The Sebastian Exchange Club gives a shoutout to dedicated middle and high school kids who shine in class, pitch in for the community, step up as leaders, and show solid character at school and around the house day in and day out. October’s honorees include Hoxie Mahan of Sebastian Charter Junior High, Ali Crawford at Storm Grove Middle, McKenzie Warren from Sebastian River Middle, and Kirk Canas and Neela Paredes over at Sebastian River High.
Hoxie Mahan – Sebastian Charter Junior High
Hoxie Mahan brightens every classroom with his joy, jokes, and serious hustle—he’s all positive energy, always giving 110% to be his best. Kind, respectful, and quick to boost classmates, he’s a true role model with a big heart and standout work ethic. Eager to learn with rock-solid character, he channels his musical passion into the choir, where he’s pumped daily, helping others grow while leading by example and staying authentic—earning admiration all around. Hoxie totally deserved this honor; we’re pumped for his bright future. He thanked everyone when accepting the award.
Ali Crawford – Storm Grove Middle
Ali Crawford shines bright as a stellar leader packed with kindness and pure drive, crushing it in her studies while throwing herself into everything beyond the books. She’s pulling straight A’s in the toughest courses while juggling a ton of extracurricular activities like lacrosse at Storm Grove Middle School since sixth grade, competitive dance for more than five years, and the drama program for all three middle school years—where her sharp wit, killer timing, and stage vibe always wow everyone.
Ali leads in her community, too, with church and school announcements always reflecting her positivity and reliability.
Her teachers praise her as smart, creative, funny, and dependable—a true role model.
McKenzie Warren – Sebastian River Middle
McKenzie Warren stands out for her strong sense of responsibility and grown-up vibe. She jumps into class chats and is a real role model for her classmates both in and out of school. She’s locked in and motivated, throwing everything she’s got into her goals and soaking up knowledge. She embodies IB traits: a sharp thinker tackling complex issues, an inquirer with probing questions, principled in integrity, reflective on mistakes, and caring toward others.
Holding sky-high standards, she’s a class topper with a 4.5 GPA and No. 1 rank, a science standout crafting a stellar fair project—fueled by pure grit and hustle.
Beyond academics, she’s a reliable, kind friend who inspires positivity. McKenzie earned this honor and thanked the nominators upon accepting it. She’s truly deserving of this award and expressed gratitude for the recognition.
Kirk Canas – Sebastian River High
Kirk Canas, an IB Diploma candidate with a 4.56 GPA, is a National Honor Society member and multiple AP award winner.
As clarinet section leader for SRH Band, he hit Bands of America regionals (2022-2024) and helped snag 10 marching awards. He’s in Peer-to-Peer mentoring at Fellsmere Elementary, Masterminds competitions, kick-started Model UN, and won district cybersecurity via FBLA. A polyglot fluent in Tagalog and Cebuano (native), conversational Spanish, and basic Korean, he enjoys charcoal drawings, watercolor painting, and DaVinci Resolve edits.
Quiet, compassionate, and soft-spoken, Kirk excels in chemistry with smart questions and a rare full-year A. A model citizen who earned this honor, he thanked supporters and shared plans for computer engineering/cybersecurity, with Florida Tech acceptance and UNF applications pending.
Neela Paredes – Sebastian River High
Neela Paredes is an IB Diploma candidate with a 4.522 weighted GPA who is ranked 19th in her class. She is a National Honor Society member with certifications in aptitude, competency, and ag biotech.
A SRHS varsity golfer whose team nabbed the 2025 district title, she served as SRHS Excel Club secretary in 2024-2025 and is set to lead the 2025-2026 Peer-to-Peer Club, mobilizing over 100 upperclassmen to mentor 100+ kids at Fellsmere Elementary. As Gardening Club co-founder and secretary, she helped beautify campus areas; she’s cashiered at Countryside Citrus since 2022 and volunteered at WOW Gifted Camp since 2024—a weeklong STEM program for county elementary whiz kids.
Teen Neela exudes maturity and a fierce drive to learn, which sets her apart. She’s a dedicated hustler who conquers chemistry challenges, and she’s an ideal award recipient and model citizen. In acceptance, she thanked family, advisors, and teachers; she’s targeting biology and pharma majors but hasn’t chosen a school.
The Exchange Club’s monthly awards celebrate these young achievers and inspire their peers to pursue excellence in academics, leadership, and service.
