WORDS: Kara Chalmers

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

When Ashley Santana-Morales was only eight, her art teacher knew she had a gift.

“She was very artistic,” said Alex Miranda, who then taught at Palmetto Elementary School. “She had her own style already.”

Having your own style at age eight is rare, Miranda said, adding she usually only recognizes personal style in a handful of students in an entire K-5 elementary school. 

“Some …

WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton

When Sophie Potillo dances, she is graceful, precise, and expressive. All things that make her a winner. Sophie, 10 and in fifth grade at Braden River Elementary School, has been succeeding in dance competitions since she was six years old. Of all the dance styles she’s performed — tap, contemporary, hip-hop, and lyrical — jazz is her favorite. “Because it’s sassy,” Sophie said.

At …

WORDS: Kara Chalmers

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

In summer, the Pops Orchestra in Bradenton runs “Camping with the Pops,” an intensive program that gives kids a chance to learn from, rehearse with, and perform alongside professional musicians for three hours every night for a week. While the camp brochure says it’s open to students ages 12-18, this past summer, the youngest cellist was only 10. Wrigley Rinsema, a fifth grader at …

WORDS & PICTURES: Jessica Schubick

Nine local students are heading to the prestigious World Finals of the F1 in Schools competition, after bringing home the first-place trophy at the USA National Championships in February. The winning P1NNACLE team from Manatee County is comprised of students from three area schools – including six competitive and three support team members. Based out of Palmetto High School, the team additionally includes members from …

WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

Bold hues of orange, blue, red, and yellow sweep through McKenzie Ware’s coveted sketchbook, filling hundreds of worn pages with original and creative characters like Oliver who happens to be part crocodile and part cow.

To be exact, McKenzie, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Palmetto Elementary School, has designed 217 Anime-inspired characters that pop off the pages and compete to share their wildly funny …

WORDS: Kara Chalmers

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

E’yannie Gomez loves to write – she always has. In fourth grade at Samoset Elementary School in Bradenton, language arts is a favorite subject because it allows time for E’yannie, 11, to focus on her passion.

Last year, in third grade, when her class had free time and most other students headed straight to the computers to play games, E’yannie – who was enrolled …