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Gulf High student named Pasco Schools' Outstanding Senior

Photo from Jeff Miller

Pasco County's Outstanding student of the Year, Trevor Abbott, at a school celebration recently after the announcement of the award was made with, from left, Gulf High School Principal Steve Knobl; Mark Abbott, his father; his mother, Rhonda O'Dell; and stepfather Roland O'Dell.

By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: November 25, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Though it won't begin for another six weeks or so, it's official: 2010 is Trevor Abbott's year.

The Gulf High School student was recently named the Pasco School District's Outstanding Senior Award winner for the Class of 2010.

"It's a pretty big honor, to be chosen out of 3,600 students," Abbott said, referring to the total number of seniors enrolled throughout the school district.

It's a big honor not just because of the size of the field, but because of what it signifies: recognition of a well-rounded high school career.

Choosing the district's Outstanding Senior is a multistep process. Each high school in the district selects its own Outstanding Senior. First, the senior class votes for their "Top 10" out of all of their classmates who have grade point averages of 3.0 or above. After that, the school faculty considers that list and votes for the school's Outstanding Senior.

Abbott said he didn't have much time to soak it in when he got word that he'd been chosen as Gulf's Outstanding Senior. Right along with that announcement, he was informed that, by the way, he needed to get a resume and portfolio together over the weekend because the following Monday he was due at the district offices in Land O' Lakes to present that and do an in-person interview with a committee of district department heads.

Rob Aguis, district director of community, career and technical education, headed up the selection committee that interviewed Abbott and all the other high schools' Outstanding Seniors on Nov. 9. The task of trying to select one from an elite group like that was a "fun but difficult task."

"They've done some incredible things," Aguis said. "It's really refreshing to see; it affirms the work we do in Pasco County."

The Outstanding Senior Award is based on a combination of scholarship, leadership, service and citizenship. Abbott's list of accomplishments and activities typifies this. He is enrolled in Gulf High's demanding International Baccalaureate program, and carries a 4.11 weighted GPA. He is a member of his school's Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Interact Club, and is president of the Future Business Leaders of America club.

At the same time, he has found time to play four years of football, and two seasons each on the school's varsity wrestling and weightlifting teams.

Outside of school, Abbott is a certified lifeguard and swim instructor at the James P. Gills Family YMCA, in Trinity. He has also logged more than 250 hours of volunteer work. For years, he has been involved with Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida, participated in coastal cleanup events, and has spent much time working with the homeless, going back to projects with his father, Mark Abbott, when he was mayor of Port Richey.

Trevor has also been on three missions to Costa Rica. He is also an active member of Hope United Methodist Church, teaching Bible study on Sundays.

Even with a resume like that, Aguis said, it was still a difficult choice selecting Trevor from the other schools' Outstanding Seniors. What put him over the top was something less tangible; it was the way he came across in his interview - outgoing, professional.

"He had the complete package," Aguis said.

Gulf High School Principal Steve Knoble offered the same opinion.

"He's a great kid, easy to talk to," Knoble said. "He's definitely well-deserving - but I could be a little biased."

Knoble accompanied Abbott to his interview at Land O' Lakes. He said it was his pleasure after the interview to be able to do something he doesn't get to do too often, have a leisurely lunch and talk in depth with one of his honor students about their plans for the future.

Abbott's hoping to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also has an application in to the University of Florida, and has already been accepted to the University of Central Florida. He plans on studying engineering and having a career in alternative energy sources.

Trevor said winning this award took him aback a bit. It's based on so many things, but they are all things he just does because he wants to.

"I'm not one of those who really boast about the work I do," he said. "People who know me know about it - that's my thing. I do not do my work for recognition; I enjoy doing it, it's my passion."

School honorees

While Trevor Abbott won the district honors, being named the Outstanding Senior for one's high school is a tremendous achievement in and of itself. From this year's graduating class, those who can now add the distinction to their academic resumes are:

J.W. Mitchell High School: Sarah Fawaz.

River Ridge High School: Katie Sweeney.

Ridgewood High School: Ahn-My Nguyen.

Hudson High School: Samantha Poston-Norris.

Wesley Chapel High School: Kevin Mangal.

Land O'Lakes High School: Patrick Kronk.

Pasco High School: Elizabeth LaRue.

Zephyrhills High School: Chelsea Marie Smith.

Wiregrass Ranch High School: Monica Marin.

Sunlake High School: Bryce Freeman.

Anclote High School, in Holiday, does not have a senior class in this, its inaugural year.

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.