Plato Academy Tarpon Springs Celebrates the Class of 2026
Plato Academy Tarpon Springs Class of 2026 Crosses the Stage and Heads to High School.
The Plato Academy Tarpon Springs campus marked the close of the 2025-2026 school year with the graduation ceremony of its eighth grade class, the Warriors Class of 2026. Families filled the seats, teachers took the stage one by one, and a group of students who have, in many cases, been together since kindergarten said goodbye to the school that shaped them.
“The education they received at Plato Academy does not stay behind when they graduate. It travels with them, quietly showing up every time the preparation matters.”
What Did the Plato Academy Class of 2026 Accomplish Academically?
Principal Emily Heilman opened the ceremony by putting a number on the table that stopped more than a few parents mid-applause: 105 high school credits earned collectively by the graduating class before any of them had officially started high school. Those credits span courses including Greek language levels one and two, Algebra, Geometry, and English One, a range that reflects Plato Academy’s long-standing commitment to academic rigor at the middle school level. Several students also participated in a college language assessment test, with results still pending at the time of the ceremony.
“You have challenged yourselves both athletically and academically,” Heilman told the graduates, “excelling on the field, in the courts, and in the classroom.”
Character on and off the Field
Student athletes were recognized not just for their performance but for how they carried themselves in competition. Heilman pointed out that feedback from opposing campuses and different sports programs consistently highlighted one thing about Plato Tarpon’s athletes: their character in winning and in losing. In a culture where youth sports can sometimes bring out the worst in everyone involved, that kind of reputation is worth celebrating.
What Is It Really Like to Graduate from Plato Academy?
Two alumni returned to the stage to answer that question directly, and both delivered advice grounded in lived experience rather than generic motivation.
Rylan Dedmon, a graduate of the Tarpon Springs campus four years ago, offered three practical pieces of advice for the incoming high school class. Find the right people to surround yourself with. Don’t overextend yourself with too many commitments at once. And stay organized, because high school teachers will not track your deadlines for you.
“Each of you are just getting started in your unique journeys,” Dedmon told the graduates, “and each of you have an extremely bright future.”
Theodora Portello, class of 2022 and a graduating senior at Sickles High School at the time of the ceremony, offered something more personal. She spoke candidly about fearing she would never find the kind of connections she had at Plato once she left, and about discovering that she was wrong. Programs like Odyssey of the Mind, Science Fair, Speech and Debate, and National History Day had prepared her so thoroughly that she found some high school projects easier by comparison. And the high school credits she earned at Plato gave her the freedom to take courses she actually wanted to take.
Her advice to the Class of 2026: hold on to your Plato friendships, but also build new ones.
What Makes Plato Academy Different from Other Middle Schools?
The answer, according to nearly every speaker at the ceremony, comes down to two things: the closeness of the community and the depth of the relationships. Student speaker Nikos, the eighth grade class president, described a school where no one feels left out, where teachers are genuinely invested, and where students look out for each other the way people do when they have been together since early childhood.
Nikos named every teacher individually, from Mrs. Sherman and Mr. Hopwood to Mr. Greek and Coach Andy. He also gave a specific acknowledgement to Mr. Freeman, the school’s security staff member, who he described as someone who has “kept us safe and looked out for us like family.”
That kind of specificity matters. It tells you something about what students actually notice and value.
The OG Awards. For the Students Who Were There From the Start
One of the more touching segments of the ceremony was the presentation of the OG Awards, given to students who attended Plato Academy for their entire educational career. Three recent alumni, Stefan Turo, Marina, and Laki Stathopoulos, returned to present these awards to their peers.
Recipients included Hayes Callahan, Manuel Bayona, Emily Georgopoulos, Eleni Giannone, Nicholas Loumakos, Nicholas Murad, Eden Nikiforakis, Nikos Stathopoulos, and Chloe Torregrossa. The awards were presented by students who had stood in the same spot just a year or two earlier, giving the moment a continuity that felt entirely appropriate.
The Diploma Walk
The ceremony closed with the presentation of diplomas to the full Class of 2026. Names were called one by one, each graduate crossing the stage to receive the credential that formally closes their Plato chapter. At the end, tassels were turned.
“You are officially eighth grade graduates,” Principal Heilman announced.
What Comes Next for Plato Academy Warriors? Every speaker circled back to the same idea in different words: the education these students received at Plato Academy has positioned them well. The credits, the programs, the relationships, the character development, all of it travels with them into high school and beyond. Plato Academy operates eight schools across the Tampa Bay area, and the standard of preparation visible at the Tarpon Springs campus reflects a system-wide commitment to sending students into the next stage ready, not just enrolled.
The Class of 2026 leaves behind a campus that will keep producing graduates like them. And they leave with more than a diploma. They leave with the kind of foundation that shows up later, quietly, when it matters.
How many schools does Plato Academy operate?
Plato Academy operates eight schools across the Tampa Bay area in Florida, each committed to rigorous academics, strong character development, and a close-knit school community.
Can Plato Academy middle school students earn high school credits?
Yes. The Plato Academy Tarpon Springs Class of 2026 collectively earned 105 high school credits before graduating eighth grade, in subjects including Algebra, Geometry, Greek language, and English One.
What extracurricular programs does Plato Academy offer?
Plato Academy students have access to programs including Odyssey of the Mind, Science Fair, Speech and Debate, National History Day, and competitive athletics, all of which prepare students for advanced academic work in high school.Is Plato Academy a good school for middle schoolers?
Alumni consistently describe Plato Academy’s small school environment, strong teacher relationships, and academic preparation as advantages that carried them well into high school. The school’s emphasis on character alongside academics is a distinguishing quality noted by teachers, alumni, and families alike.