People

When PJ Svejda moved to Mount Dora in 2020, the day they closed the

Jariyah Smith Senior at Eustis High  Age: 17 Homecoming Queen and Queen of

Peggy LeCroy 73 years old Raised in Tennessee Lives in Oxford Pageant queen

Lisa Huey doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of her story. In fact,

Evelyn Purdy  GPA: 3.9 unweighted, 5.1 weighted Senior at Umatilla High School Cambridge

Kathryn Wheeler Started the Mount Dora School of Ballet in 2003 Attended NYU

For more than a decade, Johnny Wild Productions has built a loyal following in

Taylor Hamilton GPA: 3.5 unweighted/3.8 weighted Senior at Tavares High School Active in

Mayor Chris Creech President & CEO - RCM Utilities, LLC Born at Waterman

It started with black squirrels and a Sears Roebuck catalog purchase. Karen H. Sabel

Thomas Richard “Tommy” Merrill Age: 82 Born and raised in Umatilla Married to

Abi McDonald 16 years old 4.67 GPA Junior at East Ridge High School

A ctor Jerry Walsh is finding renewed joy on a much smaller stage in

Decades in education and service led John Temple to the role of president at

Jaylee Fickett Sophomore at Mount Dora High School  Age 16  Born and raised

Mike Hilliard When duty calls, he answers. When Christmas calls, he sleighs. Lives

An eye for detail helped make Everett Israel a master woodworker during decades of

Giselle McCormick 16 Years Old Junior at Lake Minneola High Dual enrolled through

Susan Cossette spins her own yarn and creates wearable art from natural fibers in

Olivia Roberson Class Secretary  LHS Cheerleader Writes for School Newspaper 4.7 GPA AICE