Words by Kim Vreeland, Director of Marketing and Communications
This fall, Daniel ’25 will head to the University of Florida in Gainesville to continue his educational journey, one that began at Academy at the Lakes when he was 4 years old in Ms. Susie’s class. He fondly remembers building with Lincoln Logs, solving puzzles, and running around on the playground – early moments that helped shape his love of learning.
Now an AP Scholar with Distinction, Daniel has taken 10 Advanced placement courses, earning head of school honor roll each semester. His scholastic excellence earned him the English Department Award and the Johns Hopkins Book Award. His exceptional creative problem-solving inspired judges to award Daniel and his Odyssey of the Mind teammates the Ranatra Fusca Award, a prestigious honor given for demonstrating exceptional creativity. His team also took first place at the Odyssey of the Mind regional competition and traveled to the state competition.
Daniel shares, “Since I was at Academy for so many years, it was a very comfortable environment for me, and I wasn’t afraid to take the initiative in a welcoming community.”
Daniel’s initiative and leadership are clear. A servant leader, he served as president of National Honor Society, co-president of Future Business Leaders of America and leader of the Investment Club. As a dedicated Key Club member and advocate for New Life Warehouse, Daniel demonstrated a strong commitment to service and community. He also played varsity tennis and was an active member of National English Honor Society, Dead Poets Society, and Mu Alpha Theta.
Reflecting on his time at Academy: “I got to experience activities unique to Academy, like the all-school musicals, and I was able to participate in our robust OM program. Since I was little, I’ve been on so many cool field trips – to Kennedy Space Center, to caves and beaches and rivers, and to Boston, one of many extended trips. It was on the trip to Boston that I realized how much I like MIT, because I had the chance to tour it, and I don’t think I would have made the trip just to tour it otherwise.”
Daniel appreciates that he had teachers closely guiding him through the college application process. He also recognizes “Academy’s extracurricular activities provided opportunities to build relationships with teachers, who care about each student’s success,” allowing him to understand what he learned and contributing to the academic success he achieved.
As Daniel looks ahead to his next chapter, he shares, “Attending one school and being part of one school community nearly my entire life is an opportunity and the reason why I feel ready to go to college. I’m used to this small school, so I’m excited to go to a larger school; I’m used to having teachers that pay attention to each student, so I know what to look for; I’m used to being around the same classmates for the last 14 or so years, so I feel ready to meet new people too.”
Daniel reminisces that Academy is a place that offers opportunities for meaningful experiences beyond the classroom, such as play week activities, extended trips and competition, and that these are the times when the best memories are made.
“I’ll remember the funny things that happened on retreats, on trips and in classes. I’ll remember what it felt like to learn difficult math or science while talking about the most random topics. I’ll
remember how Kestrel unexpectedly won House Day. I’ll remember being at Universal at midnight and looking like a crazy person carrying 10 people’s luggage around Rip Ride Rockit.”
To put it simply: “I’ll remember the little things that perfectly captured the joy I experienced with the people at Academy.”