RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. – Brianna Luberisse has capped her unprecedented Inlet Grove High School career by taking 1st Place honors in the Communications category of the 37th annual Pathfinder Scholarship Awards.

"Thank you," Luberisse said in a message to Hurricanes staff, "for allowing me to explore all my best abilities and become the leader I am today. Without you this Pathfinders Scholarship, wouldn’t be possible."

Gabriella McDermott also was a Sports category nominee in the prestigious program, of which Hurricanes Pathfinder coordinator Mr. Hanif likes to say, "Being nominated means you’re already a winner. It empowers your resume forever."

Luberisse’s 1st Place feat earned her a $4,000 scholarship. Her accomplishment in the highly competitive program also was an historic first for Inlet Grove High School.

"This recognition did not happen by chance," said Principal Mr. Lopez. "It is the product of hard work, dedication and talent."

PUBLICATIONS CHIEF

Since the first weeks of her freshman year, Editor-in-Chief Luberisse with her laptop and camera has reported on countless activities in and outside of school, while leading the GroveWatch.com, Forecast magazine, and Yearbook staffs.

Throughout her illustrious Cane career, Luberisse herself covered everything from the annual Showcase of Schools, the opening of the Reading Room, football games, Medical Symposiums, Car Shows, cooking contests, fashion shows and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coordinating Committee’s annual scholarship awards breakfast.

Along the way Brianna not only served two internships at the South Florida Times, and amassed skills in TV and Film Production, Graphic Arts, and Web Design from the rest of the Multimedia Academy. She also earned multiple personal awards ranging from community service to photography. Meanwhile, her student publications consistently earned countywide Journalism honors.

TEAM LEADER

Each year Luberisse led her teams to the Palm Beach Post High School Newspaper Workshops and High School Journalism Awards luncheons, as well as Florida Scholastic Press Association conferences, multimedia conferences, and last summer as volunteers during the National Association of Black Journalists Convention.

She also dutifully covered her fellow Canes’ participation in the Pathfinder Awards competition each year. This year, however, Luberisse became the subject of her own Pathfinders success story.

"Her record is exhaustive, her possibilities endless," the announcer quoted from Brianna”s adviser recommendation during the virtual awards ceremony that the corona pandemic banished online from its normal Kravis Center venue. In her own comments to Inlet Grove staff, Luberisse said, "Going to the Pathfinders Ceremony three years in a row and then winning first place in Communications, you can say I didn’t see this coming. I sat there on my living room couch, when they called my name, head in hand and tears running down my cheeks from great appreciation and gratitude."

MORE CANE-TRIBUTIONS 

Luberisse now looks forward to attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md., where she was hosted by the dean and professor of the School of Journalism & Global Communications during their Homecoming Weekend in October. She has received an MSU scholarship as well.

But the Senior Class president has a few more Cane-tributions coming before she leaves, including her address during the school’s Virtual Graduation on May 28.

"This is not goodbye but a see you later," said Luberisse while expressing her gratitude.

"A shout-out to the teachers and administrators that supported Brianna’s efforts!" said Canes Media Specialist Mrs. Bell in a message to the staff.

"It is a good day to be a Hurricane," added Principal Lopez. "Go Brianna! Go Multimedia Academy and Go Canes!"

This is an edited version of the report in GroveWatch.com, the online student news site of Inlet Grove Community High school, where South Florida Times Editor C.B. Hanif is a Journalism instructor in the Multimedia Academy, and Brianna

Luberisse is editor-in-chief of the school’s student publications. It appeared May 21 and is reprinted with permission.