East Bay Seniors Excel Together Through the Years

It is possibly just a coincidence that three outstanding students could be lifelong friends. More likely, however, their close friendship has helped each of them over the years to stand out, to excel.

For East Bay High School Valedictorian Katie Relihan, Salutatorian Patrick Thornton and class president Sandy DonLevy their years of education has had a common theme. Through it all, they’ve been together.

Despite that each of them will be attending different colleges in the fall, the advantages that are provided by their friendship will not likely diminish.

"We all hang out every weekend," said Relihan.

The three of them have gone through Ruskin Elementary, Eisenhower Middle School and East Bay High School together. They all live close to each other and they all share a lifetime of memories.

Together they endured the miles of cross-country and track after Thornton talked Relihan into joining him and DonLevy in the sport. "I thought that it couldn’t be that bad if we were all in it together," said Relihan.

Beginning next month, however, their roads in life will begin to diverge. Each will be attending a different college yet it is likely that each will share in the future pitfalls and success that their chosen roads will hold. Their lifetime friendship will likely be a bridge between their lives.

Relihan’s road will take her to Wofford College in South Carolina where she plans to play soccer and study pre-medicine. Her goal is to become a radiologist.

Her summer will be spent hanging out and looking for a job.

"This is a turning point," she said. "I don’t want to leave but I want to leave."

In just a few short weeks Thornton will make his way to the University of Florida where he plans on working towards becoming an actuary.

Showing the strong sense of motivation that all three obviously share, Thornton will begin his collegiate career early, beginning with summer school on June 28.

"I’m excited," he said. "The University of Florida isn’t too far away, though."

DonLevy will attend Florida State University in the fall. "I’m going to major in criminology," she said. "My long-term goal is to become an FBI agent someday."

"I’m sad about leaving East Bay," she said. "It’s been the best four years of my life. But in the same sense I’m ready for new beginnings, new things. I’m ready to begin a new chapter."

DonLevy will spend her summer working at Circles in Apollo Beach. She is also going to help coach a summer league basketball team.

For the graduating seniors, the classes are now over but college hasn’t started. It’s time to sit back and enjoy the moment. DonLevy and Thornton plan to do just that in the short time remaining before they take their separate roads. Next month they are planning to take a road trip to Michigan.

"I think this is the hardest part," said DonLevy. "We’ve always been together, we could always say ‘hey - do you want to go to a movie?’ and now we’ll be apart."

The bridge they have built between their lives, however, will likely always keep them together.