Six upper school students were named to The President’s List for the second quarter of the 2025-26 school year at an honors convocation held January 13.

Each quarter during the academic year, upper school faculty and staff nominate students for the award. A faculty committee receives the submissions and identifies stand-out student candidates who best exemplify The Bolles Way by pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion.

This year’s second quarter recipients are:

• Maura Waller ’26: As a sophomore, Waller launched Soup for the Soul, a nonprofit ministry she built entirely from scratch to support individuals experiencing struggle or distress. She spent hours preparing home‑cooked soup and bread, while also creating a community network that now includes more than 50 active volunteers ages 12 to 75. Her commitment to growing the organization—despite early challenges—reflects her perseverance, leadership and compassion. Her extensive service hours stand as a testament to the dedication she has poured into this work.
   
• Ella Vance ’27: For nearly a year, Vance has spent most weekends volunteering 6-8 hours with JaxThrive, a local nonprofit supporting refugee children. In addition to her hands‑on work, she manages the organization’s social media presence and recently illustrated a children’s book, “Sarina of Kandahar,” which tells the story of an Afghan child’s journey to make a difference. The book is now available on Amazon, with all proceeds benefiting JaxThrive. Her exceptional commitment earned her recognition as Volunteer of the Month and a nomination to join the JaxThrive Leadership Council.
   
• Jai Patel ’27: Motivated by a desire to ensure equity in youth sports, Patel founded the nonprofit Foster Athletic Network, Inc. (FAN). The organization provides financial assistance and resources so foster children can access team sports and other developmental activities. FAN covers costs such as equipment, registration fees and transportation to remove barriers to participation. Patel also authored a children’s book, “Marcus Finds His Team,” sold on Amazon with profits returning to support FAN’s mission. His work was honored publicly at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Holiday Party, highlighting the meaningful impact of his advocacy.
   
• Gabe Kaye ’26: By September, Kaye had already contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours to the UF Health clinic – an extraordinary accomplishment demonstrating unwavering commitment to community wellness. His involvement has continued well beyond that initial tally, reflecting a deep and ongoing investment in supporting the clinic’s operations and the patients it serves.
   
• Lulu Marinatos ’27 and Gabby Louh ’27: In December, juniors Marinatos and Louh organized a student Fun Run to raise funds for mental health support benefiting those impacted by the devastating Texas floods at Camp Mystic. They recruited fellow cross-country athletes, created incentives for top finishers and helped generate school‑wide participation. The event—featured on the Bolles Instagram—raised $536 and marked the first initiative of its kind for their group.

Congratulations, Bulldogs! #TheBollesWay