Spend five minutes with Cash Howard, and you’ll know he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Among other accolades, the Land O’ Lakes High senior —graduating Summa Cum Laude—recently was named a National Merit Scholar, a title bestowed on a select few nationwide.

Because his school doesn’t have a speech and debate team, Howard was allowed to join Wharton High’s.

As its president.

Speech and debate is “where my talents lie,” he said.

In the fall, Howard, 18, will begin pursuing a degree in speech writing at the University of South Florida, where he recently was accepted into the honors program, among other offers from notable universities.

“Eventually, I want to write the president’s speeches,” he said.

Howard plans to get involved in political campaigns as a college student to get started on that path. And, as of late, that path has already begun.

“I was invited by a member of President Obama's campaign staff to help work with them over the summer,” Howard said.

In five years, Howard said he sees himself in graduate school pursuing a law degree. In ten years, part of a large campaign writing speeches. He also aspires to write for magazines.

As a senior, Howard spent most of his his spare time tutoring local students, doing research for the debate team and writing for competitions.  Preparing for a speech and debate tournament can take up entire weekends, he said.

His team is now preparing for the national Catholic Forensic League tournament, which will be held May 25 -27 in Baltimore.  The team is hosting a fundraising event Tuesday, May 15, at Burger Monger in Wesley Chapel. A portion of sales from customers who mention Wharton speech and debate will be donated to the team.

“We need the money to help pay for registration, airfare and hotel costs,” Howard said. “ And because we aren't a wealthy school, this is the only really big competition we attend each year. The money would go a long way toward helping us represent the state at nationals.”

Land O' Lakes Patch is spotlighting local graduating seniors. Do you know a student we should feature? Email editor Keli Sipperley.