We are proud to share the exciting news that Ethan Bond, a senior at River City Science Academy Middle-High, has been accepted to the University of Florida, one of the nation’s most respected and prestigious universities.

Ethan’s high school journey has been truly impressive. Throughout his time at RCSA, he has demonstrated exceptional academic dedication by completing 12 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 10 dual enrollment classes. With a current weighted GPA of 4.6316, Ethan has consistently challenged himself with rigorous coursework and worked hard to achieve this outstanding milestone.

Ethan’s success extends beyond the classroom as well. His commitment, maturity, and strong sense of purpose have made him a valued member of our school community and an inspiring role model for his peers.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan for a short interview to learn more about his experiences, future goals, and reflections on this exciting accomplishment:

What was your first reaction when you found out you got accepted to University of Florida?

My first reaction when I found out that I was accepted into UF was that the wait was finally over. Throughout all of school, everyone tells you,” It goes by so fast!”, but I always remained aware of how long each day and grade has been. For me, finding out that I had been accepted into my University of choice meant that all the tedious work I had been doing for over a decade finally reaped benefits.

What do you plan to study at UF, and what excites you most about it?

I plan to study Computer engineering at UF. What excites me the most about this field is the wide range of applications and theories you experiment with as a part of this major. Computer engineering allows me to explore both hardware and software through the development, maintenance, and application of new and intricate systems. Learning about computers also allows me to explore many job opportunities as almost all industries require some amount of computational resources in this day and age.

What activities or experiences do you think helped your application stand out?

I feel that the variety of activities in my application helped it stand out. The 3 most important activities in my application would be academic competition, work experience, and passion projects. Being a part of the Academic Worldquest and working as a tutor for READ USA both showed my continued dedication to competitive and community based activities. However, researching and building computers was something that only I could keep myself accountable for, and I feel it shows my ability to pursue my interests better than any guided activity.

What role did River City Science Academy play in shaping your academic journey?

I feel that River City Science Academy played a major role in my academic journey as it gave me the opportunity to pursue education despite my income. RCSA focuses on getting the best education possible for its students without making them have to worry about being able to afford it. RCSA has no tuition fees, provides free lunches for low income students, and pays for AP and SAT exams. Due to all of this, I was able to focus on schoolwork, and not how to make ends meet.

How would you describe the learning environment at River City Science Academy?

I would say that the learning environment of River City Science Academy is very forgiving. There are many opportunities that allow students to enroll in high level courses or take enriching extracurriculars, and students are constantly encouraged to participate. Even if you don’t immediately start high school focusing on college, the RCSA staff are ready to give you information and assistance to better yourself at any point in time. The smaller student base

allows each student to see their academic advisors every year to find the best plan for them to achieve their educational goals.

Were there any teachers or mentors who had a big impact on you?

The teacher who had the biggest impact on me would be Mr. Plummer. Mr. Plummer was the teacher of my first AP class in 9th grade, and he showed me that AP courses are manageable and fun if you keep up with them. On top of that, Mr. Plummer was the first person to reach out to me about taking an extracurricular called Academic Worldquest. I honestly did not want to participate in any activities after school and did not for all of 9th grade. However, Mr. Plummer reached out to me in 10th grade to invite me to the Worldquest team because of my good performance in his AP Human Geography class. Without this support to start activities after school, I likely would not have started early enough to show colleges that I was serious.

What advice would you give to students dreaming of top universities?

The best advice I could give to students dreaming of top universities is to understand what works for YOU. Nobody else takes notes like, takes tests like you, and handles homework like you do. They can’t give you perfect advice and solutions to solve all of your problems. However, that doesn’t mean you should disregard what your teachers and fellow students have to say. Keep in mind the advice that they give you and be honest with yourself on how you actually perform. What might be difficult for you might be easy for others and vice versa so make sure you know how you function.

How do you hope to make a difference in the world through your education?

There is no way for me to know how my education will lead to me changing the world. However, that will not prevent me from using my education to benefit myself and those around me in whatever way possible. You don’t need an education to make a difference but it can help if you apply it well.

About the University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF), founded in 1853 in Gainesville, is one of the most prestigious public research universities in the United States and the top-ranked in Florida. UF is consistently placed among the top public universities nationwide, serving over 61,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. With 16 colleges, more than 120 undergraduate majors, and over 250 graduate degree options, UF is known for academic excellence, world-class research, and strong student outcomes.