Author name: Lynda

Three teams from Creekside High School participated in the 2025 St. Johns County Project Innovation competition, held in January at First Coast Technical college.  The competing teams represented the Engineering Academy, Teaching Academy, and Environmental Science Academy.  The Engineering Academy, Go Trax team, which included Tristan Smith, Chris Roa, Andy Tran, Parvathi ArathiPraveen, and Luke Millinor won first place, winning $1500.  The Teaching Academy, Buddy Bat team, which included Karina Castillo, John Reed, and Jillian Gauger, placed third in the district, winning $500.  The Environmental Science Academy, Current Greens team, which included Mary Feeks, Regan Bushman, and Hannah Karl, won the special recognition of Most Innovative.  Congratulations to all three teams!

• Karina Castillo, 1^st place School Service Project (also receives a $2,000/yr scholarship to UNF’s College of Ed)
• Grace Maxham, 2^nd place Public Speaking
• Lisa Circo, 3^rd place Job Resume/Interview
• Livi Bucca, Lilly Gregory, Maddie Moore, & Akayla Muenchrath, 2^nd place Ethical Dilemma Presentation

Congratulations to the Creekside High School 2024 National ACE Mentor Team on winning the CIRT/ACE Design Competition for its Highway Interchange entry, “North Star Interchange.”  ACE is an after-school program introducing students to architecture, construction management and engineering.

The largest printing company in the yearbook industry, Pictavo, has named the yearbook created by students at Creekside High School as one of its “National Yearbooks Of The Year.”

From the company’s international network of yearbook creators, 10 publications garnered recognition based on their inclusivity, representation, overall reporting, writing and editing. In addition, books were evaluated for innovation in design, content, concept, photography, art and graphics.

“These publications stand in stark contrast to the yearbooks our parents stored on shelves,” Pictavo’s chief marketing officer and head of research and development, Steve Kent said. “The recognized student staffers have committed themselves to creating the ‘new yearbook,’ one that is visually and conceptually relevant, and filled with student voices.”
The recognized books share a commitment to the highest standards established by national and state scholastic press associations.

“Our panel consists of professional journalists with experiences in magazines, design, photography, software development and journalism curriculum development. There are also former award-winning advisers and student creators,” Kent said. “Panelists review every detail of the books. Then, they cull the group until they feel the remaining publications represent the very best student work in our network.”

The announcement of both its International Honor Roll and, from that, its Books of the Year are part of Pictavo’s observance of National Yearbook Week in America. Pictavo is the yearbook division of Taylor Corporation.

Congratulations to the following 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition Semifinalists:

• Ethan Glocke
• Lalitha Kantam
• Amrita Ketireddy
• Mallory LaPointe
• Marissa Lee
• Paolo Passalacqua

CONGRATULATIONS  to Christian Miller, Creekside High School senior, who holds many youth sprint records, but on April 20, 2024, he moved to the top of the world rankings by running a 9.93-second 100-meter dash at the Pure Athletics Spring Invitational in Clermont.  Not only did Christian trim more than a tenth of a second off his personal best time, but he jumped to No. 1 on the 2024 World Athletics list.

Christian recently came in 5th place at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, giving him the opportunity to participate in the 4 x 100m relays in Paris.  He was also named 2024 Gatorade’s National Player of the Year.

During 2018, CMiC, a long-time national ACE sponsor, and the family of the company’s late founder Allen Berg, announced a pledge of $10 million to advance the construction industry in memory of its founder, Allen Berg. The initial grant established the CMiC-Allen Berg Memorial Scholarship Awards, administered through the ACE Mentor Program of America. These scholarships are multi-year awards aimed at talented, deserving ACE high school seniors intending to pursue post-secondary education and training leading to careers in architecture, engineering, construction or the skilled crafts. Each of the 77 ACE affiliates across the country may nominate one student for consideration. This year, Cooper Maurer of Creekside High School was our Northeast Florida nomination. He won a scholarship in the amount of $20,000 to be provided over four years with additional mentoring support during his time in school. The Northeast Florida affiliate has had five winners in six years including four from Creekside. Cooper joins past Creekside winners Kendall Reckamp, Tarynn Kaelin, and Leighanna Goldman.

Creekside students were awarded the following awards at the 2024 Northeast Florida ACE Regional Competition:

• $10,000 Scholarship:  Benjamin York
• $6875 Scholarship:  Ingrid Soracco
• $3000 Scholarship:  Joseph Hadad
• $2000 Scholarship:  Ander Nordin
• $2000 Scholarship:  Magnus Schmidt
• $1500 Scholarship:  Annabelle Yazdiya
• $1500 Scholarship:  Ian Fish
• $1500 Scholarship:  Aryan Agrawal
• $1500 Scholarship:  Seth Marusic
• $1000 Scholarship:  Evan Hansen

Congratulations to all of the amazing Miss Creekside 2025 contestants on shining so brightly at the pageant on Saturday night!  Laurn Wygonik was named Most Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Tia Patel won the People’s Choice Award and Best Publicity.  Kamm Khosh won Best Interview and Best Formalwear. Elizabeth Talbot was named Most Scholarly, Megan Hayes was named Most Talented, and Priyanka Cingirkonda  and Katie Clarke received Top 5 Awards. Karina Castillo  was named 2^nd Runner Up, Charlotte Romano was named 1^st Runner Up, and Elizabeth Talbot was crowned Miss Creekside 2025. A special thank you goes out to the junior escorts, the hardworking tech team, and all of the student and faculty supporters who helped to make the pageant a success.

Congratulations to Saniya Aleem on her 3rd place State win in the Drop Savers Poster Contest, sponsored by St. Johns County Utilities.  Special recognition was given to Saniya at the St. Johns County Board of County Commission’s meeting on April 16.  Saniya’s creative contribution emphasizes the significance of youth involvement in promoting water conservation initiatives.  Click here to read full story.