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Kayla 'Reigns' Atop Her Class

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Kayla Reigner is Riverview High School Class of 2008's valedictorian.

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By LOIS KINDLE The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Mention the name Kayla Reigner among teachers and counselors at Riverview High School and you will undoubtedly hear the praise of people proud to know her.

The 18-year-old valedictorian completed four years at the school with a 6.38 grade-point average.

"Kayla truly inspires me," said Jama Hoffman, the guidance counselor whom Reigner calls her biggest influence. "She's done anything I've ever asked her to do and taken advantage of any opportunity I've suggested.

"Kayla is filled with enthusiasm and purpose; she's focused and driven. In my 13 years as a guidance counselor, she's one of my favorite kids."

Guidance resource specialist Audrey Perry agrees.

"Kayla is wonderful," she said. "She's one of those people who lights up a room. She's always smiling.

"Students like her are the reason I get up every morning."

Born in Bradenton, Reigner lived in Ruskin until age 7, when she moved with her family to Riverview. She attended Boyette Springs Elementary School and Rodgers Middle School before entering Riverview High.

At Riverview, Reigner became president of the Ophelia Club; secretary of Rho Kappa, the history honor society; an Ophelia teen ambassador; and a member of the National Honor Society, Nu Alpha Theta math honor society and Senior Council.

Reigner's academic achievements led to a Wentworth Scholarship from the University of Florida, a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and the Sandy Waldron Scholarship, which recognizes local female high school seniors with outstanding community service records. She was also one of seven Lombardi Scholar finalists at UF, for which she was awarded $1,000.

"Kayla has more than 200 hours of community service on her transcript, but I know she's done more than that," Perry said.

As a Gator, Reigner plans to major in pre-med and anthropology. On her mother's side of the family, all of the women are in medicine.

"I want to do humanitarian aid work and open a medical facility in Africa," she said. "It's one of the places we've left behind. We took everything from it, and we now need to give back.

I'm really into women's issues and I want to help improve the lives of women there."

In her free time, Reigner enjoys just hanging out with friends and line dancing, which she said is her "new obsession."

"I enjoy everything a normal teenager does," she said. "I'm ready to start life on my own and see what's really out there."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Kayla Reigner

WHAT: Valedictorian, Riverview High School

AGE: 18

HOMETOWN: Riverview

FAMILY: Mom, Karen; stepfather, Stephen Tanski; brother, Travis, 14; sister, Emily, 8

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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