Alumna Sarah Schnell represents what it means to leave a lasting legacy at PPCHS. As a member of the graduating class of 2023, she made her time at Charter unforgettable through her determination and dedication, specifically surrounding athletic achievement. As a standout player on the Varsity Volleyball Team, Schnell’s talent simply radiated through her. Her efforts through her performance were recognized not only by her peers and coaches but also by the whole school itself. During her senior year, she was nominated for “Most Athletic” in the senior superlatives. Schnell’s recognition highlighted the impact she brought to the school throughout her high school journey.
Schnell’s volleyball journey began back at PPCHS, where her determination and skills quickly earned her recognition as one of Florida’s top players. She was named “First Team All-County” by the Sun Sentinel and “Second Team” by the Miami Herald while leading the state in hitting percentage. Building on that foundation, Schnell now plays Division I volleyball at James Madison University (JMU), where she has become a crucial part of the team. Schnell comments, “Since being selected ‘Most Athletic,’ I believe that title still carries around with me. I am currently playing D1 volleyball at JMU with goals to try out for the U21 National Team soon.”
James Madison University’s (JMU) volleyball program is guided by record-breaking coach Lauren Steinbrecher, who competed in the elite Sun Belt Conference and earned the No. 7 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, a notable moment that highlighted their national relevance. Schnell, now a part of that driven program, shares how she is still “navigating her path,” but emphasizes that the same drive and focus she had when she first stepped onto the court is still deeply rooted in her, guiding her today. That determination was clear during her high school years at PPCHS, where her commitment to the sport earned her the title of “Most Athletic.” Not only has Schnell been living the reality of her title, but others besides her have also embraced theirs beyond high school.
Another PPCHS alumna, Jocelyn Garcia, continues to be a representative of “Most Athletic.” Just like Schnell, Garcia’s athleticism is a title embedded into her life. While Schnell was in the Class of 2023, Garcia followed two years later as part of the Class of 2025, showing how newly graduated students can already form their future.
In all of Garcia’s recognition and dedication in high school, she was selected to play Division I flag football at Ottawa University to continue her journey. She exclaims, “Winning ‘Most Athletic’ was truly an honor. It felt like all my hard work had finally been seen.” Garcia has gone through years of hard work, putting effort into playing flag football. She had been known for her athletic ability all throughout high school and was often noticed and nominated for her intense plays on the field.
Garcia is currently off-season, but during this time, she lifts weights three times a week and participates in 6 a.m. practices twice a week. All while maintaining her time at college, she still works as hard as she did in high school, possibly even more.
During her off-season, she and her team get together to participate in fun activities or games to feed that desire even off the field. Garcia comments, “I am always still looking for different things to do, playing pickleball, sand volleyball with my team, and also spikeball with my friends. It’s a good way to stay active on the days we might not have anything.”
Aiden Johnson continues to hold his title of “Beauty and Brains” into his college years. Johnson has shown that superlatives represent more than just an infinitesimal moment in life. They reflect characteristics that will continue to shape the time ahead.
Aiden Johnson has a unique approach to life; he often mentions how he “viewed beauty as something not only of appearance but of the heart and soul.” Throughout high school, he came off as someone others adored being around, definitely showing the beauty of his presence in other people’s lives.
When approaching adulthood, Johnson actively tries to grow himself not only mentally but also academically, all while trying to maintain a beautiful heart in the process. As he is in college, he exclaims, “The freedom, independence, and opportunities of college have opened up so many new avenues for me to explore and grow from.” While being in an environment where things are new and constantly changing, Johnson continues to remain firm in his identity. The alum goes on to comment, “Even if my outward appearance is different from the time I was nominated, my inward heart and soul are still the same.”
Johnson still tries to be the ideal representation of his title through his everyday life, whether that is based on how he carries and presents himself or how he treats others. He still aims to show kindness to the world, truly exhibiting that the purest kind of beauty is not found in appearances but rather from within.
Another form of that inner beauty can be found within the bond of friendship. Alumnus Sebastian Arango and Julian Buth had previously won “Best Friends” during their senior year, perfectly representing that love of brotherhood that makes high school memories unforgettable.
Throughout their high school years, they were known for their brotherhood; you couldn’t know one of them without knowing the other. While winning Senior Superlative was not on their bucket list, they were still happy they got nominated and won. Arango comments, “It felt amazing to win because even though we did not care to win, we were still recognized for how we have always been together.”
During their high school years together, they played on the soccer team, always supporting and laughing with each other. As friendships often end toward graduation, they showed that some friendships can last a lifetime. Arango speaks about how they were so interlinked that they practically became inseparable.
He says, “Having a friendship like that in high school definitely made me feel less alone and that I always had a brother by my side.”
Their friendship blossomed beyond campus. Both Arango and Buth attend the University of Central Florida (UCF). Even during their busiest days, they still find ways to stay in touch while maintaining their studies. Arango is a mechanical engineer and has stated how intensive the workload can be. Even with that, Arango and Buth remain close, but as Arango stated, “We have to sometimes balance school and our social life.”
Although their paths may separate at times, their stories reflect something much bigger—the kind of bond that defines what friendship after graduation can look like. They are a reminder that the time within those four years of high school often fosters long-lasting fellowship.
As timeless as their friendship, there are alumni who consistently reinvent themselves, making just as strong an impression but in a more modern way.
As the “Most Likely to Go Viral” alumni, Irina Garcia and Marlon Tang How proved that their influence extended far beyond the classroom.
Irina Garcia and Marlon Tang How were noticeable members of the Class of 2019. While Garcia and Tang How took very different approaches to this nomination, they both had a positive outlook on it. Garcia saw it as recognition through her socials. Whether it was a post or a story, she emphasized how she never purposefully sought to go viral. She mentions, “I thought it was pretty funny,” feeling as if people voted for her because they knew she had previously gone viral a couple of times.
Garcia went into college to study retail entrepreneurship, graduating from Florida State University (FSU). As of today, she is focused on her book and has opened a shop for book lovers like herself called Booked n Hooked. Although she did not become a millionaire from her fame, she has utilized her recognition from the internet to spread information on a new book that is to be released.
While Garcia wielded her fame to share her passions, Tang How interpreted his title as motivation. He says that during his time at PPCHS, winning his senior superlative made him feel good. Tang How explains, “At the time, it did not mean too much to me. Originally, that was the goal, and it kind of happened for a while. My YouTube channel reached around 25,000 subscribers, but I stopped posting when school and work started getting busier.”
After graduation, Tang How began to choose a different path, stepping away from his love for social media and shifting his focus to his career. Now employed as a full-time engineer, he remains determined to continue down that path. While he leaves one dream behind, he creates new ones for his future.
Reflecting on his journey, Tang How explains, “Becoming an engineer still reflects the same drive and creativity that got me noticed before. It’s just a different type of ‘going viral,’ making an impact in real life instead of online.” As Tang How goes on with his life, he still carries the same motive and drive he had as a senior six years ago.
For these alumni, being recognized as senior superlatives was a monumental moment, but as time has gone on, it has shown how they have grown and changed. The creativity, friendship, and ambition shown through each individual reveal how the spirit of PPCHS continues to live on long after graduation.
Although most past students do not get the opportunity to be titled as a senior superlative, they still share the same fondness as the alumni who were elected. Kaitlyn Jorgenson, a graduate of the class of 2024, shares her perspective on senior superlatives, stating, “I think senior superlatives are a great way to get the whole senior class in some friendly competition, even if it does sometimes turn into a little bit of a popularity contest.”
