CLASS OF 2020

We continue by recognizing the achievements of eight outstanding students who earned scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation also named five Broward County Public Schools seniors recipients of the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship. They are:Javier Pratdesaba, Everglades High SchoolHannah Quintal, Nova High SchoolKam Cheun, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High SchoolTalia Rumsky, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High SchoolKaren Villancio-Wolter, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High SchoolNational Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. This week, National Merit College-sponsored Scholarship winners were announced. With the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,600 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.

Charles McCutcheon, 18, MAST AcademyIf it’s a challenge, then Charles McCutcheon is up for it. After watching a Japanese cooking video at an early age, McCutcheon decided to learn the language. He volunteers his time teaching Japanese and math at Miami Hoshuko, a nonprofit Saturday school sponsored by the Japanese consulate. When he’s not teaching, he’s singing. And when he’s not teaching or singing, you’ll find him engaged in some type of advocacy work.

MIAMI – As part of our salute to the Class of 2020, Local 10 is sharing the stories of outstanding high school seniors who have shown incredible resolve throughout their education and during the current crisis. Trisha Taluy, 18, BioTECH High SchoolHer day began bright and early. Taluy needed to get ready for the 23-mile journey from her home in downtown Miami to her high school in Southwest Miami-Dade. Taluy is familiar with “toughing it out.”Her grandparents raised her and her younger sister in a low-income home. At BioTECH, Taluy was part of the rigorous Conservation Biology Magnet Program.

But among their disappointment of being robbed of precious milestones, South Florida high school seniors say they’re grateful for the opportunity to share their stories. We expand on that by introducing you to some of these extraordinary South Florida students. He’s the captain of the varsity football team and a 2020 High School Heisman Trophy winner. Alvarez is the captain of his school’s Unified Sports Club and a member of the Special Olympics Youth Activation Board. He also wants to start a Special Olympics Unified Team at the university.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Graduation season is anything but normal for the Class of 2020, but Local 10 has been helping bid a strong salute to this year’s seniors. The deadline has passed to add a photo of your graduate to our gallery, but they can be seen below. (Sender confirms that he or she owns the photo submitted, it is not copyrighted by a third party, and sender gives WPLG permission to air photo and publish on digital platforms and social media.)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – During a speech to the Class of 2020, Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said they are planning a virtual graduation ceremony. "We are currently planning a virtual celebration ceremony of all of your accomplishments, individually celebrating each one of you." Amanda Milian is a senior at Miami’s Slam Academy and feared she wouln’t have any graduation at all. "Now with this new news, everybody is pretty happy that we still have a chance of getting that physical graduation," Milian said. Superintendent Robert Runcie sent out a tweet on Saturday, promising to announce their graduation plans later this week.