A bow to Manatee High’s 2026 Outstanding Alumni Class being inducted Thursday evening at the Bradenton Country Club.
The honorees are the late William Rennagel (Class of 1960) Military Achievement; Judge Gilbert Smith, Jr. (’69) Community Achievement; Dr. Daniel Pope, Jr. (’70) Professional Achievement; Thomas Moseley (’74) Community Achievement; Attorney Mark Barnebey (‘75) Service and Support to MHS; and Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Sellitto (’97) Heroic Achievement.
· That’s 47 years of wedded bliss for Janie and Dan Gibbs.
· Westminster Manor resident Margaret Smelser was named Volunteer of the Year and will be honored at Westminster’s Orlando headquarters with other state winners.
· Paul Maechtle is 74 years young.
· Big ups to Sarii Shields, Bayshore High’s 2026 state champion in the 100-meter dash (11.63), and Riley Michaud, Parrish Community High’s first state track-and-field champion, in the triple jump.
· Well done to 2026 Manatee School Counselor Association Scholarship recipients Lorah Cerfrère (Southeast), who will major in nursing at State College of Florida, and Jenna Herbert (Parrish), who will study dental hygiene at Hillsborough Community College.
· And congrats to Parrish senior Hailey Lipham, 2026 Young Artist Scholarship recipient in Theatre-Drama from the Manatee Arts Education Council.
· Big ups to Rowlett Middle Academy’s Suncoast Charter School League Boys Soccer Champions. Coached by Josh McGarry, Tyler Daugherty and Wade Hamilton, the Falcons are Tomas Aristizabal, Mahmoud Bockef, Nathaniel Brito, Angel Calderon, Leo Casique, Nate Clark, Jasper Daugherty, Liam Hamilton, Luke LaBarr, Otto Lobo, Alex Marchegiani, Finnegan McGarry, Trenton Pelayo, Mateo Petrelli, Chase Reynolds, Riley Reynolds, Steven Sheehan, Enzo Souza and Cohen Weber.
· Carol Beck is 39. Again.
· Kelli Kennedy, too.
· And Sharon Scarbrough.
· Props to Nolan Middle’s 2026 Flag Football Manatee School District Champions. Coached by Chandler Coultrip and Justin Klawans, the Colts are Logan Corbin, Giovanni D’Espinosa, Dereon Edwards, Andrew Gongo, Phillip Gutek, Blake Harpsoe, Noah Jackson, Gabriel Johnson, Keegan Kotlarczyk, Clayton Medford, Wesley Mignery, Hunter Nuth, Caleb Sawyer, Maya Taylor, Parker Taylor, Cooper Volpi, Grady Wiedeman, Pierce Williams and Jaxson Zabawa.
· And props to Buffalo Creek Middle’s 2026 Girls Volleyball District Champions. Coached by Katelyn Rodd and Nancy Fetzner, the Hawks are Emory Acevedo, Farrah Barnes, Avery Byer, Jordyn Hubbard, Ivy Hyatt, Paisley Hyatt, Dionna Juliano, Harper Mangotic, Guilliana Norato, Izabella Pallares, Lola Ross, Katie Ramsaier, Nahla Ryder, Bailee Sharp and Mara Smith.
· Happy trails to Palmetto Assistant Police Chief Mike Stinson (35 years) and City of Bradenton firefighter and EMT David Hedgman (30).
· Good luck to Saint Stephen’s college signees Harry Jones, York University (football), Corbin Franklin, Lindenwood (weightlifting), Nicholas Pagnotta, Naval Academy (lacrosse) and William Wang, Baruch College (tennis).
· And Senior Engineering Specialist Chris Zitzow is Manatee County’s May Team Member of the Month.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN’S PEOPLE: Manatee High to honor 2026 Outstanding Alumni Class
Reporting by Vin Mannix, Special to the Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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