Elementary Go-Kart Driver Hitting the Big Time
JCS fourth grader Kyle Kirkwood has made his way through the regional competitions to become one of the leading competitors in the United States and has qualified to race for the 2008 ROTAX Grand Nationals this September being held at the USA International Raceway in Shawano, Wisconsin.

Kyle began his Karting career in 2004 at the age of  five while attending JCS in Mrs. Foster’s kindergarten class. He has been training and competing at the Moroso Motorsports Park on the Beeline Highway here in Jupiter, along with the Homestead Miami Speedway in Miami. He has trained with Professional Indy and Formula One drivers Helio Castroneves and Guy Cosmo.

During the National Championship Kyle will be racing against winners from 34 different states and regions to earn the right to represent the United States during the World Championships, which this year  will be held in southern Italy in November. The Rotax World Championships has been equated to being the closest thing to the Olympics for karting.

Kyle will be racing in the Mini Max division. While outfitted in the latest in safety gear and armed with the knowledge of the limits of his vehicle and driving skills, his kart travels at speeds in excess of  70 miles per hour on the straightway.

With as many as 30 or more additional karts competing in a single heat, Kyle has mastered the skill to challenge his way through the traffic, maintain great sportsmanship and experience both the thrills of victory as wall as the agony of defeat.

Congratulations Kyle and God Speed!

Congratulations to Aundrea Boyd
JCS Senior, Aundrea Boyd was selected by the American Legion Auxiliary unit 271 to attend Girls State Florida 2008. Girls State is a week long, hands on government in action program held annually at FSU and the Florida Capitol. Aundrea joined 288 Girl Staters who were from all over Florida to create a full working government in that week.

The Girls State program is a unique experience. The week entailed writing and debating legislation (written by the girls in the House of Representatives and the Senate), conducting mock court cases in the Supreme Court, and fixing a mock disaster in the Executive board.  During this program Aundrea ran for City Commissioner within her city and was elected. She also ran for Commissioner of Agriculture and was elected becoming one of five in the Executive Branch. She was also awarded the highest honor and chosen as one of two girls to represent Florida at Girls Nation in Washington DC.

Aundrea is the first young lady to represent Jupiter at the National Level and has made history in the program at Girls State. During the week of Girls Nation, Aundrea joined 96 other outstanding young women from all over the country to attend the 62nd year of this life-changing program. She is one of two “senators” who will continue debating legislation through mock senate sessions. During this program she was appointed Secretary of Agriculture in the Presidents cabinet.  During the week she had the privileges of meeting President George W. Bush, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Joe Lieberman, and Representative Ron Klein. The girls also had the privilege to meet Miss Utah 2007, the People's Choice for Miss America 2007, and many other intriguing speakers from the Pentagon and Department of State. The ladies also were able to tour the Pentagon, Department of State, White house, Holocaust Museum, Arlington and Capitol Hill.