JACKSONVILLE, FL — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BGCNF) hosted a special End-of-Year Celebration at the Citi Teen Center to recognize the accomplishments of students in its Tipping the Scale program, a transformative youth development initiative focused on mentorship, workforce readiness, and personal growth.
Tipping the Scale is a year-round program designed to support high school students academically, emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. Each student was paired with a mentor, many of whom were healthcare professionals from Baptist Health or UF Health and participated in regular workshops focused on life skills, communication, social-emotional development, and career readiness.
Students began the program in 9th grade following a competitive interview process. In addition to mentoring, participants received academic monitoring, personalized case management, family engagement opportunities, and job readiness training. The program culminated in paid summer internships at Baptist Health or UF Health, where students gained hands-on experience in departments aligned with their career interests.
These outstanding seniors were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to community service during a special celebration honoring their achievements and bright futures:
Alexandria Baker A senior at Andrew Jackson High School, Alexandria served as Varsity Volleyball Head Captain, NHS member, and Job Readiness participant in pediatrics. She plans to attend LSU to study Nursing and become a Pediatric Nurse.
Destini Tobey Graduating from Darnell Cookman, Destini is a scholarship recipient and community leader, having served as VP of the Literacy Club and volunteered with Read USA and UF Health. She’ll attend UNF to study Biomedical Science with dreams of becoming a Cosmetic Dermatologist and entrepreneur.
LaKyla Wynn An honor roll student at Jean Ribault High, LaKyla was active in TRIO, NHS, and Tipping the Scale, and reached regionals in track and weightlifting. She plans to attend FSU to double major in Social Work and Nursing, aiming to be a CRNA or Clinical Social Worker.
La’shaunti Pullins A senior at Andrew Jackson High, La’shaunti completed the Medical Skills Program, interned at Florida Blue, and earned 300+ service hours with SWAT. She will serve in the U.S. Navy before pursuing higher education.
Loren Perkins At Jean Ribault High, Loren earned NHS honors, volunteered at Wolfson and Rutledge Pearson, and worked in pediatrics through Tipping the Scale. She plans to pursue a Nursing degree with a goal of becoming a pediatric or travel nurse.
Maria McCaskill After relocating from Atlanta, Maria excelled at Jean Ribault in track, honor roll, and the Job Readiness Program. She also supported community wellness with the Green Team. Maria plans to study Finance and Business to become a financial advisor or insurance adjuster.
Olivia Rhodes An AFJROTC Senior Airman and NHS member at Andrew Jackson High, Olivia balanced academic honors with community service and Job Readiness in pediatrics. She will attend FAMU to study Pre-Nursing and become a pediatric RN.
Tyron White A senior at Andrew Jackson High, Tyron has contributed over 1,500 community service hours, interned at Florida Blue, and plans to study Business at FSCJ to pursue entrepreneurship.
Che’la Branch A top student-athlete at Fletcher High, Che’la led the weightlifting team, earned NHS honors, and served refugee children through JaxThrive. She will attend UNF to study Chemistry or Behavioral Neuroscience, aspiring to become an Anesthesiologist.
Tatiana Gordillo Kianes An honors student at Fletcher High, Tatiana has excelled academically and led the French Honor Society and Club. With 100+ hours of community service, she’ll attend UCF with a passion for helping others.
Marcus Daniels A senior at Duncan U. Fletcher High School graduating on May 23, 2025, has excelled in academics, athletics, and career development. He played football and basketball, earned A-Honor Roll recognition, and holds certifications in Business and Entrepreneurship, QuickBooks, and Project Management. As a VyStar Student Manager and Junior Achievement participant, he gained valuable financial and leadership experience. Outside of school, he worked as a lifeguard and interned with VyStar Credit Union. Marcus plans to attend the University of North Florida to major in Accounting, with the goal of becoming a Forensic Accountant.
The End-of-Year Celebration highlighted the powerful connections formed between students and mentors and recognized the progress made throughout the year. It also marked a milestone in preparing students for their upcoming summer internships and long-term career goals.
The Tipping the Scale program was originally founded as the Bridges Program by Dr. Davy Parrish, who envisioned a model where students could be guided by healthcare mentors while developing the tools for lifelong success. Dr. Parrish has remained a dedicated supporter of the program and continues to champion its mission to create opportunities for Jacksonville’s youth.
Photo editors please find photos and more details on the graduates here.
For more information about the Tipping the Scale program or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, visit www.bgcnf.org.
