Students Named 2026 Sunshine State Scholars for Excellence in STEM

February 26, 2026

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) students (left to right) Julia Rossini, Cade Respess, and alternate Connal Queen are honored as 2026 Sunshine State Scholars for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) students Julia Rossini and Cade Respess have been named among Florida’s top science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) scholars for 2026.  Connal Queen was selected as the alternate for the prestigious Sunshine State Scholars program. 

Rossini and Respess will represent FLVS at the 2026 Sunshine State Scholars program, March 5-6, in Orlando, Fla. Established in 1997, the two-day statewide event honors Florida’s top STEM scholars for their significant academic accomplishments and celebrates the potential they represent for their schools, communities, and the state.

As part of the program, they will be recognized by the commissioner of education and the senior chancellor and meet with representatives from Florida’s colleges and universities to discuss higher education opportunities. The event also includes workshops focused on college applications, financial aid, and funding resources for both students and their parents.

“Julia, Cade, and Connal are outstanding students who show exceptional curiosity, talent, and perseverance in STEM,” said Suzanna Pacheco, Florida Virtual High School principal. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and excited to see how they use their skills to make an impact in Florida and beyond.”

Meet the Scholars

Julia Rossini 

Rossini, of Juniper, Fla., is passionate about transforming health care through research and compassionate medical practice. Inspired by her experiences supporting family members with chronic illness, she hopes to become an obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in autoimmune and chronic conditions. Rossini has completed more than 25 hours of virtual clinical shadowing across a wide range of medical specialties, participated in HOSA–Future Health Professionals, and founded the Light Warriors Club to raise awareness about the effects of toxic fragrances. A student in the FLVS Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma program, she plans to pursue a degree in biology at a Florida institution before attending medical school.

Cade Respess

Respess, of Tierra Verde, Fla., is a committed advocate for marine conservation. His dedication to environmental stewardship began early and includes coral propagation, support for sea turtle nesting, and extensive work with Tampa Bay Watch. Respess has assisted with oyster reef construction, shoreline restoration, and the Great Bay Scallop Search, where he surveyed scallop populations in Tampa Bay. An FLVS Cambridge AICE diploma candidate, he plans to major in marine biology or environmental science and hopes to develop sustainable solutions to address coral bleaching, harmful algal blooms, and other environmental threats to Florida’s coastal ecosystems.

Connal Queen (alternate)

Queen, of Valrico, Fla., discovered his interest in STEM through video games, which evolved into a passion for programming and computer science. He has built his own computer, modified gaming systems, and earned a Python Programming Specialist certification through FLVS. As a dual-enrollment student at Daytona State College, he is working toward an associate degree in computer programming and analysis. He has participated in several FLVS STEM opportunities, including robotics and computer engineering camps and a coding club. Queen aspires to become an indie game developer and hopes to contribute to ethical standards for artificial intelligence technology.

Families who are interested in enrolling in FLVS Full Time Public Schools for the 2026-27 school year should apply online beginning June 1.