Island residents graduate from area high schools
Each year the Pine Island Eagle recognizes island residents graduating from area high schools. The following five students have completed their high school careers as members of the class of 2009.
Amanda Teets
Amanda Teets is a graduate of Ida S. Baker High School with a grade point average of 3.9. During her years at Ida Baker, Teets was held as the number one seed on the high school girl’s tennis team for all four years at the school. She also served as team captain and MVP for all four years. Amanda also is a member of the National Honor Society during her senior year at Ida Baker. Furthering her education, Amanda will attend Eckerd College and plans to major in chemistry and pharmacy.
Maggie Swistak
Maggie is a native Pine Islander and graduated from Mariner High School with a 3.42 grade point average. During her school years, she was active in numerous extra-curricular activities and has earned several honors.
Maggie was inducted into the National Honor Society during her sophomore year and exceeded the NHS required community service hours by tutoring middle school students in math, which she did for three years. She served on the Executive Council for student government and participated in the Triton Quest for four years and was a leader in the program. To qualify as a leader, she had to participate and complete the Ropes Course program which she did three years in a row.
During her junior year, she was a delegate to Girls State at Florida State University and was honored to be one of four delegates sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.
Maggie was on the girls’ basketball team for four years. In her sophomore year, she was captain of the J.V. team and was captain of the varsity team in her junior and senior year. During her freshman year, she was recognized as the Most Improved Player and in her senior year she received a certificate of recognition for the all-conference team for girls basketball. At the end of the season she was awarded a trophy for being the player that “gave all she had to give on the court.” She earned three sportsman letters during her time on the basketball team.
She also was a member of the track and field team her junior and senior years and earned two sportsman letters. Her senior year, she was on the cross country team and earned another sportsman letter as well.
Maggie has received several scholarships from Pine Island organizations to aide in furthering her education. She also as one of five Lee County student athletes to receive a scholarship from the Hillyer-Tremont Student Athlete Foundation.
Maggie will be attending Edison State College this fall and is planning to earn an associates in science degree in Emergency Medical Technologies and plans on being an EMT/Paramedic because she wants a career that will allow her to give back to the community that has given her so much throughout her life.
Jordan Potts
Jordan Potts is a graduate of the Canterbury School in Fort Myers. He has been involved in cross country and lacrosse for the past three years, serving as the lacrosse team captain during his senior year. Jordan has been a volunteer for Cast for Kids, Relay for Life and has dedicated over 100 hours last summer at the Hopetown Sports and Sailing Camp in the Bahamas. Jordan moved to Pine Island in 1999 and started third grade at Pine Island Elementary.
Jordan is currently spending the last few weeks of school volunteering at the Pine Island Elementary School for a senior independent project. In the fall, he will be attending Hofstra University on Long Island.
This summer he will work in the family business, Towboat U.S. Charlotte Harbor before leaving to attend school in New York.
Chrissy Frahm
Chrissy Frahm is the daughter of Chad and Cathy Frahm and attended Pine Island Elementary School where she was a member of the school’s jump rope team, the Island Hoppers. She is a graduate of Ida Baker High School and is a member of the National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Throughout her school career, Chrissy has been very active and involved with many activities including nine years at Pine Island Dance, the Praise Band and Youth Group at Pine Island Community Church and has participated in mission work on the island.
Chrissy says she is deeply passionate about pet therapy along with her beloved dog, Gabriel. She and Gabriel visit the Southwest Florida Children’s Hospital regularly. She also has participated twice in the Relay for Life and for two years, she spent time wrapping gifts at Bass Pro Shop for the Candelighters. Chrissy has involved friends and family in her brigades as well by having them collect soda tabs for Ronald McDonald House and the Goofy Hats and Crazy Band-aids program for children with cancer. Chrissy plans to attend Edison College and hopes to earn a degree in early education. She would like to continue her studies in American sign language and working with the deaf community. She plans to pursue a career as a child life specialist. Chirssy’s philosophy on life is, “Laughter is the best medicine. Faith and prayers are the makings for a miracle.”
Leslie J. Boucherle
Leslie J. Boucherle graduated from North Fort Myers High School on June 7. She plans on attending the University of Florida in Gainesville and is hoping to pursue a degree in psychology. She maintained a 4.8 grade point average and graduated in the top 5 percent of her class with summa cum laude honors. Over the past four years, she was a member of the varsity swim team, earning the title of captain two years in a row. She was also an active member of the varsity tennis team for two years.
Leslie held offices in the student government association and National Honor Society, as well as being a member of the Interact Club and International Club. In her high school career she received numerous awards including the 2009 DAR Good Citizen Award and the Outstanding Student Award, and was a 2008 Girls State Delegate and Academic Hall of Fame inductee.
Leslie enjoys giving back to her community and over the past four years accumulated over 150 hours of community service.
Reflecting on her high school years, Leslie said she has only positive memories of the experience, but she cannot wait for her college adventure.