May 8, 2025
High school juniors and seniors showcased their talents at the 2025 Walker’s Rising Stars scholarship competition. The event was held on Monday, May 5, at the Mahaffey Theater.
Walker’s Rising Stars is a year-long program that helps students hone their audition, portfolio, and performance skills. This year, 156 students from across the district competed in six disciplines: Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Vocal Performance, Visual Arts and Culinary Arts. The top 23 were selected as finalists for the prestigious showcase. The program was created more than two decades ago by St. Petersburg neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Walker and the Pinellas Education Foundation.
Throughout the evening, the audience was treated to powerful performances and inspiring creativity. Finalists competed for college scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000, bringing the program’s total scholarship impact to more than $1 million since its beginning.
Scholarships were awarded by Pinellas Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, and program founder Dr. Walker.
“We are proud to support the incredibly talented students who performed tonight,” said Kim Jowell, Chief Executive Officer of the Pinellas Education Foundation. “Through scholarship programs like this, we are helping to remove financial barriers, open doors and support their journeys through education and the arts.”
The 2025 Walker’s Rising Stars competition was generously supported by Dr. Walker, Crown Automotive Charities, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Elisa’s Greatest Wishes, Suncoast Credit Union, The Ryan Wells Foundation, FG + M Architecture, Hepner Architects, and Wharton-Smith.
Congratulations to all of our talented students and winners in each category:
Dance:
- 1st Place – Emma Keaton, Palm Harbor University High School
- 2nd Place – Madelyn McRitchie, Seminole High School
- 3rd Place – Aubrey Xayasone, Tarpon Springs High School
- 4th Place – Tehya van Deutekom, Palm Harbor University High School
Instrumental Music:
- 1st Place – Naveen Yengera, Palm Harbor University High School
- 2nd Place – Kevin Saenz, Osceola Fundamental High School
- 3rd Place – Tess Thacker, Palm Harbor University High School
- 4th Place – Briana DeStoppelaire, St. Petersburg High School
Theater:
- 1st Place – Markos Halkias, East Lake High School
- 2nd Place – Jesielle Rosenberg, Dunedin High School
- 3rd Place – Gabriela Felton, Gibbs High School
4th Place – Mikaela Diana, East Lake High School
Visual Arts:
- 1st Place – Mia Hipolito, East Lake High School
- 2nd Place – Kaitlyn Sudduth, Gibbs High School
- 3rd Place – Satori Abdur-Rabbani, Gibbs High School
- 4th Place – Micah Carwile, East Lake High School
Vocal Performance:
- 1st Place – Jocelyne Lioe, St. Petersburg High School
- 2nd Place – Aiden Levine, Gibbs High School
- 3rd Place – Ava Wagoner, Palm Harbor University High School
- 4th Place – Phoebe Robinson, Northeast High School
Culinary Arts (sponsored by The Ryan Wells Foundation):
- 1st Place – Elijah Salinas, Osceola Fundamental High School
- 2nd Place – Emma Hallet, Tarpon Springs High School
- 3rd Place – Alana Minor, Tarpon Springs High School
