High achieving minority students recognized

May 15, 2019

Pinellas County Schools recently recognized high achieving minority students in north county at the 34th annual Joseph L. Carwise Student Achievement Awards. The awards breakfast was held at the Carillon Park Hilton in St. Petersburg There were 160 students recognized with 85 of them boasting a 4.0 GPA or higher. The banquet is sponsored by Superintendent’s North County Minority Advisory Committee.

East Lake High seniors Ashanti Rachel and Trenton Tookes severed as Mistress and Master of ceremonies. The two also delivered their winning essay on the topic of “Highlighting the Past: Looking into the Future.”

Superintendent Michael Grego gave words of encouragement as well as School Board Vice chairperson Carol Cook.

In addition to the student recognitions, scholarships were presented to the following graduating seniors:

Pinellas Alliance of Black School Educators: Etame Kandy, Palm Harbor University High

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Nu Beta Omega Chapter: Caitlyn Coleman, Countryside High School; Allyson Ashekun, Clearwater High; Sommer Mack, Palm Harbor University High

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Alumane: Ashanti Rachel, East Lake High

SEPIA of Pinellas County: Ashanti Rachel, East Lake High School; Caitlyn Coleman, Countryside High School; Sommer Mack, Palm Harbor University High; and Etame Kandy, Palm Harbor University High

Dr.  Joseph L. Carwise Scholarship: Ashanti Rachel and Trenton Tookes; East Lake High School

Dr. Joseph L. Carwise was a 36-year Pinellas County Schools educator before retiring. He began his teaching career as a mathematics teacher at Pinellas High in Clearwater before working in the district’s Research Department. He was also assigned the task of overseeing the pupil assignment office and was responsible for enforcing the Federal Court of Order of desegregation. Dr. Carwise was the first black member of the City of Clearwater Commission and served from 1971 to 1976. In 1991, the Pinellas County School Board named Carwise Middle School in his honor.

The Superintendent's North County Minority Advisory Committee along with the district's Office of Strategic Partnerships organized the awards breakfast.

Watch a picture show of the event below.