IN 2015 WE PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE VERO BEACH HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR 2015-2016. OUR ARTICLE RECEIVED OVER 10,000 CLICKS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE NOT REPORTED IN ANY OTHER LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET.
The same was true of the local media this year except for some photographs of the graduating students published on tcpalm.com.
We were able to publish our 2015 article because we were able to get a copy of the commencement program from a parent whose son was one of the graduates.
In 2016 we were unable to publish the 2016-2017 accomplishments because no one at the high school had a copy of the commencement program; or so we were told.
This year we were successful in obtaining a copy of the 2016-2017 accomplishments from another parent.
So we begin for the 2016-2017 accomplishments.
For the 2016-2017 school there were 663 graduates listed in the program.
There were 218 honor graduates, 110 AP graduates, five AA degrees, 222 Scholar Diplomas, 321 Merit Diplomas, 12 perfect 4.0 students, 15 Goal Seal of Biliteracy students, 191 Career Completers, 211 industry certifications, 17 signed to play sports in college and there were $ 1,450,600 in local scholarships. Additionally, there was one John B. Witt Award winner.
(John B. Witt served as Vero Beach High School’s principal from 1966 to 1983. While serving as the principal, he created an award given each year to the graduating senior who exemplified all that a student could be.)
Boys State: Two delegates and two alternates / Girls State: Two delegates and two alternatives.
Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra: Straight Superior ratings at Florida State Concert Music Performance Assessment (MPA). Symphony Orchestra: Straight Superior ratings at Concert MPA. Concert Orchestra: Superior rating at Concert MPA. The orchestra undertook its first international tour in Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Vienna, Australia.
Drama: One Act District Competition: Straight Superior Rating. Individual Event District: 12 Superior Events and 13 Superior Rate Events. State Competition: Five Superior Rated Events.
Band: Marching Band: Straight Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) District Marching Band MPA. Symphony Band: Straight Superior ratings at the FBA District Concert FBA. Philharmonic Band: Superior rating at the FBA District Concert MPA. Color Guard: Superior Rating at the FBA District Concert State Auxiliary MPA. Jazz Band: Straight Superior ratings at the FBA District Jazz Band MPA. 130 Superior medals were awarded at the FBA District Solo and Ensemble MPA. One male trombonist was selected for the Florida All State Band and All National Honor Band.
Chorus: Nine performances at District Solo and Ensemble. One female student was rated Superior at District and State Solo and Ensemble. Embassy (Concert) Choir: Superior rating and District MPA; Excellent rating at State MPA. Ambassador Choir and Combined Women’s Choir participated in Festival Disney in May.
Science Research: Four senior Science Research students brought home awards.
One senior placed second at the Regionals in Plant Sciences and received the Indian River Scientific Achievement Award. Another placed first at the Regionals earning the Thinking Outside the Box award; as well placing second at the State Science Fair in Physics and Astronomy. Two seniors earned first place at the Regionals as well as first place at the State in Earth and Environmental Sciences. They both also received an award for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and a NASA Service award. They will both compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
ATHLETICS:
Weightlifting: 21-0 undefeated season. Class 2A District 12 Champions. Class 2A Region six champions. These were all firsts. Seven girls qualified for State Championships and VBHS finished eighth in the State. One student was the State runner-up.
Girls Varsity Basketball: Their overall record was 18-seven. The District record was nine-one. The team were District champions four years in a row and won the Regional Quarterfinals vs. Osceola. They won Regional Semifinals vs. Haines City.
Boy’s Basketball: The boys achieved a 15-12 record, were runners-up in the Holiday Hoopla and took third place at the Deland Rotary Tournament. They were a District semi-finalist.
Swimming: Both boys and girls swimming teams were runner-ups at the Districts. 10 boys and 10 girls advanced to the Regionals. One swimmer advanced to the States. One swimmer achieved All American Commended status. The boys swimming team won the Academic Team Champions for Class 4-A.
Wrestling: There were two Individual Accomplishments. One sophomore was a 120 lbs 3A-District 9 Champion. Another sophomore was a 285 lbs 3A – District 9 Runner-up and State Qualifier.
Girl’s Soccer: Girl’s soccer won its 7th consecutive District title. It was the longest winning streak of boys or girls soccer in the Treasure Coast. Their final record was 15-3-1, which beat last season. The team made it to the Regional Championships and had seven graduating seniors.
Boys Soccer: The boy’s soccer team also had a historical run during the 2016 – 2017 season. They earned back-to-back District titles, a Regional championship title and made the State’s final tour for the first time in the program’s history.
Football: For the third consecutive year the football team was undefeated in the regular season (10-0) and made it to the Region Two 8A Final Championship Game for the first time since 2003.
Volleyball: The volleyball team was 11-10 for the season and were District runners-up. The team went to the Regional Quarterfinals and beat Osceola High School. They then went on to the Regional Semi-Finals, but were defeated by Martin County High School.
Boy’s Golf: The boy’s golf team took second place out of 19 schools at the Biltmore Invitational in Miami, second place out of 16 schools at the Titan Invitational Palm Coast, third place out of 15 schools at the King’s Academy Invitational, second place out of 17 schools at the Lakewood Ranch Invitational, second place out of 24 schools at the Crutchfield/Hawkins Invitational and Champions for Champions Region Six.
One student was the runner-up at the Florida High School Athletic Association State Finals and was a finalist for the TCPalm Player of the Year. Another was nominated for the TCPalm All Area Player.
Competitive Cheerleading: The cheerleaders won first place at the Florida Cheer and Dance Kick-Off and became Grand Champions. They took first place at the Ultimate Championships and were Grand Champions and also took first place and were Grand Champions at the Diamond’s Christmas Championship. They were the first place Regional Champions at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and went straight to the FHSAA finals where they were State’ runner-up.
Vero Beach High School Cheerleaders
Vero Communiqué 
I feel your pain but there is no one in the newsroom anymore. Most stuff is wire copy, written in cities far away. Sometimes, there is one poor schmuck in the newsroom attempting to localize a national/regional story but it’s not the norm. When I left broadcast journalism 6 years ago, I said goodbye to a silent newsroom. It was very sad, as a silent newsroom is a failed newsroom. My condolences.
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Excellent. Golf team also finished 2nd in the state.
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Mary Kate Hiller, girls golf, was medalist in district, regional, and 10th at FHSAA state finals. Also, she was the TCPalm girls area golfer of the year for the second time.
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