By Gina Horan
Chloe Looper Serves Up Leadership on the Court, Classroom and Community
Chloe Looper
Making the assist: One of the most rewarding parts of being at Tavares High is getting to support younger students. I try to be a positive role model and make sure they feel welcome and encouraged. I want to help them succeed both socially and academically, and I’m always looking for ways to be a friendly, reliable resource.
Focus on the physical: Volleyball and the Teaching Academy are both important to me, but right now I’m really focused on volleyball.
Support service: My sister, Destiny Hamberlin, was in the Teaching Academy, and her stories really inspired me. I want to give kids the same love and support she talked about. It means a lot to help them smile and feel happy every day.
Set up for success: I’ve been lucky to have teachers who truly care but a few have really shaped me. Mrs. Kelly has helped strengthen my faith and guided me through challenges I didn’t think I could face. Doc Mahoney is always there with an open door and steady support. Coach Grant has backed me through every step of my athletic journey, whether it’s during injuries, practices or games.
Setting priorities: I always put schoolwork first, whether it means using lunch, bus rides or even time at work to get it done. I like to knock out the hard stuff early so I have time to relax and handle other things later in the day.
What I envision for my future: In 10 years, I see myself working as a teacher, coach or athletic trainer. The Teaching Academy and my time helping at Tavares Elementary have really shaped that goal. Coaching at volleyball camps has also helped me learn how to support kids both in the classroom and on the court.
Photos: Nicole Hamel
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Gina moved to Central Florida from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021. She holds a degree in linguistics and has worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist, lifestyle columnist and food writer since 1995. She later covered travel, events, restaurants, music festivals and sports throughout Northern California, including work as a morning show host with KSAN radio and food critic for KRON Bay TV. A veteran bartender, she has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. Gina joined Akers Media in 2022 and is currently the Food and Lifestyle Editor. Her passions include travel, road trips, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map.
