Wekiva AFJROTC honors 25th anniversary of 9/11 at school flagpole. September 11, 2026 | 11:35 pm Key points. * Wekiva High School's AFJROTC held a ceremony on Sept. 11 to honor the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at their school flagpole. * Retiring OCPS Superintendent Maria Vazquez praised the cadets for their honor, duty, and service during the event and previous high-profile performances. * The AFJROTC color guard presented flags and conducted a 13-fold flag ceremony. Wekiva High School's Air Force Junior ROTC commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at a Sept. 11 ceremony surrounding the school flagpole. "Today, 25 years later, leaders from Orange County Public School system, Apopka's mayor and Wekiva High administrative staff took a minute of their time to pay honor and respect to what happened to our nation 25 years ago, to pray for those that gave the ultimate price and be grateful for those that went forward into strange lands to defend America from any more attacks," said AFJROTC senior instructor and retired Col. Scott Stewart in an email to The Apopka Chief. At the ceremony, the school band performed the national anthem, and the AFJROTC color guard presented the flags of the United States, Florida, the Air Force and the Space Force. Retiring Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez also shared remarks, noting her appreciation for the cadets' dedication and character. Become A member. The Apopka Chief does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible. "Even though you did not experience this firsthand, I see the values born from that tragic day, and they are very much alive in our cadets," she said. "I see honor, duty and service in each one of you. That spirit is why keeping each other safe matters so much - by staying alert, looking out for your classmates, and taking care of our Mustang family every single day." Vazquez also commended the color guard's performances earlier this year. "On August 29, you represented our district on national TV at the Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400," she said. "After presenting the colors for the Orlando Magic, the mayor's office, and other high-profile events across our community, you stood before 100,000 people in the stands and four million watching live at home, carrying yourselves with absolute dignity and poise. NASCAR's officials told us you set a whole new standard of maturity and behavior for high school units nationwide. You made the U.S. Air Force, Wekiva High School, and OCPS very proud." Cadets Anthony Darwin and Rodosvaldo Muñoz III then conducted a 13-fold ceremony for the American flag before Cadet Col. Taaliyah Rivers presented it to Vazquez for her years of service in public education. "Wekiva High School's AFJROTC program represented our school with tremendous pride and excellence during today's 25th anniversary commemoration of 9/11," said Wekiva principal Anthony Russell in a text message to the Chief. "Their precision, discipline, professionalism, and attention to detail were absolutely superb. I am beyond proud of Colonel Stewart, Master Sergeant Corry, and our outstanding cadets for the leadership, dedication, and excellence they demonstrated today. They truly embodied what it means to be a Wekiva Mustang." * Sarah Merly Sarah Merly is an editorial assistant and reporter for The Apopka Chief. She joined the Chief in May 2025 after graduating from Patrick Henry College's journalism program in Washington, D.C., where she served as the layout editor for her school newspaper. In her spare time, Sarah loves serving her local church, visiting Disney, and throwing parties. Suggested articles. The Apopka Chief Trusted local news since 1923

Leaders of Dr. Phillips Charities share vision for a cultural campus in Eatonville. PUBLISHED 8:03 PM ET Aug. 12, 2026 Dr. Phillips Charities is a step closer to creating a cultural campus to boost Eatonville's economy. A citizens' task force recommends that Orange County commissioners should approve TDT money generated by tourists to help pay for the nonprofit group's proposed project. On Tuesday, top leaders of Dr. Phillips Charities shared their vision of a cultural campus with a history museum, retail and a place for festivals to boost Eatonville's tax base and build its economy. They are also discussing the pushback they have received from some residents. The Hungerford property next to Interstate 4 is the gateway to Eatonville. The Orange County School District, owner of the land, has already approved a deal to sell 85 acres to Dr. Phillips Charities. Renderings show how the nonprofit group wants to develop 10 acres into a cultural campus. Terry Prather, board chair for Dr. Phillips Charities, says the Eatonville Museum of Culture and History would be the centerpiece. "The museum is this catalytic project that will lead to many other investments that we intend to make supporting education, healthcare and just housing issues in the town in general," Prather said. Ken Robinson is the president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities. He says the charity has invested more than $270 million in Central Florida communities since the 1950s, and the Eatonville project continues that legacy. Robinson says the nonprofit will never earn a single penny in profits from this project. "It's an investment into the community," Robinson said. "We've committed 20 million. We'll donate the land inside of it." The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a lawsuit, trying to stop the school district from selling the Hungerford Property to Dr. Phillips Charities. The SPLC is representing the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community Inc. Last week, a judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit, which claims negotiations for the land deal were not transparent and did not do enough to include Eatonville residents in the process. Wanda Randolph serves on the Eatonville Town Council. She says the development of the Hungerford property will determine the town's economic future. "We have to get it right. It has to be right," she said. Randolph hopes the charity will build strong ties with council members and with residents. "They have to feel the hearts of the real people here in the community that live here, play here and actually attended the school," she said. Dr. Phillips Charities says it has a project advisory committee made up of residents with long ties to Eatonville, and the charity's team has held at least 15 meetings with residents. Prather says the charity will continue to collaborate with partners. "It's like building trust. You can build trust, but you have to keep working at it to maintain that trust," Prather says. Robinson adds that he believes the school district will prevail in the lawsuit against it, but he does not want to speculate too much. OCPS sent Spectrum News 13 a statement saying the district remains confident the lawsuit is without merit and will continue to vigorously defend its position in court. The Southern Poverty Law Center shared a statement with Spectrum News 13, saying they've asked the judge to end part of the lawsuit immediately, in their favor and without a full trial. They want the judge to officially declare the school board's sale of the Hungerford Property illegal before the court case moves forward.

Orange superintendent Maria Vazquez to retire after 2026-27 school year. Orlando Sentinel | By: Steven Walker | July 27, 2026 Superintendent Maria Vazquez, who has led Orange County Public Schools since 2022, will retire after the 2026-27 school year, the district announced Monday afternoon. Vazquez has worked in public education for about 35 years, serving as an OCPS teacher, principal and district administrator before she was tapped for the top role. Under her leadership, OCPS raised its state grade from a B to an A, based on student performance on state tests, and she helped navigate the district through the first years of declining enrollment in decades. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she was OCPS's first Hispanic superintendent, running a district where about 44% of the district's almost 200,000 students are Hispanic. Details on a timeline for selecting a new superintendent for the nation's eighth-largest school district will be announced later, OCPS said in its statement. "Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Throughout my career, I have believed that education is ultimately about people, relationships, and creating opportunities for students to thrive. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of working alongside extraordinary employees, supportive families, dedicated community partners, and inspiring students," Vazquez said in a statement. While the announcement of her departure comes before the start of a new school year, she said she remains focused on the work ahead. "This school year is filled with opportunities to strengthen student achievement, support our employees, deepen our partnerships with families, and continue building a district that prepares every student for a bright future," she said. OCPS likely faces more declining enrollment as it lost 5,600 students this past school year and expects to lose about another 3,000 students thus upcoming school year. The district also faces an impasse with its teachers union over rising insurance costs, which could cause most teachers to make less money next year. Teresa Jacobs, the board chair who is also retiring, said Vazquez had been "phenomenal" as the district's leader. Vazquez has OCPS on "the right path" for the next leader to hit the ground running, as the superintendent helped put "the right people in the right seats," Jacobs said. "I'm so excited for her to be able to take to take this time and to spend it and pour it into her family because she's poured so much into Orange County Public Schools, and especially over these last four years," she said. Clinton McCracken, the president of the district's teachers union, said in a statement that Vazquez's retirement presented "an opportunity to chart a new course for the future" with a new superintendent. "We need someone who is accountable, collaborative, and committed to addressing our biggest challenges, including declining enrollment, employee recruitment and retention, and restoring trust in decisions that affect the people working in our schools every day. Teachers will be looking for a superintendent who respects them as professionals, not someone who continues a culture of massive micromanagement, driving educators away," McCracken said. Share With: