Lakewood Ranch High School's Sienna Zwizinski shows off her diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
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Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Diego Freyre-Bringas came to the U.S. from Peru when he was 11 years old.
He spoke little English and had to adjust to living in a new country.
After graduating from Lakewood Ranch High May 17 at LECOM Park, Freyre-Bringas will have to adjust once again as he moves to Germany to play soccer professionally.
He said his four years of high school had it's ups and downs, but it was filled with fun, studying and hard work that paid off.
"It feels amazing to know I'm moving onto this new part of my life," Freyre-Bringas said. "It just goes to show if you put your mind to something, you can do it."
Graduates Joslyn Chapman, Samantha Rees, Morgan McCabe and Kate Tuchman all said their hard work in high school paid off as well. Each of them sported multiple stoles, cords and medals to demonstrate their accomplishments.
"I like the fact my neck feels heavy," said Tuchman regarding the weight of having all the stoles and cords on her.
Lakewood Ranch High School's Linsey Beatenhead and Kailey Schlabach are excited to see what the future holds.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Reese Wellander, Jessica Wagner and Julia Magno are ready for graduation.
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Lakewood Ranch High School's Irene Yixel Salmeron-Antonio, Jaylynn Sanchez, Omar Raba, John Wyatt, Logan Reynolds and Landon Llamas are excited to celebrate their graduation with Kelly Smith-Williams, a teacher (center).
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Stephanie Freisz, Alanna Maldonado and Hannah Obligato are sad but excited about graduating.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Edwin Ennis and Bryan Endo can't wait to start working toward their careers.
Lakewood Ranch High School's Joslyn Chapman, Samantha Rees and Morgan McCabe are thankful for teacher Sammy Biggs.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Cameron Caudill, Kevin Everhart, Isaac Ashley, Seth Shamrock and Brian Areco are ready to start the next chapter of their lives.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Mark Tarver, Nelson Rivera and Jasper Middlebrook prepare for their graduation ceremony. Rivera says he had butterflies in his stomach.
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Lakewood Ranch High School's Diego Freyre takes a selfie with English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher Avelina Besse.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Families hold up cutouts of a graduate from when she was a baby.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Adnan Osae encourages the crowd to cheer for the Class of 2023.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Dustin Dahlquist, the principal of Lakewood Ranch High School, welcomes families and friends to the Class of 2023's graduation.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Jessica Kobetitsch urges graduates to live their lives to the fullest. "Commit yourself not only to your work but to your life," she says.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Thomas Stochl talks about the resilience of the Class of 2023.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Tierney Thornhill is one of three commencement speakers.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School Athletic Director Kent Ringquist hands Lilly Lynch her diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Morgan McCabe is thrilled to have her diploma after four years of hard work.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Edwin Ennis cheers before he gets his diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Ja'miya Ford celebrates as she walks to get her diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Ryann Hilyer looks up into the crowd to see her family.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High's Jaesun Hyde makes his way to getting his diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High Assistant Principal Thomas Bellantonio congratulates Sam Jones.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High Assistant Principal Thomas Bellantonio gives Anthony Lenchinsky his diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Angel Markoski waves to the crowd.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Tamiah Mathews celebrates as she walks to get her diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High Athletic Director Kent Ringquist hands Sean O'Brien his diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School Principal Dustin Dahlquist shakes hands with Jaithan Phillips, who was homecoming and prom king.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Sienna Zwizinski shows off her diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School graduates throw their caps into the air.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School graduates Tierney Thornhill, Faith Braun, Serena DePalo and Erika Schmidt join in a group hug after the ceremony.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Barry Severs celebrates with his wife, Sandy Severs, and his sons Preston Severs, who graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School, and Parker Severs. "We're so proud of him," Sandy Severs says of Preston Severs.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Matthew Iacobelli, Ellis Rodimel and Evan Wilson say it feels great to have graduated.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High graduates Mia Hidalgo, Mykelah Davis and Katie Hardesty say it hasn't hit them yet that they have graduated from high school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jessica Kobetitsch hugs her mother, Stephanie Kobetitsch. "I'm so proud of you," Stephanie Kobetitsch says.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Elijah Blackman, Skyler Blackman, Leo Blackman Sr., Leo Blackman Jr. and Shannon Blackman celebrate Leo Blackman Jr.'s graduation. Leo Blackman Jr. is enlisting in the Army.
Senior Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.
