RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFLA) — He is confronted loss, led via service, and by no means overpassed his mission. Information Channel 8 profiled this Hillsborough County teen 5 years in the past as he helped first responders in the course of the pandemic.
Gavin Floyd acquired a giant honor Thursday: $10,000 to assist him as he graduates from highschool and takes his subsequent large step.
A senior at Riverview Excessive College, Floyd’s journey hasn’t been straightforward. However Thursday, the teenager who turned tragedy into goal bought a shock celebration.
This wasn’t your common scholarship ceremony. They often come to pillage and plunder, however Thursday, the pirates have been giving again. In true Tampa Bay style, pirates delivered the prize.
“There’s not loads that we will do individually, however there’s loads that we will do after we contribute to the collective effort. And I am pleased to be again,” Floyd stated.
Information Channel 8 first met Gavin again in 2020, when he created 3D printed masks frames for navy and first responders in the course of the pandemic.
“All the pieces I’ve accomplished, from the 3D printed masks service undertaking and creating a 3D printed ophthalmic scope some time in the past and sort of testing it and sort of distributing it via the World Well being Group, every part I’ve sort of accomplished has been culminating to that giving again, that service earlier than self,” Floyd stated.
He is led his classmates within the pool and on the observe, whereas researching in his spare time. Nevertheless it was a tragedy, not titles, that formed his path. He misplaced his father, and every part modified.
“My freshman yr of highschool, my dad did get in an accident. He did move away. And that was sort of life altering for me. You recognize, you by no means assume it can occur to you till it does,” Floyd stated.
With a 6.2 weighted GPA, he’s heading to the air power academy with a $10,000 scholarship from the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla to fund his analysis and training.
“The analysis we’ve to fund privately, and this can assist fund our analysis,” Floyd stated. “I knew that going to the Air Drive Academy is the place I sort of belonged.”
Floyd stated he plans to develop into a pilot. He and one different pupil acquired a scholarship for his or her future from the krewe.
