Academy at the Lakes

Live generously!

Philanthropy and community service are at the heart of an Academy education! From feeding the hungry to clothing the homeless to beach and roadside cleanups, our students are making a true impact in the community. As a graduation requirement, our Wildcats must complete 150 hours of community service, and they do so with pride and with a sense of purpose. Yet another reason Academy is so special!

Life is instrumental.

Music is a way of life at Academy at the Lakes. We require our 5th and 6th graders to play an instrument, many of them developing into All-State performers. Even our Head of School is a classically trained cellist! We have a robust music culture here at Academy, and we believe in the positive benefits that playing an instrument provides. Here is a quick read from the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio explaining those benefits.
https://www.sanantoniomusicschools.com/music-lessons/

Leader by example!

Coach Shawn Brown is a selfless leader dedicated to improving the lives of others through athletics. He recently returned to his hometown of Adrian, Michigan to host his free annual basketball camp, teaching basketball skills and life lessons. We are not surprised by his generosity and devotion because we are fortunate enough to see this every day at Academy at the Lakes. Thanks, Coach Brown!

Basketball camp returns to Adrian for two days this week with lessons in teamwork, discipline Former Adrian resident Shawn Brown is coming back to town where on Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, he will conduct his basketball camp at Parish Park.

Did you know?

When the College Softball World Series got underway in May, an amazing showdown took place between two former Academy at the Lakes Wildcats as pitcher versus batter. It was a surreal moment between Lexi Kilfoyl and Kendra Falby - one they will likely never forget. Here is the rest of the story.
https://academyatthelakes.org/2024/07/wildcats-at-the-world-series/

Did you know?

In 2002, Academy at the Lakes celebrated its first graduating class with a class size of 4! Nicole Faulkner, Jillian Napier, Steven Stillman and Nadia Naviwala were part of the inaugural class with the graduation ceremony taking place at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel.

Academy opened in August 1992 with 20 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, but school founder Richard Wendlek had much grander plans telling the Tampa Bay Times back in 2002, "my vision was for a preparatory school that provided kids with a strong sense of community that would allow certain signature programs_ a virtue-based curriculum as well as a strong (fine) arts program." You can read the entire Tampa Bay Times article about the first graduation class at this link provided.
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/05/15/academy-at-the-lakes-to-graduate-first-class/

Man on the move!

Congratulations to rising 5th grader Chance Munn for earning All-American honors and for qualifying for the Junior Olympics. Chance recently competed at an AAU Track & Field meet at the University of North Florida where he raced in the 3000M run, 4x800M relay, and threw the javelin. He finished extremely well in all three events and will now compete at the Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina at the end of the month. Way to go, Chance!

The write stuff!

When it comes to the benefits of learning, writing by hand far exceeds typing on a keyboard. Why? Writing by hand activates nearly the entire brain, enhancing learning and memory. The brain is not challenged when it is pressing keys on a keyboard as opposed to when it’s forming those letters by hand. In particular, when students type notes, they do not learn and retain the same way they would if writing by hand.

From thank you notes to grocery lists to good old-fashioned letters to Santa, how do you put pen to paper?

Did you know?

Long before Academy at the Lakes became the top private school in Pasco County, it was home to a man named LeRoy Crowder Jr. It was built in 1960 and when the estate was up for sale, it was billed as "one of Florida's finest residences on 4 1/2 lakefront acres" that included a pool, guest house and even a Rolls Royce with the purchase of this "superb Georgian residence." The asking price - $395,000! As we continue to expand and grow as a school, it's nice to pause and take a look back!

Recommendations please!

On average, reading 10 minutes a night equates to roughly 1 million more words a year! If a child reads an additional 20 minutes a night, he or she will read 20 million more words between kindergarten and high school than a child who does not read. So, read a book. Expand your vocabulary. Learn new thoughts and ideas. Let's go!

Please let us know what you are reading this summer.

What a moment!

It was a proud Academy moment when softball greats Lexi Kilfoyl '19 and Molly Blackwood '24 faced each other on the diamond over the weekend. As part of an exhibition tournament, Lexi and Team USA played Molly and the Great Britain National Team in a series of games meant to prepare both teams for their upcoming summer schedules. How amazing!

Meanwhile, Lexi and Team USA play the Japanese All-Stars in Japan later this week. And Molly, after playing with the Great Britain National Team will be a freshman on the Bethune-Cookman softball team. We are so proud of both!

Academy at the Lakes PreK3-12th Grade independent school celebrating the love of learning and the joy in the journey.

Only you can control your future!

An emerging theme so far this summer is how our students are actively taking control of their futures through internships and specialty camps. That theme continues with rising junior Niyathi Muralidhar who recently was featured in a University of South Florida news article about the Biomedical Engineering camp she attended. In the article, Niyathi said that she attended camp because she is interested in a career in biomed.

Last year, Niyathi was part of HOSA - Future Health Professionals at Academy and placed 3rd in Regionals in Health Informatics. Way to go, Niyathi!

https://www.usf.edu/news/2024/record-number-of-summer-campers-flock-to-campuses-for-fun-and-career-exploration.aspx

Power of persuasion!

It is Ocean Pollution Awareness Week in Lakeland thanks to the dedication and determination of Vaishnavi Rednam '25. As this year's Miss Swan City, Vaishnavi has used her influence to create positive change in the community. Through the power of persuasion, Vaishnavi convinced Mayor William Mutz to dedicate a week to the conservation of our waterways. Way to go, Vaishnavi, and thanks for leading the way!

Scrubs!

A few Academy students spent this week receiving hands-on training in the health care profession. Rising freshmen Sophia Fulkroad, Siena Squires and Shiven Patel attended Health Care Camp at St. Joseph's Hospital learning everything from swaddling newborns to respiratory therapy. The trio also toured operating rooms, imagine labs and ambulances. The camp provides the opportunity for students to figure out if a career in health care is something they would like to pursue. As a special bonus, Sophia was featured in a story about the camp as told by WUSF(NPR Radio). Way to go and have a listen.

A health care camp in Tampa gives these teens a glimpse into their future careers The three-day camp offers high schoolers a look at the life of nurses, surgeons, therapists and other jobs in the hopes of inspiring future health workers.

Always amazed, never surprised.

Our graduates continue to accomplish the incredible. Bobby Pesch '20 is one of seven graduates from the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering to receive the 2024 National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM. Way to go, Bobby. The future looks bright!

The cool kids!

In case you missed it, our World Champion Odyssey of the Mind team was featured on Fox13. We may be biased, but we think it's a story worth telling! Have a look and thanks to everyone who made this happen.

Land O' Lakes high schoolers earn Odyssey of the Mind world championship title High schoolers from the Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes are the newest Odyssey of the Mind world champions.

It is that time again! Mark your calendars and get ready to step into a world of enchantment at the Academy at the Lakes Gala and Auction on Saturday, February 22, 2025!

While we aren't ready to unlock the theme just yet, we can promise a delightful cocktail hour, a delectable seated meal, one-of-a-kind silent auction offerings, live music, and more!

Surprises await as we come together for our annual semi-formal adults-only affair in support of Academy at the Lakes!

Stay tuned for more information and opportunities to support this important event! We can only keep this fun theme under lock and key for so long!

Hero!

Big time shoutout to Academy alumnus John Mesropian '14 for earning the Citizen Medal of Valor Award by the City of Tampa Police Department. On Sunday, October 29th 2023, Tampa Police responded to reports of a shooting taking place on 7th Avenue. In the face of danger, John and others "stepped up to save lives and provide crucial assistance to the victims including administering tourniquets to victims, preventing them from succumbing to life-threatening wounds." Thank you, John for your bravery and being an inspiration!