Polk County Public Schools
Two students at Davenport’s Ridge Community High students represented Polk County in a Special Olympics event held in 2009 at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia’s historic Franklin Field.
Brandon Williams, a Haines City resident, and Cody Myers, a Davenport resident, were among nine athletes nationally chosen to compete in the Special Olympics 100-meter dash at the 115th Annual Penn Relays. Both Brandon and Cody are 2009 graduates of Ridge Community High. They qualified for the Penn Relays by virtue of their competition times in the 100-meter dash in other Special Olympics events. Cody is currently enrolled at Winter Haven’s Ridge Career Center studying welding while Brandon is preparing to compete in the weightlifting competition in a Special Olympics meet in Orlando from October 30 to 31.
The Penn Relays are one of nation’s most prestigious track events that include high school, college and Olympic development athletes. More than 22,000 athletes from 60 countries compete in more than 400 track events at the Penn Relays. They are held in Franklin Field, one of nation’s oldest sports venues and home to the University of Pennsylvania athletics.
Kim McHugh is the school district’s Special Olympics coordinator and was involved with Brandon and Cody’s participation in the Penn Relays.
Students from four Polk schools won awards at the 2009 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference held in Nashville. HOSA is a national organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in healthcare for students and to enhance the quality of healthcare to all people.
Students winning awards are listed by school. Included are award won and competition category.
Bartow High: team of Kerrin Arbuckle, Anna Daniel and Tasnia Osmani, seventh place, medical reading.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: Bianca Mulaney, fifth place, biotechnology; Devki Patel, fifth place, epidemiology.
Lake Gibson High-Lakeland: Daryl Ash, national finalist, clinical nursing; Courtney Townsend, Achievement Award for National HOSA Week.
Ridge Career Center-Winter Haven: Lina Micheli, fourth place, medical spelling.
