Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Hamilton County High School (HCHS) recently announced that 11th grader Hayden Tabor was selected to represent HCHS as the 2025 Sunshine State Scholar, a prestigious title placed on a student who has excelled in their studies. “Every year, we are tasked with selecting a student from the junior class that has performed well in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field,” HCHS Principal Ryan Mitchell said. “Hayden has performed far and above at school and was an easy choice.” Hayden has shown HCHS how passionate he is about his studies and his future. He is currently dual-enrolled at North Florida College (NFC), with a path to obtain his Associate in Arts degree when he graduates. He is currently enrolled in two classes at NFC: general chemistry and college algebra. He hopes that he will earn a scholarship to the University of Florida, where he would like to major in engineering. “I am super proud of Hayden,” Tiffany Tabor, Hayden’s mother, said. “I don’t have to worry about him getting his work done. He excels in everything he does.” Tiffany, an elementary school teacher in Hamilton County, moved Hayden and his sister, Gracie, down from Valdosta, Ga., years ago. She said that being in a quiet, rural area has helped to keep the Tabors rooted in Hamilton County. Aside from his studies, Hayden is an athlete on the HCHS varsity basketball team. According to Mitchell, Hayden is the current high point scorer for the Trojans, scoring an average of 22 points per game. Hayden said that if he was offered to play in the National Basketball Association, he would take the offer immediately. For now, he is solely focused on his effort to excel in school and prepare for college after he graduates next year. According to the Sunshine State Scholars website, each scholar, along with their parents, will travel to Orlando in the spring for a program designed to bring together scholars from around the state, connect them with employers that specialize in the STEM fields, and create a networking opportunity between the scholars and schools from Florida’s College and State University System. “Hayden will meet with other students, hear speakers from across the state, and will be recognized at a dinner and reception,” Mitchell said. “Hayden will proudly represent Hamilton County this year.” Hayden is prepared for a bright future and hopes to see those who come after him succeed in life. Hayden shared some words of encouragement for his peers and students in other grades that wish to pursue a successful education in STEM: “Work hard, try your best on all your work, and you can do anything.”