Florida Department of Education Celebrates Top STEM Students in 2025

April 22, 2025

FDOE Press Office

850-245-0413

Florida’s Top STEM Students Celebrated at Orlando Event

~ Scholarships awarded to 43 students at annual conference with over 100 attendees ~

Orlando, Fla., April 22, 2025– Over 100 of Florida’s brightest 11th-grade students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) were honored at the 28th annual Sunshine State Scholars conference. Held in Orlando, the event was a collaboration between the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation. Among the attendees, 43 students were awarded 1-year scholarships, generously sponsored by State Farm and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

112 student-scholars at the 28th annual Sunshine State Scholars conference held in Orlando

“The Sunshine State Scholars program is an incredible opportunity to recognize Florida’s brightest STEM students and their outstanding achievements,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “I extend my highest appreciation for their dedication and hard work, and I know that these students will continue to reach new heights of achievement throughout their academic journey.”

“State Farm is committed to helping nurture students’ creativity and sparking their imagination through STEM,” said State Farm Enterprise Technology Manager Kevin Reeves. “As an organization, State Farm has many resources and tools to assist our local educators in supplementing their curriculum. We encourage students to enter STEM fields and become lifelong learners, while simultaneously contributing to a dynamic global society.”

“We at the Florida Prepaid College Foundation are delighted to once again support the Sunshine State Scholars Program,” said Cynthia O’Connell, Director of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. “Providing education is the greatest opportunity we can offer to our future generations, helping them build a brighter future for themselves and our wonderful state.”

The event was a platform for these scholars, selected as the top STEM students by their districts, to connect with Florida’s postsecondary institutions and STEM employers. Highlights included a dynamic “think tank” session where students tackled real-world issues, and each attendee received an iPad from AT&T. Additionally, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment provided tickets for a day of leisure and enjoyment.

Interaction sessions with Florida’s leading higher education institutions, such as the Florida University System and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, were part of the program. These sessions offered insights into college funding, interactive panels with STEM professionals, and a look at educational paths in Florida.

During the conference, 43 scholars received scholarships to attend top-ranked Florida universities. The scholarship recipients include:

Alachua—Shivi Tripathi

Brevard—Hong Duong

Calhoun—Averee Reisen

Dixie—Karen Alvarado Cano

Highlands—Kinston James Ridgeway

Hillsborough—Casey Ayres

Hillsborough—Rohan Morgan

Holmes—Raelyn Audrey Short

Jackson—Jackson Bethea

Lee—Deetya Gogineni

Lee—Justin Wang

Lee—Nishini Fernando

Leon—Himank Chhaya

Leon—Jonathan George

Manatee—Tina Dang

Manatee—Melisha Guillen-Arana

Miami-Dade—Giovanni Antonini

Pinellas—Faith Bredemeier

Pinellas—Jaeci Burney

Okaloosa—Reese Armstrong

Seminole—Aarav Singhvi

Volusia—Ava Henderson

Volusia—Garrick Spencer

DeSoto—Nataly Ramirez-Moreno

Hardee—Alana Wyckoff

Marion—Julia Slaughter

Clay—David Whaley

Collier—Jenna Ann Seivert

Hillsborough—Luis Lopez

Indian River—Darci Wagner

Lake—Paul Ratanawetchasit

Liberty—Ellie Peddie

Martin—Varun Singh

Miami-Dade—Raiya Mia Cohen

Palm Beach—Anthony Stan

Palm Beach—Victoria Sullivan

Pasco—Lucy Kossoff

Pasco—Ryan Mizeski

Polk—Jacob Andrew White

Sumter—Matthew Thoai Ngo

Baker—Kacy Leigh Avedisian

Bradford—Amy Marie Prescott

Duval—EvieM’ree Moore

The conference was supported by numerous sponsors, including State Farm, Florida Prepaid College Foundation, AT&T, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Florida Lottery, Kyra Solutions, Duke Energy, TECO, Limitless Solutions, and School Choice.

For more details on the Sunshine State Scholars program and the 2025 conference, visit floridaeducationfoundation.com.