When Multy Oliver began at Shorecrest in the sixth grade, she eased herself gently into her new community, first befriending her fellow transfer students. Seven years later, she leaves an indelible impact on the full school community through her leadership, her embodiment of the Shorecrest Core Values, and her natural talent for bringing people together.

While the details of those early Shorecrest days may be hazy for Multy, others remember her arrival in the Upper School with crystal clarity. “I’ll always remember where I was when I met Multy Oliver for the first time,” says Director of College Counseling Tiffany Blessing, “because I knew this young woman was bound to change the world around her.”

At Shorecrest she’s affected positive change in ways both large and small. She’s served as Student Council Vice President, interviewed candidates for Shorecrest administrative positions, and even sat on the school’s Strategic Planning Committee, the faculty, staff and Board of Trustees eager for her input and feedback.

Ask anyone at Shorecrest about Multy and themes of respect, kindness, and compassion immediately arise. “Multy is one of the most positive, cheerful students I’ve worked with in many years,” says David Hyink, Multy’s AP Biology teacher. “She always has a smile on her face, laughs easily, and has a kind word for everyone.”

 

Asked how she juggles all of her commitments and the demands of her mostly AP course load, Multy says, “I just think about how important all of these are to me, I don't want to give any of them up, so I make time. I wouldn't feel right about stopping being involved.”

A dedicated theatre student, Multy was in the middle of rehearsals for “Les Misérables” when she learned that she’d been awarded the Barnes Scholarship, a prestigious honor from the Tampa Bay Times. “I stepped outside to take the call. I was like, ‘What?! Are you serious?!’”

Celebrating the good news with her castmates came naturally. According to Multy, “Theatre is like a whole new family. We're all super close.”

Reflecting on her theatre experience, Multy credits her 8th grade English teacher Craig MacDougal with developing her love of theatre. “I thought he was a really good English teacher and he was also the theatre director in eighth grade and he really helped me grow in the theatre department,” she says.

When Multy Oliver crossed the Shorecrest stage at 2017 Commencement, she was one of only two students to graduate as a 7-year Shorecrest Trustee Scholar. The first to hold such a distinction was her brother, Class of 2015 alumnus Karim Oliver, who is a sophomore at Vanderbilt. The Trustee Scholarship is a competitive, full-tuition scholarship based on both academic merit and demonstrated need, and holds the expectation that scholars make an impact on the Shorecrest community. As is Multy’s habit, she has met and exceeded those expectations.

Multy will attend Duke University, where she was admitted Early Decision. She hopes to pursue a pre-law track, with a focus on civil rights and social justice.

When asked if she plans to stay connected to Shorecrest after graduation, Multy laughs, “My kids will probably go here!”

Adding more somberly, “It's a really good school. I mean, why stray from something you know and love?”