Representatives from the State Board of Education recently visited our area to hold their September meeting. At the meeting, Commissioner Pam Stewart made a very special presentation to one of our very own outstanding Immokalee High School students, Raul Soliz. Soliz was recognized with the distinguished Commissioner’s Leadership Award. The Commissioner’s Leadership Award recognizes Florida students (enrolled in K-12, College and Career and Adult Education, as well as Blind Services and Vocational Rehabilitation) who have overcome significant hurdles to achieve their academic and personal goals. While at Immokalee High School, Soliz has taken dual enrollment and AICE level courses. He currently holds a 3.598 weighted GPA and is an exemplary student all around. With so much success, you would never guess the challenges that Soliz faced growing up. While in seventh grade, Soliz tragically lost his father. In turn, the family suffered hardships and Soliz’s grandmother was given custody of him and his siblings. While the death of his father is something that will be with him always, he has not let it stop him from achieving his goals and has flourished in his grandmother’s care. In addition to his academic achievements, Soliz has played lacrosse for two years and was voted a team captain his junior year. He is also an acting member of the No Barriers Youth program which is a premier educational program challenging young people to contribute their absolute best to the world. This young man is an inspiration to all of us and we congratulate him on his accomplishments and perseverance.