Northpinellas: A tribute to outstanding students

Editor's note: They have the highest grade point averages, but it doesn't stop there. Community service, extra activities and ambitious goals make the Class of 2002 valedictorians and salutatorians the Best of the Best. During the next several weeks, Top of the Class will pay tribute to these outstanding individuals.

COUNTRYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

VALEDICTORIAN: Brett Robert Harris

PLANS: To major in business management at the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management at Boston College

HONORS AND AWARDS: Dean's List, Biology II Honors Student of the Semester, Spanish Student of the Year, Scholar Athlete Award, Palm Harbor Chamber Student of the Month

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, varsity letter in golf, varsity letter in academics

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Friend to Friend Project through Mease Dunedin Hospital Teen volunteer Program, Math tutor

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, hanging out with friends and dabbling in entrepreneurial business ventures

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Advanced Placement Economics

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: My father because he has shared a wealth of knowledge with me.

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: The drive to succeed in life (instilled at an early age)

OBSTACLE I'VE OVERCOME: Day-to-day stresses of high school

PARENTS: Jim and Margie Harris of Clearwater

* * *

Brett Harris, calls himself a "lemonade-stand kid" because he's always trying to find a new business venture.

Recently, Harris, 18, said he's been negotiating deals on luxury cars and saved his neighbor about $6,000 off the sticker price on a new Lexus.

With his father's guidance, he's followed the stocks since he was 10 or 11 years old. This summer, they plan to look into some rental properties, he said.

Last summer, he enrolled in St. Petersburg College's study-abroad program in Europe, where he traveled to Italy, Austria and Germany.

"It was great being exposed to the cultures," he said. "It just really opens your eyes."

In his junior year of college, he plans to travel to Spain to put five years of Spanish classes to use.

Through Mease Dunedin Hospital's Friend to Friend project Harris helped elderly people with grocery shopping and pharmacy pick-ups.

But Harris said he didn't know what a "profound effect" just talking to the folks would have on them.

"I really got something out of that experience," he said.

* * *

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Bonnie M. Washick

PLANS: To major in international studies at the School of International Service at American University, Washington, D.C.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Countryside High School Student of the Month, Spanish Student of the Year, National Merit Scholarship nominee, AP Award, Presidential Scholarship from American University

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Marine Biology Club

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Tutoring at school, Countryside Library, Alpha "A beginning" tutor, child care at Cornerstone Christian Nursery, Florida Coastal Cleanup

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Traveling

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Psychology

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: I just try to be true to myself and my ideals and be respectful of others.

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: I happened to get some good DNA, I suppose.

OBSTACLE I'VE OVERCOME: Balancing school and work and leaving enough time to just enjoy life.

PARENTS: Al and Christine Washick of Clearwater

* * *

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Jennifer Dent

PLANS: To major in business at the University of Maryland, College Park.

HONORS AND AWARDS: High school Heisman nominee, University of Maryland President's Scholarship, University of Maryland Athletic Scholarship for tennis.

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Economic Quiz Bowl, tennis team

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Tutoring, junior tennis instruction

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Tennis

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Economics

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: My friend, Bernadine Salvadore, because she has inspired me to try hard in everything that I do.

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: Hard work

PARENTS: George and Debra Dent of Safety Harbor

DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL

VALEDICTORIAN: Carrie Werner

PLANS: To major in physics at the University of Florida

HONORS AND AWARDS: Academic letters and bars, Dunedin High's Faculty Award for Outstanding Leadership, Nancy Mease Norton Award for Excellence in English, Edith Dicus Award for Excellence in Writing, runner-up for Outstanding Youth Award from the Sigma Chi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society vice president, Mu Alpha Theta, senior class historian, Interact Club, Student Council senator, Dunedin High Academic Team, Spanish Club, International Thespian Society troupe president, several musical theater and drama productions, Spanish Honor Society treasurer, diving team

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Church liturgical dancer, volunteered as a child care assistant for the City of Dunedin

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Going to the beach, the mall, Starbucks, eating at new restaurants and spending time with my boyfriend

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: I developed a good work ethic at Curtis Fundamental School

OBSTACLE I'VE OVERCOME: Balancing job, school, extra-curricular activities and social life

PARENTS: Fran and Cindy Werner of Dunedin

* * *

Carrie Werner made reference to Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten when she said,"All I really need to know, I learned at Curtis Fundamental."

Werner, 18, credits elementary school with everything from her effective communication skills to her excellent organizational skills.

With her hectic schedule, Werner's daily planner has become the center of her life.

If you ask her what she's doing tomorrow, Werner said she may have to open up her planner to find out.

"A lot of people make fun of me because I have my little planner, but I don't care," she said. "It keeps me sane."

For her church, Werner has choreographed liturgical dances, which are interpretive religious dances.

Tap, jazz and point, were a key part of her life for 13 years, until her freshman year of high school when another passion entered her life, acting.

"Being a part of drama is the highlight of my high school career," Werner said.

Werner said she enjoys the freedom of exploring different characters and expressing herself in ways she normally wouldn't.

"You don't have to worry what other people are thinking about. You can play around and be different people."

* * *

SALUTATORIAN: Stephanie Marie Woodworth

HONORS AND AWARDS: Epsilon Sigma Alpha Honors, Sigma Chi Award, Honor Roll and Dean's List

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society first vice-president, Spanish Honor Society vice president, class historian, Student Government Staffulty Relations, International Thespian Society, dance competition team and dance company, church youth group leader

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Girls, Inc., F.E.A.S.T., Ronald McDonald House, church volunteer working with elementary school children, beach and street cleanup

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Dance

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Anatomy and physiology and musical theater

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: My cousin Tina (whose daughter had meningitis). No matter how hard times got, she always was able to remain strong and overcome all the difficulties of life.

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: Hard work and desire for a successful future

OBSTACLE I'VE OVERCOME: Staying focused and not giving into peer pressure. "The friends I have help me balance my life between work and fun times."

PARENTS: Dale and Barbara Woodworth of Clearwater

EAST LAKE HIGH SCHOOL

VALEDICTORIAN: Stan Hill

PLANS: To major in chemical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

HONORS AND AWARDS: National Merit $2,500 Scholarship, Principal's Brunch honoree, First-team at All-county competition for golf

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society president, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society, varsity golf team, Academic Team captain

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Standard bearer at The Players' Championship

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Golf

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: Parents, because they always have sacrificed themselves for my best interests.

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: Paying attention

PARENTS: John and Kristin Hill of Palm Harbor

* * *

Pay attention and pay your bills.

Those are two rules that 18-year-old Stan Hill lives by.

"I see it every day people that don't try and don't pay attention and expect results, and it doesn't work," he said. "That's probably what's given me the most success in high school."

His father, a chief financial officer at a local company, has taught him the value of responsibility.

On their 16th birthdays, most teens get a car, Hill said. For his 16th birthday, he got a job, which enabled him to buy his own 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix.

A golf enthusiast, Hill shows up at school most days in a golf shirt and golf pants. He's been playing since he was a youngster.

Hill's favorite teacher blends math with humor and interesting stories, he said.

"I've had math teachers that just expect students to learn it on their own, and it just doesn't work that way no matter how talented you are," he said.

* * *

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Daniel V. Crimi

PLANS: To major in chemical engineering at the University of Florida

HONORS AND AWARDS: Dean's List, Chevrons for high grade point average, Principal's Brunch, geometry award, National Trig Star Competition winner at East Lake, Silver Key Award for Excellence in Visual Arts, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Bright Futures Scholarship

ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, Academic Team

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Volunteer at Carwise Middle School

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Hanging out with friends and seeing movies

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Calculus

HERO OR ROLE MODEL: My grandfather, Frank Crimi, because he is an engineer who has worked for the National Academy of Sciences for nuclear power industry projects

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: Because I work hard and never quit

OBSTACLE I'VE OVERCOME: Bad ankle. I have learned how to live with it.

PARENTS: Paul and Mary Crimi of Oldsmar

* * *

CO-SALUTATORIAN: Elizabeth Herman

PLANS: To major in pre-med at the University of Florida

HONORS AND AWARDS: Bright Futures Scholarship

ACTIVITIES: Varsity soccer and flag football

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Emergency room volunteer at Mease Countryside Hospital and Morton Plant Clearwater

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Hanging out with friends

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Anatomy

THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS: Because my parents always pushed me to get good grades