Alachua student ranks among top graduates at Florida Virtual School
Press release from Florida Virtual School
ORLANDO, Fla. — As high school graduation season approaches across Florida, thousands of students are preparing to complete their high school education. Among them are four seniors from Florida Virtual High School (FVHS) who earned the highest academic rankings in their graduating class, representing diverse academic pathways and extracurricular involvement.
FVHS, part of Florida Virtual School (FLVS), serves students statewide through a fully online public high school. The school allows students to complete coursework virtually while participating in dual enrollment, extracurricular activities, and community engagement. The Class of 2026 includes 1,499 graduates from 57 counties, making it the largest graduating class in the school’s history.
The top four students in the FVHS Class of 2026, recognized for earning the highest grade point averages in their class, are:
Lillian White, Alachua:
White dedicated her high school years to exploring both healthcare and the arts. She volunteered in hospice care and spent four years working alongside a cardiac sonographer. An FLVS student since eighth grade and an acrobat, she leveraged the program’s flexibility to pursue advanced acrobatic training, including relocating to Vermont. White plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, to study molecular environmental biology, with the goal of attending medical school and pursuing a career in emergency medicine.
Suhayb Samara, Pembroke Pines:
Samara balanced his high school courses with dual enrollment courses at Polk State College, earning an Associate of Arts degree while still in high school. He managed a formalwear and urban-wear business and participated in community service through his local mosque, including food distribution and donation drives. He plans to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering at a four-year university, with an interest in applying technology to healthcare.
Luca Voros, Sarasota:
Voros combined his coursework with research in computer science and computational biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kellis Lab and Queen Mary University of London. His work focused on machine learning, natural language processing, and the analysis of complex biological data, including the development and training of models to better understand patterns in human health. He will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he plans to study computer science and molecular biology.
D’Liyah Lubin, Miramar:
Lubin served as president of the 12th-grade student government and was active in national academic organizations, including the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). She also volunteered with Miami-Dade County Teen Court, providing peer support through an online platform. Lubin completed more than 100 hours of community service and earned an Associate of Science degree in early childhood education through dual enrollment at Polk State College. She plans to attend Florida International University to study finance before pursuing law school.
The FVHS Class of 2026 stands out for its exceptional academic accomplishments and commitment to excellence. Among this year’s graduates, 50 students earned the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma, and 18 completed associate degrees through dual enrollment programs. Students collectively completed 1,454 Advanced Placement courses over four years, and hundreds earned academic honors, including 357 students graduating summa cum laude.
Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools will hold its in-person commencement ceremony for graduating seniors on May 29, bringing together students and families from across the state.
“This year’s top graduates exemplify what’s possible when students are empowered to pursue their passions alongside their academics,” said Suzanna Pacheco, principal of Florida Virtual High School. “Their achievements reflect not only academic excellence, but the dedication, creativity, and resilience that define the FVHS Class of 2026.”