For Immediate Release
May 5, 2025
St. Petersburg, Fla. – 23 of Pinellas County’s most gifted high school juniors and seniors took center stage at the Mahaffey Theater for the 2025 Walker’s Rising Stars scholarship competition, an unforgettable celebration of student artistry and achievement.
Walker’s Rising Stars, created more than two decades ago by Dr. Jeffrey Walker in partnership with Pinellas Education Foundation and Pinellas County Schools, is a year-long program designed to elevate students’ skills in auditioning, performance, and portfolio development. This year, 156 students from across the district competed across six disciplines, including dance, instrumental music, theater, vocal performance, visual arts, and culinary arts. The top 23 were selected as finalists for the prestigious showcase.
Throughout the evening, the audience was treated to powerful performances and inspiring creativity. Finalists competed for college scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000, bringing the program’s total scholarship impact to more than $1 million since its beginning.
Scholarships were awarded by Pinellas Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, and program founder Dr. Jeffrey Walker.
“We are proud to support the incredibly talented students who performed tonight,” said Kim Jowell, Chief Executive Officer of the Pinellas Education Foundation. “Through scholarship programs like this, we are helping to remove financial barriers, open doors and support their journeys through education and the arts.”
Winners in each category were:
Dance:
1st Place – Emma Keaton, Palm Harbor University High School
2nd Place – Madelyn McRitchie, Seminole High School
3rd Place – Aubrey Xayasone, Tarpon Springs High School
4th Place – Tehya van Deutekom, Palm Harbor University High School
Instrumental Music:
1st Place – Naveen Yengera, Palm Harbor University High School
2nd Place – Kevin Saenz, Osceola Fundamental High School
3rd Place – Tess Thacker, Palm Harbor University High School
4th Place – Briana DeStoppelaire, St. Petersburg High School
Theater:
1st Place – Markos Halkias, East Lake High School
2nd Place – Jesielle Rosenberg, Dunedin High School
3rd Place – Gabriela Felton, Gibbs High School
4th Place – Mikaela Diana, East Lake High School
Visual Arts:
1st Place – Mia Hipolito, East Lake High School
2nd Place – Kaitlyn Sudduth, Gibbs High School
3rd Place – Satori Abdur-Rabbani, Gibbs High School
4th Place – Micah Carwile, East Lake High School
Vocal Performance:
1st Place – Jocelyne Lioe, St. Petersburg High School
2nd Place – Aiden Levine, Gibbs High School
3rd Place – Ava Wagoner, Palm Harbor University High School
4th Place – Phoebe Robinson, Northeast High School
Culinary Arts (sponsored by The Ryan Wells Foundation):
1st Place – Elijah Salinas, Osceola Fundamental High School
2nd Place – Emma Hallet, Tarpon Springs High School
3rd Place – Alana Minor, Tarpon Springs High School
2025 Walker’s Rising Stars was generously supported by Dr. Jeffrey Walker, Crown Automotive Charities, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Elisa’s Greatest Wishes, Suncoast Credit Union, The Ryan Wells Foundation, FG + M Architecture, Hepner Architects, and Wharton-Smith.
Special thanks are extended to the event emcee, Ernest Hooper; the Mahaffey Theater, Pinellas County Schools multimedia team and performing arts department; volunteer judges; and Tarpon Springs High School Jazz Ensemble.
About Pinellas Education Foundation:
Established in 1986, Pinellas Education Foundation is a nationally recognized, dynamic nonprofit organization committed to transforming students’ lives, empowering them to achieve their full potential, and providing teachers with the resources they need to excel in the classroom. Through innovative initiatives, a strategic partnership with Pinellas County Schools, and collaboration with community partners, we work tirelessly to accelerate educational achievement for all students. With a comprehensive approach to education, our programs cover the bookends of learning, beginning with an emphasis on literacy all the way through college and career readiness. Improving outcomes, especially for students with the greatest achievement gaps, is pivotal to our work. Our commitment to quality education spans the entire spectrum, and we are constantly evolving to address the ever-changing needs of students and teachers. To learn more, visit pinellaseducation.org.
