Senior Spotlight: Ed Mitchem '25 

Accomplished athlete, committed community servant, and strong student Ed Mitchem '25 has blazed a trail at Shorecrest in his four years in the Upper School. 

A leader both on the field and in the classroom, Ed is a four-time state champion with the Shorecrest Varsity Football team, where he played running back and cornerback for the Chargers. He also competes in track and field, qualifying for regional and state competitions. Ed was one of a select group of students chosen to intern with SCG Fields when Shorecrest embarked on the Centennial Stadium Project. As an intern, Ed assisted in field construction and project management of the field that is now the centerpiece of the Shorecrest athletics program. 

Off the field, Ed has built work experience at Chick-fil-A, where he has worked for two years. He also contributes to his church as Floor Media Manager, overseeing technology for services and mentoring younger team members.

Ed’s dedication to service is evident in his volunteer work with the Special Olympics and his leadership role in the Shorecrest Black Student Union, where he plans events and fosters an inclusive environment. He created and leads a mentorship program to support students transitioning from Academy Prep to Shorecrest. 

As a student, Ed embarked on the rigorous coursework of Shorecrest's STEAM Signature Program, earning the program's special seal on his Shorecrest diploma. For his STEAM capstone project, Ed developed SaverSim: New Life, an gamified educational app designed to help teens practice smart saving and budgeting. The app encourages players to build healthy financial habits through realistic simulations, helping to address the challenges many teens face in managing money. 

In recognition of his many achievements, Edward has received the Shorecrest Core Value Award for Responsibility, and he is a member of the National Honor Society. He has been honored through the College Board’s National African American and First-Generation Recognition Programs and was recently recognized at the USF St. Petersburg MLK Jr. Awards Banquet for his leadership and service.

Edward plans to continue using his skills and experiences to make a lasting impact at the University of Florida this fall.