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DELTONA, Fla. — Spectrum News has awarded four scholarships to exemplary students across Central Florida.
Students were nominated by faculty after demonstrating excellence in academics, sports, or volunteer work.
The Spectrum News 13 team is excited to announce Deltona High School senior Sydney Smith as the Volusia County recipient, naming her a Spectrum News High School Scholar.
For any high schooler, it’s important to make time to do your work, but Smith isn’t your average high school student.
The Deltona High School senior is top of her class, even though she actually hasn’t stepped foot in a classroom since her freshman year.
“I decided to dual enroll, meaning that I’m taking college classes in place of my high school courses. So, it allows me to be in a more academic environment I feel,” shared Smith.
She’s been a full-time dual enrollment student at Daytona State and received her associates in arts degree in December 2024 at 16-years-old.
It’s a feat that took careful planning and balancing.
“It comes with the challenge of time management because there’s not always a teacher to follow you around all of the time,” Smith explained. “So, I’d say that’s the biggest shift for me.”
During her last semester, Smith is taking one college class and an online high school course.
Smith says she was inspired by her parents, who both work in education and set an example to find success.
“They’re both incredibly hard workers. Ever since I was young, you know my mom has two jobs just because that’s just who she is and my dad has always just been somebody that has believed in me,” Smith said.
But her accolades and commitments don’t stop at school. She works 20 hours a week at Sephora, has volunteered more than 2,400 hours and even had a chance to become a medical intern at a hospital in Honduras, all with a 4.8 weighted GPA.
“Before, I was really wanting the high school experience and wanted to be involved with sports and clubs and different things like that. And now, being a senior, I have a job. I’m focused on making money, saving for college, like all of the big girl things,” Smith said. “Paying for stuff for a car, you know that next chapter, which I wasn’t ready for, for a long time, but now I feel like I am.”
She also likes to stay active and played linebacker and wide receiver for her Deltona High School flag football team until a recent ACL tear left her on crutches.
But that didn’t stop her from being celebrated on senior night and cheering her team on to victory.
“It’s good to see them. They’re working as a team, so I am proud of them,” Smith said. “I’m struggling sitting over here, yeah. But one girl has my shorts on and another has my jersey, so that makes me happy!”
Smith shared that this year of playing has been extra special to her because of the way her team jumped from one of the worst records to one of the best.
And while she won’t be able to finish her magical season on the field, Smith says she’s excited about her future attending Harding University to become a physician’s assistant.
She’s looking to capture her goals on and off the field, sharing wisdom well beyond her years.
“Never forget the people that have gotten you to where you are because all of these things are a sum of people who believed in me, who have poured into me, and encouraged me because I could have never done this all myself,” Smith said. “It’s not because of me, it’s because of them.”
Smith’s passion for her education and perseverance in every obstacle she faces is why she is a Spectrum News High School Scholar.
She has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship, which will go toward her physician’s assistant degree at Harding University.
