Golden Herald Awards return to prime time as 83 Manatee County students honored
The annual Golden Herald Awards returned to prime time this week with the spotlight shining brightly on 83 of Manatee County’s best, brightest and most community-minded students.
Thursday night’s in-person awards program at SCF Neel Performing Arts Center was no small feat, considering the 2021 program was canceled for the first time in its 45-year history because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the Golden Heralds was a virtual affair because of the pandemic. Results were announced on Manatee Educational Television’s website, TV channel and YouTube station.
“Over 5,500 Manatee County high school seniors have been honored for outstanding service to their school and their community over the past 45 years,” Tom McDougal, Manatee Memorial Hospital CEO, said in opening Thursday’s program.
“It is important to make note that these students who were nominated tonight all excel academically. But it is more important to note that they all have a proven record of giving of themselves to their respective school and community. We are excited with the results of tonight’s awards. These students are exceptional. Not only the students that will be named Golden Herald Award winners, but by the depth of quality and caring among all the students who are participating in the 45th year of the Golden Herald Awards,” McDougal said.
Parrish Community High School, Manatee County’s newest, took part in the Golden Heralds for this first time this year and its students went home with four honorable mentions.
Golden Herald Award winners in 16 categories received $1,800 scholarships. Those receiving honorable mentions received $700 cash awards.
In addition, two students received $1,000 cash awards and one received a $500 cash award in a special drawing at the end of the program from the Brad Borsheim Scholarship. The special scholarship is funded by donations from the family of Brad Borsheim, a former Bradenton Herald employee and longtime friend of the Golden Heralds.
Golden Herald Award recipients:
Art
Winner: Haley Dragon, Braden River High School.
Honorable mention: Cyler Gabel, Palmetto High School.
Runner-up: Alani Garcia, Parrish Community High School
Athletics
Winner: Jairis Gomez, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Ashton Lucas, Bradenton Christian School.
Runners-up: Chris Anderson, Palmetto High School, Cole Crombie, Braden River High School, Matthew Kiwacz, Bradenton Christian School, Kaitlyn Liebel, Saint Stephens Episcopal, Ana Lopez, Parrish Community High School, Daniel Uzcategui, Southeast High School and Melissa Weber, Manatee High School.
Business
Jordan Rydzinski, Manatee High School.
Honorable mention: Jenna Watson, Southeast High School.
Runner-up: Kayli Allen, Braden River High School.
Bob Bartz Memorial Award in Citizenship
Winner: Keile O’Dell, Manatee High School.
Honorable mention: Cecelia Marty, Parrish Community High School.
Runners-up: Brett Brustad, Braden River High School, Alina Chacko, Southeast High School, Ava Ebling, Lakewood Ranch High School, Logan Kliewer, Bradenton Christian School, Arianna Longo, Palmetto High School, Dev Patel, Southeast High School, Caroline Pope, Saint Stephens Episcopal School, Taylor Rowland, SCF Collegiate School, Averie Sheffer, Bayshore High School and Rayline Waldin, SCF Collegiate School.
Computer and Technology
Winner: Jonathan Xavioer, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Elijah Heskin, Southeast High School.
Runners-up: Gabriel French, Braden River High School.
Drama
Winner: Gabriella Sgro, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Anna Valach, Braden River High School.
Runner-up: Hannah Newman, Parrish Community High School.
English and Literature
Winner: Jessica Burdette, Manatee High School.
Honorable mention: Oreoluwa Owoeye, Parrish Community High School.
Runner-up: Emily Neves, Palmetto High School.
Foreign Language
Winner: Elaine Yantas, SCF Collegiate School.
General Scholarship
Winner: Denny Lu, Manatee High School.
Honorable mention: David Iten, Southeast High School.
Runners-up: Alexander Aldama, Southeast High School, Coral Bell, Palmetto High School, Caroline Gans, Saint Stephens Episcopal, Julia Kruger, SCF Collegiate School, Opeoluwa Owoeye, Parrish Community High School, Carlie Phelps, Bradenton Christian School and Gabriella Reich, SCF Collegiate School.
Journalism
Winner: India McKelvey, Parrish Community High School
Runners-up: George Burtless, Bayshore High School, Jocelyn Leal, Manatee High School, Fiorella Recchioni, Braden River High School, Jada Sinphay, Southeast High School and Yenifer Tabora Lopez, Southeast High School.
Mathematics
Winner: Liam Wilford, Braden River High School.
Runner-up: Samuel Maurer, Southeast High School.
Music
Winner: Kevin Aguirre, Bayshore High School.
Honorable mention: Andrew Landers, Braden River High School.
Runners-up: Zachary Lodder, Southeast High School, Juan Sierra, Manatee High School and Mario Reyna, Bayshore High School.
Science
Winner: Madison Barendse, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Ally Adamo, Lakewood Ranch High School.
Runner-up: Anagrace Bennett, Braden River High School.
Social Science
Winner: Jackson Conner, Saint Stephen’s High School.
Honorable mention: Carlye Pepe Palmetto High School.
Runners-up: Kaeden Lahman, Manatee High School, Jhonny Lopez, SCF Collegiate School, Caroline MacDonald, Parrish Community High School, Kriya Patel, Southeast High School and Mallory Stroud, Southeast High School.
Speech
Winner: Ronan Bray, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Coleton Korney, Parrish Community High School.
Runners-up: Sarah Douglas, Braden River High School and Riley Williams, Palmetto High School.
Vocational
Winner: Emma Zolecki, Southeast High School.
Honorable mention: Mikaela Barton, Braden River High School.
Runners-up: Aleta Alvin, SCF Collegiate School, Mattison Mathews, Palmetto High School, Evan Reid, Manatee High School, Hannah Yoder, SCF Collegiate School and Kyle Young, Manatee High School.
Brad Borsheim Scholarship, a special scholarship funded by donations from the family of Brad Borsheim, a former Bradenton Herald employee and longtime friend of the Golden Heralds.
Recipients: Kaeden Lahman, Manatee High School ($1,000), Aleta Alvin, SCF Collegiate School ($1,000) and Anagrace Bennett, Braden River High School ($500).
