BRIANA CASANOVA

Briana Casanova is the 17-year-old daughter or Carmen and Fernando Casanova. She has been living in the area for the past 6 years, and during her high school career has involved herself with varsity cheer and varsity soccer. Apart from sports, Casanova has been inducted into NHS and has been a part other clubs such as Student Government and the Tiger to Cub program, as well as helping the Drama club. While balancing all of these activities, she has managed to maintain her a “high honors” GPA while also staying active with her church as a regular volunteer.

When asked about her feelings over becoming Miss DHS, she says that “it would mean I’d be a good leader, and I’d want to support our school even more. It would also help me meet more people. I’d be proud to be Miss DHS.”

Her future plans include attending either FSU or UF in order to go into the medical programs. Casanova plans on using her post-secondary education to become a prenatal nurse.

RACHEL HORNE

Rachel Horne is a 17 year old Junior at Dunnellon High School. She lives with her parents and has three siblings, two older brothers, Calvin and Casey, and an older siser Erica. Horne is an academically successful student as well as extracurricular genius. She is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement Language and two honors courses while maintaining a 4.3 GPA.

While in high school, Horne has been a member of National Honor Society, Student Government, and Yearbook committee. In her free time, she also volunteers at her local church and submits articles to the Riverland Newspaper. In 2010, Horne was awarded All-State for Journalism from the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Two years in a row, Horne has received a certificate for having a 3.5 GPA or above. Recently, she has been named Athlete of the Week in the Riverland Newspaper.

Horne said that coming from a big family doesn’t give her much opportunity for individuality. “Just being on prom court means that I broke out of that mold,” said Horne. “If I could be the one that does something different than they did, it would mean the world to me.”

Rachel Horne’s goals for the future include attending the College of Central Florida for two years and then enrolling to Santa Fe Community College or the University of Florida. “I’d like to remain as close to my parents as possible.” added Horne. She aspires to major in business and minor in photography in hopes of one day owning her own portrait studio.

RICHIE LITTERINE

Richie Litterine the 17 year-old son of Rich and Bonnie Litterine.

After graduating high school, Litterine plans to continue being involved in Television

Production.  He has a 3.7 weighted GPA and participates in extracurricular activities such as golf and varsity baseball.

Litterine also has 2 brothers and a sister.  

Litterine said, “I would represent DHS well because I do well in my classes and participate in sports.” 

Two of his classes are AP U.S History and AP English Language.  When asked if he would “stay classy” if he ever became famous, he replied with an adamant, “Of course, of course!”

TIA LOVE

Tia Love is the 16 year old daughter of Randy and Terri Love. She has maintained a 3.5 GPA for her three years of high school so far, and is determined to raise it even more. Love has challenged herself academically with AP and honors classes and has been recently inducted into NHS.

Love also challenges herself outside of school, volunteering at Dunnellon Elementary and at Relay for Life, being a member of the Tennis and Volleyball team, and even being a member of the cheerleading squad her freshman year.

Beyond high school, Love plans to start her post-secondary education at the College of Central Florida, and then transferring into a university with hopes of a profession in Radiology. When asked about possibly becoming the next Miss DHS, she says that she would like “to be a good role model and to inspire the students to do better and achieve more in their schoolwork.”

ZAHYRIMAR OTERO

Mr. and Mrs. DHS candidates were chosen for next year’s class of 2013 five girls and six boys. One of the candidates is Zahyrimar Otero Diaz, 16 years old from Puerto Rico, speaking two different languages, Spanish and English. Attending Dunnellon High School since her freshman year, she is looking forward to her senior year. She is taking two honors and two AP classes, along with playing in the school sport volleyball. In her spare time she plays other sports like softball and track and fielding.

Everything she does her family is always there to support her, having five siblings, three brothers, Hector, Omar, Samir and two sisters, Tatiana and Marian. Zahyrimar loves being with her family, and spending time together with them. Even if she is always busy with her schooling she manages to put everything in her schedule. Even after school clubs, the Spanish club, NHS and student council.

Zahyrimar believes if she were chosen to be Mrs. DHS she would represent the DHS students in all different forms responsibility, goals for life, and respect. But the main thing she is excited about is having her friends, teachers and her parents to be proud of her and support her all the way. Also next year it would be awesome to crown next year’s winners.

DANIELLE PRINZ

Danielle Prinz is not just another 17-year-old that attends Dunnellon High School, but a talented teen that is enrolled in three different Advanced Placement Courses including AP Literature & Composition as well as AP Physics and AP Chemistry. However, academics are not the only appetizer on the platter that is Danielle Prinz.

Prinz also participates in a plethora of extracurricular activities that cause her to be an incredible participant in all fields of school. Being a member of the Dunnellon High School Tennis Team, President of the junior class for Student Government, and a newly inducted member of the National Honor Society, Prinz contributes to some of the school’s most important programs.

Not only that, but Prinz is the sole founder of the Tiger-to-Cub program, a program where students of DHS participate in tutoring/mentoring students of Dunnellon Elementary School! From participating so extensively in the program that she helped create, Prinz has already logged in over 400 hours of community service as well.

Prinz’s academics are nothing to take for granted either, being a Dunnellon High School Sunshine Scholar, the 2012 nominee for Girls State, and being ranked the #1 junior in her class with a weighted GPA of 4.76.

Danielle Prinz also has a hidden talent that very well surprised me. She has danced at the Victoria School of Dance in Dunnellon for 7 years, although she does not attend there anymore. Learning dance styles like ballet, tap jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical, Prinz makes up to be a very talented student of Dunnellon High School, and an amazing nominee for the Mr. & Mrs. DHS pageant.

NICK RODRIGUEZ

Unlike some of the other individuals on the Mr. and Mrs. DHS court, Nicholas Rodriguez did not at all expect to hear his name being said on the morning announcement revealing the eleven nominees. 

“I was completely taken by surprise,” said Rodriguez, “I knew I was kind of liked but I never expected to be chosen as part of the court.” 

Rodriguez, seventeen, is the son of April Bologna who actually stays in Hernando but wanted strongly for her son Nicholas to attend Dunnellon High School after seeing his older brother and sister graduate from the same school. Says Rodriguez, 

“I could not be happier that I am attending DHS. It is a great school and I am glad that I could also potentially be representing it if I were to win the title of Mr. DHS.” 

Rodriguez currently holds a 3.7 GPA and is enrolled in two Advanced Placement, A.P. U.S. History and A.P. Language and Composition, and two Honors classes, Algebra II Honors and Chemistry Honors. 

After high school Rodriguez plans on pursuing a career as an architect by studying at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida and is currently taking a construction course while in high school in preparation. 

Though his nomination came as a surprise, Rodriguez is now a little more confident in his chances of winning. 

“I’m still shocked that I was one of the six guys to be picked out of the entire Junior class,” says Rodriguez, “initially I didn’t think I had a chance of winning but now I think that my chances are just as good as anyone else on the court.”

GABRIEL SAATHOFF

Gabriel Saathoff is a 16 year old junior and the son of Beth Steward. He has maintained a 3.3 GPA throughout his high school career and has been a resident of Dunnellon for the past 11 years, after moving here from Pensacola, Florida.

Saathoff is currently enrolled in honors courses and has become a member of the Spanish club as well. Outside of his academics, he is involved in extracurricular activities such as running track, playing football, and cooking in Culinary Arts. Speaking of Culinary Arts, he has been recognized as one of the four Chefs of the year.

Saathoff said that “it would be a good opportunity for me; I would have the chance to be a great role model, and it would help me get recognized by future colleges. I think it would be a good fit for me because I’m outgoing and I would really enjoy the experience.”

When he gets out of high school, he plans to go to college and eventually become a chiropractor or part of a fire/rescue team.

QUENTON SMITH

Quenton Smith is the 18 year old son of Loretta and James Smith. His is a busy hardworking student, and has upheld a GPA over 3.5 for the past three years while taking all honors classes. He is an active student participating in the Drama club and Student Government. Smith can be seen Smith in the mornings on the announcements on TigerVision, and won the Fame Award for his video on dog abuse during his sophomore year.

Smith has worked with children at Dunnellon Elementary reading the Cat in the Hat to them and caring for them during a meeting with parents for FCAT testing. Over the years he has accumulated over 104 hours of community service and is looking forward to collecting more his senior year. He participated in Relay for Life, where his idea for changing the luminary bags from HOPE to CARE was a success.

 He also ran track in his freshman and sophomore year placing 3^rd in districts.

Smith’s future goals are to attend the University of Miami to get his degree in psychology. After he graduates from UM he plans to travel to California to pursue a career in acting.

 “I know that with winning comes great responsibilities and I love doing those responsibilities because it makes me feel accomplished to know that my peers look up to me,” said Smith, “I think I would represent DHS just as well as the past winners.”

ALEX STETZ

Alex Stetz is a 17 year old junior with a love of hard work: whether it’s on the football field, in the classroom, in his community, or at his home. He aspires big for himself after high school and is a great model for any young man.

At school, he maintains a 4.0 GPA with the help of his two AP classes. He toils diligently in the Power Generation Academy and often times can be found there after school. He is the offensive and defensive tackle for the Varsity Tigers Football team, and is a valuable part of the leadership program.

He is a member of the Tiger to Cub program and frequently visits the elementary school to tutor and bond with his fourth grade buddy.

At home, he tries to clean up his neighborhood and make the roads nicer for everyone, and there is never a time when someone is broken down or in need of assistance on the side of the road when he won’t stop and help them.

After he completes high school he plans to receive a scholarship to a four year college and work his way into the nuclear field, with his secondary choice of starting as an apprentice at Progress Energy in Crystal River.

“Being Mr. DHS would be a good way to enact change for our class and be a positive representative for the rest of the students,” said Stetz, “Thank you for this opportunity.”

CONNOR WENTZ

Hard work, dedication and perseverance are three words out of many that represent Connor Wentz. Wentz is a 17-year old junior attending DHS and is a candidate for Mr. DHS.

Not many teenage guys would want to have such responsibilities, but to Connor it would be an honor. Not only did he want to be on court, but winning is also what he hopes for because he believes it would be a pretty cool experience to represent our school and the class of 2013.

Wentz wants to show the school the real him, to be himself, and he hopes people vote for him because they think he qualifies for the title. Wentz very much does qualify, being an active member of FFA and NHS and playing two varsity sports – baseball and football – and being in the top 5 of his class with a 4.0 unweighted GPA.

If chosen as Mr. DHS, Wentz looks forward to hosting Homecoming Week and announcing Homecoming King and Queen.

After high school Wentz plans to attend a university to play sports and pursue a degree in chemical engineering.