Student Spotlights
OCVS Student Spotlights
Orange County Virtual School proudly celebrates the outstanding talents and accomplishments of our Chargers! Through our student spotlights, we highlight the diverse strengths, creativity, and achievements of learners across our virtual community.
Browse the spotlight below to meet some of our amazing students and see what makes OCVS shine.
Do you know a student with an inspiring story to share? Nominate a Charger for our next Student Spotlight!
Spotlight On: Jamir Jones
Jamir is an amazing academic, athlete, and actor! He maintains straight A averages in all of his courses, attends every live lesson, engages with content, and collaborates with his peers in the learning process. When he is not studying, he is swishing free throws and scoring points for his basketball team on the court. He is a team player in every sense of the word! His coach and teammates respect Jamir and hold him in high regard. Jamir is also an aspiring young actor. Recently, he worked on a project in the summer where he did the voice-over for the character Tyrone in the series, "Nickelodeon's The Backyardagains Guess and Go Podcast." Jamir won the 4th Annual Signal Award for Listener Choice and the Bronze Medal. Jamir participates in school clubs, and he is the Elementary Ambassador for the Black Student Union (BSU) Club. He is also a member of the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS). Jamir is an outstanding young man with a very successful and bright future.
Spotlight On: Christyn Ross
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Christyn “Chrissy” Ross, who was selected as one of only 75 Black women across 13 states to win the prestigious Black Girls Joy Challenge — an initiative made possible by Southern Black Girls that celebrates creativity, leadership, and the power of Black culture. ๐โจ
This national recognition supported Chrissy in bringing her first short film, Our Crown, to life — a powerful project exploring Black hair, identity, and the quiet, transformative joy found in community.
Through Our Crown, Chrissy wrote, directed, filmed, and edited the entire production herself, demonstrating remarkable creativity, vision, and dedication. ๐ฅ๐ซ
Winning the Black Girls Joy Challenge highlights Chrissy’s talent as an emerging filmmaker and her commitment to uplifting Black culture through storytelling. Her artistry, leadership, and courage to tell meaningful stories position her as a rising voice in student filmmaking and cultural expression.
Chrissy, we celebrate your brilliance, your vision, and the joy you bring to your craft. Your school community is cheering you on! ๐
Spotlight On: Anthony B. Jenkins
๐ Charger Nation, help us celebrate our very own Anthony B. Jenkins! ๐
We’re beyond proud to share that Anthony has been named to the Ebony Power 100 List! ๐
At just 13 years old, he’s already living a dream that so many actors aspire to achieve. His incredible talent has shone in projects like David Makes Man and Chicago Med, paving the way for standout performances in The Deliverance and Never Let Go! ๐
Anthony, your Charger Nation is cheering you on every step of the way! ๐๐
Congratulations on this amazing honor — we are SO proud of you! ๐โจ
Spotlight On: Annabelle Brown
Annabelle will be in Orlando Dance Conservatory’s Nutcracker in December. And she will be competing in YAGP, UBC, and ADC IBC early in 2026. She is also an influencer for Nikolay Orlando.
“ Dance is the hidden language of the soul” Martha Graham
Spotlight On: Iviana Jean Francios
We are proud to celebrate Iviana Jean Francios, who earned a $500 “Big Future” Scholarship through the College Board! ๐ฐ๐
This achievement reflects Iviana’s dedication to her academic journey and her commitment to preparing for life after high school. When asked about her goals, Iviana shared:
“My academic goals are to prepare for my future after high school, stay focused, and to work towards future career opportunities. My hobbies—I enjoy listening to music, spending time with family, and relaxing.”
Iviana’s focus, determination, and balanced approach to both school and life truly inspire us. Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment—we are so proud of you! ๐
Spotlight On: Joshua Tipton
Congratulations are in order for Senior Joshua Tipton. Joshua has been recruited to play semi-professional Major League Soccer in Germany for the 25-26 year! Known as the MLS Next League, Joshua is well on his way to becoming a professional soccer player.
His HOPE teacher, Ms. Brandy Kurn, describes Joshua as “such a hard worker”. So, let’s cheer him on, wishing him the BEST this season.
You are a TRUE OCVS Charger, Joshua. ๐
Spotlight On: Jacob Anthony Mannarino
Jacob Anthony Mannarino is an accomplished diver from Orlando, FL, with four years of practice in springboard and platform diving. A member of the USA Diving and AAU Diving National Teams in 2024 and 2025, he has extensive experience competing on both the national and international stages.
Mannarino’s international success includes a 2nd-place finish on the tower at the 2025 Rijeka Open in Croatia and an 8th-place finish on the tower at the 2024 AQUA Junior Championships in Brazil. At the 2024 Roma Junior Diving Cup in Italy, he earned two 1st place finishes on the tower and 3m springboard, along with a 4th place finish on the 1m springboard. He is also scheduled to compete at the 2025 London Legacy Open.
On the national front, Mannarino won 1st place on the tower in the 16-18 age group at the 2025 USA Diving Junior National Championships. A notable accomplishment during this competition was scoring straight 10s on a single dive from the 10m platform, earning 102 points.
When not diving, Mannarino enjoys jet skiing, fishing, biking, and visiting Disney Springs and Universal. He trains with the Orlando Dive Academy.
Spotlight On: Riley DeBord
Congrats to our amazing Senior, Riley DeBord, for being accepted to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City!!!!! This school is right in the middle of Manhattan in the Theater District in NYC, right where she hoped and dreamed she could go. Riley has worked so very hard and has overcome many obstacles, but she has accomplished the 1st step of her Broadway dreams, and looks forward to her very bright post-graduation future.
We can't wait to see you shine, Riley!
Riley is pictured here on stage during her performance in Les Misérables.
Spotlight on: Madison Santiago
We’re excited to recognize Madison Santiago, an outstanding 10th-grade student at OCVS, for her incredible achievements and leadership!
Madison is not only excelling in her OCVS courses, but she is also dual-enrolled at Valencia College and actively pursuing the Cambridge AICE Diploma through our advanced coursework. Her commitment to academic excellence is truly inspiring! ๐โจ
Even more impressive, Madison was recently named a BigFuture Ambassador by College Board for the Fall 2025 semester — a national honor that empowers her to support her peers by sharing resources and opportunities through BigFuture.
Her journey is a shining example of how OCVS students prepare, inspire, and empower themselves and others to reach new heights.
Congratulations, Madison — we are so proud of you! ๐๐งก