Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Young Women of Promise win society's honors

The accomplishments and goals of 10 teens are recognized and celebrated by members of the Athena Society.

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published May 5, 2006

It was no easy task given the room was full of accomplished women, including U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Scriven, Hillsborough Clerk of the Court Pat Frank, School Board member Doretha Edgecomb, former County Commissioner Jan Platt and former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman. But all were impressed.

The women are members of the prestigious Athena Society, which honored its 2006 Young Women of Promise at an April 27 luncheon at the Centre Club.

The society is a group of professional women devoted to promoting equal opportunities for all women and has recognized women of promise since 1981.

Each entrant is nominated by school guidance counselors based on athletic and academic ability, leadership and commitment to the community.

The winners are as follows:

-- Sarah Brownlee of Plant High School is a national caliber gymnast who trains four to five hours a day.

Over the years, she has overcome setbacks to stay competitive, including scoliosis, a compound fracture of her right arm and a degenerative bone condition in her left knee.

She also is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in commercials and a Faith Hill video. She maintains an unweighted grade point average of 4.0 and aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon.

-- Adrienne Harrow of East Bay High School ranks sixth in her class and is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and student government.

She also is captain of the school debate team and is a state finalist in Rotary's speech contest. She aspires to be a pharmacist and own a business.

-- Camille Jacobs of Durant High School is in the top 3 percent of her class academically, plays four sports and provides numerous hours of community service through her church and school. Camille hopes to become a physical therapist.

-- Chelsae Johansen of Bloomingdale High School has an unweighted grade point average of 4.0 and is a member of the National Honor Society, math team and Spanish Honor Society.

She has lettered in track and cross country, was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Chelsae hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.

-- Priya E. Modi of King High School is co-captain of her Odyssey of the Mind team and a member of the school's International Baccalaureate program.

She has volunteered more than 300 hours in recreational therapy at the local VA hospital.

Priya hopes to earn an appointment to the Air Force Academy and dreams of piloting C-130 cargo planes.

-- Chelsea Nauta of Tampa Preparatory School has won five state titles in swimming over the past three years. She was the National Junior Team Captain for the United States at the 2005 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Despite a rigorous training schedule, Chelsea serves as a swimming teacher and coach for summer programs and tutors at-risk students at an elementary school.

Her dream is to compete in the 2008 Olympics.

-- Nevena Pehar of Robinson High School came to this country in sixth grade from Germany and could not speak English.

Despite the initial language barrier, she now has a firm grasp of English and is Robinson's band captain and flute section leader.

She also is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government, Beta Club, the tennis team and volleyball team.

Her goal is to attend the University of South Florida and major in music.

-- Martha Penafiel of Tampa Bay Tech ranks sixth in her class and is a leader in the Navy Junior ROTC Program.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Beta Club and Math Club, and has volunteered at University Community and St. Joseph's hospitals.

Martha aspires to attend the University of South Florida and become a surgeon in the military.

-- Ariana Tuchman of Berkeley Prep serves on Berkeley's Diversity Advisory Committee and was a prime player in the creation of the school's first Diversity Day.

She hopes to combine the study of microbiology or genetics in college with international relations. She lives in Clearwater.

-- Brett Watkins of the Academy of Holy Names is at the top of her class academically and recently recorded a perfect score on the math portion of the PSAT.

She is a member of the National Beta Club, debate team, and Latin and Math honor societies.

Despite being diagnosed with three types of arthritis, Brett continues to play the violin and is in the school's Worship Band and Quarter-Notes, the newly formed show choir.

Brett hopes to attend the University of Miami and major in music engineering.

[Last modified May 5, 2006, 08:38:59]