Park ’25 Wins FHSAA’s Heart of the Arts Award
Bolles student Sarah Park ’25 was named the 2024-25 Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts Award winner, announced by the Florida High School Athletic Association on January 29. The award recognizes those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of education-based activities. She will receive a $1500 scholarship and be recognized at the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State banquet in June. The FHSAA will also nominate Park for the National Federation of High Schools National Heart of the Arts award.
Also announced as Spirit of Sport Award winner was Ponte Vedra High School’s Carter Magnano who serves with Park as co-presidents of JaxTHRIVE, a student-led nonprofit that provides a nurturing environment where tutoring, life skills, mentoring and friendship help refugee students advance in the classroom and flourish in the community. Under their leadership, JaxTHRIVE won the NAFSA Region VII Sylvia Shortt Memorial Community Volunteer Award last November.
The FHSAA shared the following achievements of Park with the announcement: “Park is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Semifinalist and ranks amongst The Bolles School’s top students. She is a three-time International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist and was named a Mayo Clinic Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge Scholar her junior and senior years. Park is a member of Bolles Science Student Advisory Council, Phoenix Arts Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society and member of the girls weightlifting team. An avid musician and violin soloist, Park performs with Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and won first place with her solo performances with Saint Augustine Orchestra Young Artist Competition and Gainesville Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Recognizing the lack of accessible music education, Park founded the Jacksonville Chapter of the Back to Bach Project and serves as regional director. Together with other musicians, she shares classical music with underserved K-12 students. With 14 other talented musicians, her group has reached over 750 Duval County Public School students. Park believes in the power of healing music and with her love for science created the music wellness device, Spark Care+. Park and SparkCare+ have received major recognitions as Park was named America’s Top Young Scientist in 2021 and won the Congressional App Challenge in 2023 from Florida District 5. In April 2024, she was invited to Washington D.C. to present at the #HouseofCode. In May 2025, she will perform a violin solo and present her research for her app, Spark Care+, at the Young Artist Performance 2024-25 Season in South Carolina. Park also gives back to her community serving as co-president of JaxTHRIVE by building relationships with refugee students, mentoring students, teaching STEM literacy through hands-on science projects, and introducing them to classical music. Park and co-president Carter Magnano co-authored a book called “New Beginnings: Refugee Children’s Tales of Hope and Resilience” with all profits going to support students at JaxTHRIVE.”