“Education is everything. Education is how you build your potential to become the person that you can be,” retired U.S. Navy Capt. Timothy “Lucky” Kinsella told members of Pensacola State College Charter Academy’s inaugural graduating class.
Seventeen graduates were honored at the commencement ceremony held May 18 in McMillan Auditorium on the Warrington campus.
Kinsella, former commander of Naval Air Station Pensacola, was instrumental in helping to establish the Charter Academy, which accepted its first juniors and seniors in August 2022.
“Graduating from this wonderful school, you have taken an immense step toward reaching your fullest potential. So, as you leave this campus, know this is just the beginning ─ not the end. It is not the beginning of the end,” Kinsella said.
“This is just a beginning. The sky is the limit. The world is your oyster, and the only thing that can slow you down is you!”
Graduate Salvador John Zendejas delivered the Valedictorian Address ─ opening with a quote from the actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“… ‘Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success,’” he said. “On behalf of the graduating class of 2023 – the first of its kind – I’ll like to thank all of the teachers, administrators and parents, especially my mom and dad, for making sure that we stayed consistent throughout this hard year to gain success.”
Zendejas shared both challenges – endless papers, math problems, homework and difficult exams as well as fun memories ─ a beach party, bowling and video gaming ─ as Charter Academy students.
However, he said, “Coming to the Charter Academy every morning felt less like a chore but more like an adventure.”
“To all of the graduates, please do something with these degrees and diplomas. I know you are all capable of amazing things,” he said.
The 2023 graduates were:
- Breanna Nyora Aimable, cum laude
- Tait Jack Anderson, summa cum laude
- Sebastian Ethan Berry, magna cum laude
- Francesca Michelle Boyland, summa cum laude
- Trinity Kay Cash, summa cum laude
- Savanah Marie Dumagan, summa cum laude
- Sydney Marie Eykyn, magna cum laude
- Owen Le Gall Fortner
- Emily Marie Garcia, summa cum laude
- Nicholas John Guy, magna cum laude
- Gwynneth Galilee McKeithen, summa cum laude (not present)
- Jonathan Carlton Anthony McKinley, magna cum laude
- Madison Lynn Oake, magna cum laude
- Allen John Peterson, summa cum laude
- Rico Sage Stamey, summa cum laude
- Caleb Eliott Waters, summa cum laude
- (Salvador John) Zendejas, summa cum laude
PSC District Board of Trustees chairman and co-chairman Dr. Troy Tippett and Patrick Dawson attended the ceremony and congratulated the graduates.
In his closing remarks, Kinsella told the graduates that he had done a lot of “cool things” over his military career ─ flying through the Golden Gate Bridge, sitting atop a submarine in the Caribbean looking at the Milky Way, rescuing 12 people during a hurricane in South Pacific.
He, however, added that speaking to Charter Academy’s inaugural graduating class was among the coolest.
“To stand here and see a vision, to talk about a vision a few years ago, and to finally stand here, this may be one of the greatest ones…,” Kinsella said.
“So proud of each and every one of you. Go forth into this world, good people, and do great things. I know you will. God Bless You All!”