Sunlake Salutatorian, Valedictorian Want To Help People

When the graduating class of became freshman four years ago, they had to figure out all their own traditions.

Now the class is the first graduating class at Sunlake to start and end their high school careers at the school.

Salutatorian Roger Prough, 17, said he thinks that has caused the class to have more school spirit than previous classes.

“We are the first class to go all the way through and that has made it interesting,” Prough said. “We had to figure out all the traditions on our own. This year there was a lot of school spirit.”

When Prough and valedictorian Sarah Collins started at Sunlake both said they knew they wanted to go to a good college, but neither was vying for the top two spots.

“I was trying to get good grades and after junior year I knew I was near the top of the class,” Prough said. “It feels rewarding for all the work I have put in to have built up to this point.”

Prough decided to go to the University of Miami for international studies and maybe a minor in Spanish.

“I want to hopefully work for a human rights organization or for the government,” Prough said. “I would like to fulfill my dreams of going around the world and seeing places while becoming engaged in other cultures.”

Collins said she also wants to be able to help people which is why she is going to the University of Tampa for a nursing degree.

“I have fallen in love with that school,” Collins said. “I like that it is a small school so I will have access to the professors. The school’s nursing program is also ranked number one in the country for the last two years.”

Collins said she has known since she was a child that nursing was her chosen profession. She said she is hoping to one day work at Tampa General in the emergency room.

“It was something I was always interested in,” Collins said. “I like being able to interact with people and I also like using logic to solve problems. It is something that will always be interesting where I can learn something new all the time.”

Since the beginning of the school year, Collins has been taking all dual enrollment classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College. By the time she starts at University of Tampa in the fall she will have all her prerequisites done and will only have three years of schooling to get her bachelor’s.

Collins favorite subject is science. Collins has done so well in her favorite subject that she earned the Pasco County School District PRIDE (Program to Recognize Initiative and Distinction in Education) award in science. One student is selected from each school to recieve the award based on high academic achievement.

“I like science because it makes sense to me,” Collins said. “Everything is logical and organized. I loved taking honors and AP (advanced placement) chemistry with Mr. Maggie. I also liked my history teacher Mr. Taylor because he was the only person who got me interested in it.”

Prough said his favorite subject is history.

“Anything history based I have enjoyed,” Prough said. “I am able to remember a lot of things and I feel like I can relate it to today. I am fascinated by history.”

 In addition to history, Prough has played soccer for the school when he was a freshman and sophomore and he is on the cross country team. He said sports help to relax him.

“I have always been interested in sports,” Prough said. “It helps me to get my mind of things, especially when I have a heavy course load.”

Collins spends her free time volunteering at Lake Myrtle Elementary School and at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. She said both experiences have taught her a lot about herself.

“I found that I really like working with kids,” Collins said. “At Moffitt, I am getting a taste of what it will be like to work with patients.”

Collins also likes to dance and she is teaching herself to play piano.

“I hope to continue those two things because they are great stress relief,” Collins said. “I also love to read historical fiction and fantasy.”

Sunlake High School's graduation will be 10 a.m. on May 28 at the Tampa Convention Center.