Alumni Name: Leyla McHugh
Graduation Year: 2013
Current Position: Senior Casualty Litigation Examiner with Liberty Mutual
Upon graduation, Leyla decided to pursue her further education in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia by attending Radford University. In just 3 years Leyla graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in political science and Pre-Law. Her educational background in Pre-Law launched a career in Insurance where she handles complex litigated files ensuring the proper handling of claims from the investigations, reviewing policy contracts, reviewing and studying case law and implementing strategy in trial and settlement negotiations to make sure all cases settle appropriately to meet her companies financial and business goals. She has worked with national insurance leaders including, GEICO, State-Farm and Liberty Mutual. Leyla is using her knowledge in Tort Law to continue her education and pursue a law degree in hopes of taking the leap from Insurance to Personal Injury Law. She is currently enrolled in courses to prep for the LSAT and will soon test and begin applying to Law School. Leyla currently resides in St. Johns and in her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband of 10 years, and their two children aged 7 and 5. They spend time cooking, baking, gardening and golfing together.
During the summer, we organized a series of gatherings to connect our recent graduates with former graduates already in their respective colleges. These events included students attending colleges in the New England area, FSU, FAMU, UCF, and UF. These dinners provided a wonderful opportunity for new graduates to build connections and gain insights from those who have already navigated their college journeys.
Riley Eastham (RCSA Class of 2023)
Hello RCSA Alumni! I would like to share a short story about my time in high school. I’ve struggled with anxiety all my life, but starting my freshman year of high school, it manifested into OCD, which impacted every aspect of my life. By my junior year, I fell into a cycle of procrastination and anxiety, worsening my OCD and leading to a downward spiral of my mental and physical health. I racked up many tardies and absences, and my academics began to suffer as well. It was a gradual process, but I began to realize the toll this cycle was taking on my well-being. Recognizing my need for help, I sought guidance from my family, friends, and teachers. With their encouragement, I gradually learned more productive ways of managing my anxiety. As a result, I began to see improvements in my mental health, and my overall outlook on life became more positive. This experience reinforced in me the importance of seeking help when needed. Of course, I still struggle at times, but I've come to understand that it's okay not to have everything figured out. Life is about progress, not perfection. I encourage you all to reflect on your own journeys and to reach out for support if you are struggling. We all have such exciting paths that lie ahead, and those around us are here to help and support us!!
RCSA Great Debaters are Arguably the Best!
Our Middle School and High School Debate Teams attended the FCDI State Championship in Altamonte Springs Florida. There were over 650 competitors and over 50 schools. We had 21 debaters represent RCSA Debate and we are proud to announce that our school won several State Titles.
State Champions in Novice High School Public Forum Debate: Cole C. and Shaunecy G. 1st place
State Champion Middle School Dramatic Performance: Zahara M. 1st place
State Placement in High School Varsity Extemporaneous Debate: Anthony S. 2nd place
State Placement in Novice Policy Debate: Yash N. and Dev S. 3rd place
State Placement in Novice Middle School Public Forum Debate: State Placement in Novice Middle School Public Forum Debate:
Jithesh M. and Samantha W. 4th place
State Placement in Middle School Extemporaneous Speaking: Arieanah W. 6th place
State Placement in High school Varsity Dramatic Performance: Zoe Garner 6th place
State Placement in Congressional Debate Novice: Sam P. 9th place
NHS Class of 2024 Pinning Ceremony
On April 26, 2024, we celebrated the pinning ceremony for the National Honor Society Class of 2024. This marks the 12th graduating class of RCSA.
Mr. Payne, the RCSA NHS Chapter Adviser since our first graduating class, handed out the pins. Following tradition, the honorees were pinned by a family member or friend, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the ceremony.
Congratulations to all our honorees, and welcome to the RCSA Alumni!
Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony
On May 23rd, 2024, the RCSA Class of 2024 held their graduation ceremony at UNF's Lazzara Performance Hall. The event was a memorable occasion, celebrating the hard work and achievements of our graduating students.
As we celebrated their accomplishments, we also welcomed them to the RCSA Alumni family. You can watch the full graduation ceremony in the link below.
Congratulations to the RCSA Class of 2024!
The Science Olympiad National Tournament
GREAT NEWS! River City Science Academy MH Science Olympiad Team competed at the 40th Science Olympiad National Tournament at Michigan State University.
Here are the amazing results:
3rd place in Ecology
4th place in Mission Possible
5th place in Wheeled Vehicle
8th place in Solar Power
10th place in Agricultural Science
Congratulations to all our talented students, parents, coaches, and the school’s administration for these wonderful results. Way to go Rockets!
SeaPerch Challenge
Congratulations to River City Science Academy's Team Aquarius for winning 1st place as High School Champions yet again against 174 teams from all over the world at the RoboNation Annual International SeaPerch Challenge at the University of Maryland!
Congratulations to River City Science Academy Mandarin's Team Ladies in Pink for winning 3rd place in the Mission competition!