Kathryn Ross

Schakow and her P.K. Yonge Blue Wave team had the best season in program history winning their first district title in six years and making it to the final four, falling short to Montverde Academy by a score of 3-0. Now they are coming back for more.

Florida could follow 33 other states, as well as the District of Columbia, to allow high school athletes to make name, image and likeness (or NIL) money through sponsorship deals.

As a boy, Danny Neri, 22, now a University of Central Florida player, dreamed of wearing the orange and blue of the Florida Gators, the team he grew up supporting only an hour away from his hometown of Macclenny, Fla.

Riches Place Antiques store owner Richard “Rich” Sipe lived 15 years as an alcoholic on the streets until he turned his life around and now gives back to his community.

Local Gainesville business owner, Melanie Floyd, believes she found the key to success by creating an innovative business plan for her protein bar, Gainzville Hub, now nearing its second year.