Each month, Stars features exceptional students, student-athletes, educators and all-around boons to the Greater Orlando area.

Al Honor                                                

Lake Highland Preparatory School girls basketball coach Al Honor earned his 300th career win earlier this season in his 13th year with the program. All of Honor’s victories have come at LHP, and he has guided the Highlanders to six state championships as well. The 2021 Naismith Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award, he was also recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Women’s College Basketball by Silver Waves Media.

Marquice S. McGee                               

Petty Officer 3rd Class Marquice S. McGee, a native of Orlando, was recognized as Warfighter of the Day aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington in February. Warfighter of the Day is a command program where the ship’s captain personally recognizes an exemplary sailor for his or her accomplishments, and McGee was selected for his leadership skills. He is known for motivating and inspiring his peers, and strongly represents the “Spirit of Freedom,” the ship’s nickname. McGee joined the Navy two years ago and serves as an aviation boatswain’s mate responsible for launching and recovering naval aircraft.

OCPS spelling bee winners

Orange County Public Schools recently announced the top three students of its first regional Scripps Spelling Bee: Elvis Avetis of Discovery Middle School, Nathan Crabbendam of Sunridge Middle School and Velvizhi Sethirayar of Orlando Gifted Academy. The event, hosted by the Foundation for OCPS at Walt Disney World Resort, showcased the talents of 24 student finalists. These three exceptional spellers will represent OCPS from May 26-June 1 as they compete against the nation’s finest young wordsmiths. Disney will help fund expenses for these students as they compete in Washington, D.C.

Wawa

Wawa recently launched the “Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact” initiative, an extension of the convenience retailer’s Fly Beyond program that expands access to fresh and nutritious foods to underserved communities through local Feeding America Food Bank partners. Now through July 28, for every Wawa Kids Meal purchased, Wawa will donate funds to local food bank partners, such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, to provide meals to the community. On average, food bank partners can provide three meals for every $1 donated. Together, Wawa and its customers will be able to fund approximately 45,000 meals per week and nearly one million meals total throughout the duration of the program. The proceeds will support the local Feeding America Food Banks within the store’s operating area.

Know someone who deserves Star Treatment? Submit your nominees to Karen @OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com