The Lakes

In this episode of the South Lakes Alumni Series, host Mr. Watts welcomes two exemplary graduates, Sally (Class of 2025) and Ayesha (Class of 2021). Both guests share a unique honor: they are recipients of the Bruce Butler Award , South Lakes High School’s most prestigious recognition for students demonstrating outstanding character, scholarship, and service. Bridging the gap between a college fre...

In this powerful episode of the South Lakes Alumni Series, host Mr. Watts is joined by two distinguished graduates, Bryan (Class of 2019) and Maybelline (Class of 2022). Both are recipients of the prestigious Bruce Butler Award , an honor recognizing students who exemplify character, scholarship, and service. Their stories are remarkably parallel yet distinct. Both immigrated to the United States...

In this episode of the South Lakes Alumni Series, host Mr. Watts catches up with Sara (Class of 2022), a recent graduate who is already making waves in the transportation industry. Sara’s story is one of self-awareness and strategic thinking. As an "overachiever" in high school who took every elective imaginable—from ceramics to auto tech—she realized early on that the traditional four-y...

In this inspiring episode of the South Lakes Alumni Series, host Mr. Watts is joined by Renato (Class of 2019), a graduate whose path through higher education led him to a profound realization about what it means to be successful. Renato shares his journey from South Lakes High School to James Madison University (JMU), where he initially pursued Computer Science in search of financial stability. H...

In this episode of the South Lakes Alumni Series, host Mr. Watts sits down with Connor Poole (Class of 2020), a graduate who turned a pandemic-era high school exit into a thriving career in information systems. Connor’s journey is a masterclass in leveraging community and soft skills. After starting at Old Dominion University, he transferred to VCU, where he navigated a campus of 20,000+ students...

In this episode of The Lakes Podcast , host Mr. Watts sits down with two South Lakes High School alumni from the Class of 2025 who are navigating the demanding world of collegiate athletics. We are joined by Lindsey and Sofia , who have taken their talents to the University of Mary Washington. Together, they pull back the curtain on the reality of being a student-athlete. It’s not just about game...

Mr. Watts and Dr. McDermott join five South Lakes students to discuss the leadership class at South Lakes, and how the pathway fosters community and personal growth. The student leadership pathway prepares students for post-secondary success by building confidence and professional connections.

Mr. Watts and Mrs. Luongo explore the "3E" pathways for life after high school: Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment. They discuss how students can use IB courses, CTE electives, and the ASVAB to test-drive college, careers, and military service options before graduating.