate of Arts Degree, Dual Enrollment Dean’s List Recognition, Scholar Diploma Designation, Florida Seal of Biliteracy; Scholarships & Honors: The Gates Scholarship Scholar, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Scholar,, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Recognition, Distinguished Cadet for Academic Excellence, American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award; Leadership: Co-Founder & Vice President, United Health Society; Vice President, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; HSCA Mentor Ambassador; JROTC Sergeant First Class; Student Panelist, Lake-Sumter State College Dual Enrollment Conference; Healthcare: AdventHealth Teen Volunteer Program (OB/Labor & Pharmacy); Healthcare Shadowing through Health Sciences Collegiate Academy; Exposure to departments including Surgical Services, Oncology, Emergency, Pharmacy, and Medical-Surgical; Community Service & Involvement: Volunteer, Umatilla Chamber of Commerce; Sunsational Farms Festival Volunteer; JROTC Community Fundraisers & Service Events; Mentor for incoming Health Sciences Collegiate Academy students
Planned college: University of South Florida
Inspirational quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard.”
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