The South Lake High School Eagles soared to victory on Homecoming Friday night, SLHS 38, Minneola 14, as their defense dominated the Lake Minneola Hawks’ offense from start to finish. Quoy Nelson, Ronnie Rouse, Anthony Johnson, Shamar Murray, Ky’mani Gardner, and Kade Kynard Felder consistently pressured the Hawks, shutting down their offensive efforts and never allowing them to find their rhythm. 

On the offensive side of the ball, senior running backs Sam Wood and Jaylen Parmley had a huge night. Wood ran for two touchdowns and Parmleyhad 79 yards and scored on a 19 yard screen pass from freshman quarterback Walker Motley. Motley had a big night throwing. He was 11-17 for 105 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Motley hooked up with senior wide out Willie Dixon for a 52 yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Ahvioume Scott also scored on a 4 yard touchdown run. Marcello Velez Cortes capped off the scoring hitting a 29 yard field goal.

“ It was great to see the players put a complete game together on both sides of the ball against a much improved Lake Minneola football team. We gotta go back to work Monday to bring home a victory on senior night next Friday.”

Date of next opponent; 10/30/2026- South Sumter – Senior Night

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Montverde Academy’s Middle School has welcomed its newest members of the Honor Council for the 2026-27 school year. As student leaders, Honor Council members play an important role in fostering a positive and respectful Middle School community. 

The Honor Council takes a proactive approach to helping students navigate challenges and encourage a culture built on honesty, mutual respect, and personal responsibility. Members promote the importance of telling the truth, honoring relationships, respecting others’ belongings and personal space, and recognizing each student’s right to express their thoughts and opinions. 

 At their first meeting of the school year, Honor Council members had the opportunity to get acquainted with one another, review the Honor Council Constitution, and elect their student officers. 

 Seventh grader Anika Pitolwala was elected as president, and eighth grader Anika Gupta was elected secretary. 

 Congratulations to Anika Pitolwala, Anika Gupta, and the entire 2026-27 Honor Council. We look forward to seeing how these student leaders contribute to the Middle School community throughout the year.  

2026-27 Middle School Honor Council Members 

 Sixth Grade Members 

• Christian Huynh 
• Timur Metov 
• Arjun Pitolwala 
• Ellie Scanlon 
• Miette Steyl 

Seventh Grade Members 

• Liv Descalso 
• Maggie Harris 
• Anika Pitolwala (President) 
• Ambhika Tholuganti 
• Avi Varma  

Eighth Grade Members 

• Anika Gupta (Secretary) 
• Carter Huynh 
• Addy Vogel 
• Kennedy Williams 
• Lilah Winfrey 

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Academically, Cristian has maintained an impressive 4.511 GPA and has been recognized on the A Honor Roll from 9th through 11th grade. He is an AP Scholar with Distinction and has been recognized through the College Board National Recognition Program. His academic accomplishments also include a County Winner in National History Day/History Fair in 2024 and a School Winner in 2025, demonstrating his dedication to research, history, and academic excellence.

Within his school, he has taken on several leadership roles. He served as Vice President of National Honor Society from 2024–2026, helping support NHS activities and service efforts, and previously served as a Student Council Sophomore Representative, where he represented his classmates and helped with school initiatives. He has also been an active member of Key Club and currently serves as a Life Group Leader, leading monthly small-group discussions for younger students and providing peer mentorship.

His involvement extends well beyond academics and leadership. He has been a member of Varsity Football since 2023 and was part of the 2025 SSAC 8-Man Football State Championship team. He also played Varsity Soccer from 2022–2025 and served as team captain during the 2024–2025 season, receiving the Captain’s Award for his leadership. His school involvement also includes participating in the Renaissance Fair, where he helped with setup, operations, and performances.

He has also made an impact through the fine arts where he received the Best Supporting Actor Award as well as a varsity letter in theater for his performance. He also joined the marching band as an alto saxophone player.

Cristian’s commitment to leadership and service extends into the community through his church youth leadership. He has served as Quorum President, dedicating approximately three to four hours each week to planning activities, encouraging participation, and supporting church and service efforts.

Looking ahead, he plans to attend college as a Biology/Pre-Med major with the goal of pursuing a career as a physician. He hopes to combine his passion for science with his commitment to service and leadership to make a positive difference in the lives of his future patients and within his community.

Congratulations to Cristian Andrade of Real Life Christian Academy, on receiving this month’s $1,000 Ray Goodgame Outstanding Student Leader Award.

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The Eagles earned the No. 3 seed in the FHSAA Class 3A, Region 2 tournament. 

This marks the third consecutive year MVA and McKeel have met in regional play. The Eagles hosted and defeated McKeel in the regional semifinals each of the past two seasons. This year, the teams will meet in the quarterfinal round.

MVA enters the tournament with a 13-12 overall record after navigating a demanding schedule featuring many of Florida’s top girls volleyball programs. The Eagles swept through three rounds of district competition last week, defeating Tenoroc in Monday’s quarterfinals and Atlantic in Tuesday’s semifinals before knocking off top-seeded Lake Highland Prep on its home court Thursday to secure the championship.

A victory Tuesday would send the Eagles to the regional semifinals Saturday, October 24, at 2 pm. MVA would travel to No. 2 seed Academy of the Holy Names or host No. 7 seed Astronaut, depending on the outcome of the quarterfinal matchup between them.

With a semifinal victory, MVA would advance to the regional final for the third consecutive season. That match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 7 pm. The Eagles would travel to top-seeded Merritt Island or host No. 4 seed Lake Highland Prep, No. 5 seed The Villages or No. 8 seed Space Coast.

The postseason run also provides an opportunity for MVA’s seven seniors to add to their legacy. Two have already established career program records this season. Suhmer Henriques became the Eagles’ all-time leader in blocks, while Kristina Vargas claimed the career assists record and became the first player in MVA girls volleyball history to surpass 1,000 assists.

A regional title would send the Eagles to the state semifinals Tuesday, November 3, at either for 10 am or 1 pm. The state championship match is set for Wednesday, November 4, at 7 pm.

MVA is seeking its first regional championship since 1987.

The journey begins Tuesday in The Nest as the Eagles look to carry their district championship momentum into regional competition.

2026 Regional Championship Schedule

Tuesday, October 20 – Quarterfinal Round
vs. No. 6 McKeel Academy of Technology, 7:00 pm

Saturday, October 24 – Semifinal Round
at  No. 2 Academy of the Holy Names or vs. No. 7 Astronaut, 2:00 pm

Tuesday, October 27 – Championship Round
at No. 1 Merritt Island or vs. No. 4 Lake Highland Prep, No. 5 The Villages, or No. 8 Space Coast, 7:00 pm

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A fresh coat of paint, a meaningful day of service, and a community coming together at Habitat for Humanity Lake Sumter.  

Recently, Montverde Academy students helped give the Jackson home in Eustis a fresh new look through the City of Eustis Repair Program. The program helps fund critical repairs and improvements for local homeowners, making projects like this possible. 

“We had an outstanding day with the Montverde Academy Youth Impact Development group,” said the Habitat for Humanity site manager. “It’s definitely the best youth group that we’ve ever had. We got three times more done than I thought we would!” 

We’re proud of our students for putting their time and effort toward a project that makes a meaningful difference, and grateful to the City of Eustis for the opportunity to serve our neighbors. 

 Thank you to everyone who helped make this day of service possible! 

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Montverde Academy’s Class of 2027, recently  participated in a senior retreat  that included class activities, leadership presentations, community service, and preparations for the school year ahead. 

 The retreat began with a senior breakfast in the Dining Hall, followed by an address from Head of School Mr. Jon Hopman and the Senior Class President speech by Alison Ryan, who encouraged her peers to embrace new opportunities, be present during the senior year, and spend time with each other. Students also participated in senior T-shirt design and prom theme voting, advisory competitions, and class games. 

 Guest speaker Kristi Hujik led a presentation on the Capacity Ecosystem, a framework that explores how individuals can develop the capacity to manage challenges, responsibilities, and change. The presentation encouraged students to consider how personal well-being, relationships, environment, and available support systems influence their ability to perform and respond effectively. The discussion emphasized the importance of building sustainable habits and recognizing the resources that contribute to personal and collective success. 

 Following lunch, students traveled to Island H2O, where they participated in water park activities, including the lazy river, wave pool, and water rides. 

 The second day featured the distribution of senior T-shirts, senior photos, yearbook information, and a presentation on graduation plans for the Class of 2027. Students also participated in the Build-A-Bike project, a community service tradition, assembling bicycles as a group. The activity concluded with bike races in the Tower Loop. 

 Over the weekend, seniors also painted their designated parking spaces, continuing a class tradition and adding personalized artwork to the senior parking area. 

 Here’s to an amazing senior year for the Class of 2027! 

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The annual event recognized individuals whose professional accomplishments, community involvement, leadership and dedication have made a meaningful impact on the communities they serve and the continued advancement of Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC).

The 2026 awards highlighted the diverse ways members of the college community are making a difference, from professional achievement and academic scholarship to public service, athletics and community engagement.

Honoring Excellence and Service

This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients represented a wide range of accomplishments and contributions.

Distinguished Alumni Award recipients included:

• James “Jimmy” Conner, Class of 1974 — Community Engagement Award
• Chief Henry Rains, Classes of 2025 and 2026 — Valor Award
• Jessica Noblin, Class of 2005 — Scholar Award
• Andrew Brinkley, Classes of 2018 and 2020 — Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award
• Rodney Drawdy, Class of 1984 — Professional Achievement Award
• Fay Paquette, Class of 1993 — Community Partner Award
• Christopher Blanton, Class of 2014 — Athletics Award
• Kelsey Gonzalez, Class of 2010 — Community Engagement Award

The college also recognized members of its faculty and staff for their contributions to the institution.

Faculty and Staff Awards:

• Jessica Terrell — Faculty Award
• Christopher McGuire — Staff Award

Celebrating a Lasting Impact

The annual banquet serves as an opportunity for Lake-Sumter State College to recognize the people who reflect its commitment to education, service and community involvement.

By celebrating alumni who have distinguished themselves in their professions and communities, along with faculty and staff who contribute to the college’s mission, LSSC continues to highlight the lasting influence of its college community.

The 2026 honorees represent the many ways individuals connected to Lake-Sumter State College continue to make a difference throughout the region and beyond.

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 A tradition that keeps moving forward! During senior retreat, students assembled bicycles as part of the 12th annual Build-a-Bike service project. The bikes were donated through the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, whose partnership helps connect them with children in need in the community. 

 After the builds were complete, the Tower Loop became the setting for a little friendly bike-racing competition. 

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Project Scholars is inviting South Lake County high school seniors to apply for its annual scholarships beginning October 1, 2026. The application deadline is January 15, 2027, and recipients will be announced during Pig on the Pond, April 2–4, 2027, at Clermont’s Waterfront Park.

The dates mark a new timeline for the scholarship program. By opening applications in the fall, Project Scholars hopes to give students more time to learn about the opportunity, prepare their materials and submit an application before the January deadline.

Project Scholars awards four students a $10,000 scholarship each, distributed over four years. For recipients, that support can help ease the cost of pursuing a college education. For the South Lake community, it is a chance to invest in students who have grown up here and are preparing for what comes next.

“Behind every scholarship is a student with goals, potential and a community cheering them on,” said Paul Rountree, president of Project Scholars. “We’re excited to open applications this fall and to celebrate our next group of recipients together at Pig on the Pond.”

The festival plays a central role in Project Scholars’ mission. Each spring, Pig on the Pond brings families, businesses and community partners together at Waterfront Park to support scholarships for local students. Announcing the recipients during the April 2027 event will give the community an opportunity to meet and celebrate the young people their support helps lift up.

Scholarship timeline

• October 1, 2026: Applications open
• January 15, 2027: Applications close
• April 2–4, 2027: Scholarship recipients announced at Pig on the Pond

Project Scholars encourages guidance counselors, educators, families and community members to share the opportunity with South Lake County seniors. Application information will be available through Project Scholars’ official channels when the application opens October 1.

About Project Scholars

Project Scholars is a South Lake community scholarship program that raises funds through its annual Pig on the Pond event. Scholarships of $10,000 over four years are awarded to deserving local seniors who demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, leadership, and community service. Additional scholarships are made possible through community sponsorships and memorial funds. For more information, visit pigonthepond.org or contact Amanda Nethero at 407-433-6048 or info@pigonthepond.org.

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