Students Recognized At Osceola Creek

Osceola Creek Middle School recently announced the recipients of September’s Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by the school police and honors varsity athletes who also excel in academics, effort, behavior and school spirit, and serve as a role model for others. September’s honorees, two eighth-grade students, carry high grade point averages and play varsity sports.

Karie Abel was honored by girls softball. “It is with great pleasure that I nominate Karie Abel for Scholar-Athlete of the Month,” Athletic Director Judy DeCosta said. “As a member of the Osceola Creek Middle School girls softball team, she has demonstrated hard work, leadership and determination.”

Abel is a member of the Culinary Arts Academy, band and she is also on the girls basketball and track teams at Osceola Creek. She demonstrates great success in the classroom as well by maintaining a 5.14 GPA. “We are extremely proud to have Karie Abel represent Osceola Creek as Scholar Athlete of the Month,” DeCosta said.

Abel has perfect attendance and, despite being a multi-sport athlete, is a straight-A student. As a sixth grader, she achieved the outstanding percussionist award in band and was recently elected secretary of the National Junior Honor Society. She hopes to attend the University of Florida as a precursor to a career in paleontology.

Boys baseball honored Andrew Dutil. “Andrew is a captain on the Osceola Creek baseball team,” coach Pete Pagliaro said. “He is the team’s starting pitcher, and he maintains a 3.38 GPA in school. He is a leader and role model for the younger players.”

Dutil, who also plays on the school’s basketball team, has perfect attendance for the year. His career goals are in professional baseball or in firefighting.

ABOVE: Osceola Creek Middle School Principal Nicole Daly, Andrew Dutil, Karie Abel and Officer Sandy Molenda.