Top: Bready, Moore. Bottom: Graniero, (name removed), Gillen.
JOSIE BREADY is the Gulf High School valedictorian. She lives in New Port Richey with her parents Joseph Bready and Terri Ackerman; Lisa Talarico is her biological mother. She was born in Tampa and grew up “all over the Tampa Bay area,” as she wrote. Before coming to Gulf she attended Dickson, Safety Harbor, and Richey elementary schools and Gulf Middle School. She hopes to attend Harvard, although she has not been notified yet. She has already been accepted to the University of Tampa and Flagler College. She plans to study history and psychology. Here at Gulf she was the winner of the University of Chicago Book Award and she is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She has been a member of the Astronomy Club, Math Honor Society, National History Honor Society, and the Interact Club. Asked about a memorable teacher, she wrote, “All of my teachers have made my high school experience better than I was expecting. A good teacher makes it easy to want to do well in the class.”
EVAN MOORE is the Gulf High School salutatorian. He is the son of Tracy and William Moore of New Port Richey. He was born in Dunedin and attended Mittye P. Locke Elementary School and Gulf Middle School. He has been accepted into the Honors Program at Florida State University and plans to study meteorology and become a climatologist. Evan made All County Band five years in a row and the Festival of Winds three years in a row. His instrument is the trombone. He has been vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and a member of the National Science Honor Society. He reports that his hobbies are kiteboarding and wakeboarding and that his interests are weather and music. He lists his favorite teachers as Mr. Uchacz, Mr. Zions, Mr. Miller, and Mrs. Ferry. He will remember being in band and attending football games the most.
DAVID GRANIERO is an IB co-valedictorian. He is the son of Lynn and David J. Graniero of New Port Richey. He was born in Cape Coral but grew up in New Port Richey, attending Deer Park Elementary School and Dayspring Middle School before coming to Gulf. He is undecided about college but plans to study chemical engineering. He hopes to work in the alternative energy/sustainability field. At Gulf he has been a member of FBLA, for which he was the secretary for two years, Interact, the Spanish Honor Society and (vice president). He played soccer at Gulf. He reports that among his interests is playing music. He says that he will most remember from Gulf “supportive teachers and peers from IB.”
(NAME REMOVED) is an IB co-valedictorian.
SHANE GILLEN is the IB salutatorian. He is the son of Karen and Sean Gillen of New Port Richey. Born in Dunedin, FL, Shane grew up in New Port Richey and had previously attended Trinity Elementary School and Seven Springs Middle School. Shane hopes to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music studying bassoon performance with a dual major in computer science through Case Western Reserve University, and he ultimately wants to be an orchestral bassoonist. Shane has been selected for All State music ensembles for the past 4 years (3 years band, 1 orchestra), was the Pasco County representative at the Florida Sunshine State Scholars Conference, and was a National Merit Commended Scholar. Shane is also drum major of the GHS band, president of Math Honor Society and Tri-M music Honor Society and has played baseball as well as soccer at times in his high school career. Shane also enjoys participating in Odyssey of the Mind, which he has for 8 years. Shane says what he likes most about Gulf High school was his teachers. “Without them, I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as I have been and without them the quality of education I would have had would be nowhere near the quality of the one I received.” Shane also said he will always remember being a part of the Gulf High School band and would like to thank Mr. Rutherford and everyone in band for making his high school music career enjoyable. He also sends a great thanks to his math teacher and math honor society sponsor, Mr. Griffith.
