Take a bow, kids.
The St. Johns County School District continues to exert its standing on the national stage, as several local students have recently earned high honors across the performing arts, architecture, and debate.
At Pedro Menendez High School, junior Casey Chhour captured third place at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, competing in the prestigious Architectural Drafting category.
Representing Florida, Casey went head-to-head with top students from 43 other states, excelling in both CAD and hand-drawn components of the challenge.
SOME OF ST. JOHNS’ TOP ATHLETES CHOOSE THEIR COLLEGES
The competition was one of the closest in recent years, with just 12 points separating the top three finishers. Already a two-time state champion, Casey’s national medal cements their status as one of the top high school architectural drafters in the nation.
In the arts arena, Sophie, a talented 15-year-old student at St. Augustine High School’s St. Johns County Center for the Arts was named a winner of the 2025 Arts4All Florida Young Performers competition.
A dynamic performer with 21 plays and musicals under her belt—including standout roles as the Genie in Aladdin and Maui in Moana—Sophie is currently showcasing her versatility and stage combat skills as Farrah in She Kills Monsters.
Arts4All Florida celebrates young artists with disabilities who demonstrate exceptional talent and a passion for the arts, and Sophie’s honor highlights her unique blend of creativity and determination.
Meanwhile, a sextet of students from \Nease High School distinguished themselves in the world of artful argumentation.
Amogh Subramaniam, Yash Sagar, Parmis Molavi, Riya Poddar, Rachel Ball, and Ria Gavval all advanced to the semi-final round of the 2025 Incubate Debate National Championship.
Competing against students from ten states, these sharp young thinkers debated complex national issues like birthright citizenship in front of expert panels that included professors, attorneys, and business leaders.
