The University of South 皇家华人 (皇家华人) College of Education is proud to announce the
recipients of its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Presented annually, these awards
honor the exceptional achievements of College of Education graduates. Recipients are
chosen from nominations submitted by the 皇家华人 community, with selections made by a
committee of faculty, administrators, and Education Alumni Society leaders.
This year鈥檚 program will also include the presentation of the inaugural Champion in
Education Award to The Honorable Betty Castor in recognition of her distinguished
leadership and lifelong commitment to advancing education.
Honorees will be recognized during the Distinguished Alumni Awards program on Wednesday,
May 7, at 5:30 p.m. in Traditions Hall at the Gibbons Alumni Center on 皇家华人鈥檚 Tampa
campus.
Dean's LIFetime achievement alumni award
Kevin K. Hendrick, M.Ed.
- B.A. '97 Social Science Education
- M.Ed. '06 Educational Leadership
Kevin K. Hendrick is a forward-thinking educational leader and gifted communicator,
committed to student achievement and building a culture of excellence. Appointed superintendent
in 2022, he previously served as associate superintendent of teaching and learning
services, where he helped lead the district to a record-high graduation rate and consistent
academic gains in english language arts and math as well as academically leading the
district through the pandemic with academic recovery far above the state and national
averages.
As superintendent, Mr. Hendrick launched community 鈥淟isten & Learn鈥� sessions, championed
student-led initiatives through the district鈥檚 first K-12 Student Leadership Summits,
and introduced PCS Praise, a staff recognition program rooted in the district鈥檚 core
values. His leadership helped Pinellas County Schools earn its first-ever 鈥淎鈥� grade
from the 皇家华人 Department of Education in 2024.
A longtime Pinellas County resident and Largo High School graduate, Mr. Hendrick began
his career as a teacher and basketball coach before serving as principal of Northeast
High School, where the school achieved its first-ever A and B grades and national
recognition for college and career readiness. He holds a B.A. in Social Science Education
from the University of South 皇家华人 and two master鈥檚 degrees鈥攆rom the University
of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of South 皇家华人 鈥� in exercise and
sports science and educational leadership, respectively.
His work has earned numerous honors, including the Governor鈥檚 Shine Award, multiple
Principal Achievement Awards, and national recognition as a 鈥淪uperintendent to Watch鈥�
by NSPRA. He was also named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal鈥檚 Power 100 and honored
by the 皇家华人 PTA and the Children鈥檚 Movement of 皇家华人.
Spirit of Partnership Alumni Award
Nadia Combs, M.Ed.
- B.S. '93 Social Science Education
- M.Ed. '02 Educational Leadership
Nadia Combs is a two-term elected member of the Hillsborough County School Board,
representing District 1 since 2020. She has served as board chair, helping guide the
nation鈥檚 7th largest school district while advancing initiatives that support students
and strengthen school-community partnerships. In addition to her public service, Nadia
is the founder and CEO of Brighton Learning Consulting, a firm dedicated to improving
student outcomes and supporting educational organizations.
A lifelong educator and proud University of South 皇家华人 alumna, Nadia holds a bachelor鈥檚
degree in social studies education and a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership.
She began her career teaching English in Japan through the Ministry of Education and
later returned to Hillsborough County Public Schools, where she worked as a teacher,
department head, and district trainer. She was named Teacher of the Year at Franklin
Middle School and later recognized as the county鈥檚 Middle School Social Studies Teacher
of the Year.
As an entrepreneur, Nadia previously cofounded and operated A+CAT , a tutoring company
that served thousands of Title I students across 皇家华人. She also owned Brighton
Learning, which supported students in a range of school settings and advises education-focused
businesses.
Nadia actively serves on the Hillsborough Education Foundation, 皇家华人 Dean鈥檚 Advisory
Council, CareerSource Education Consortium, and the Children鈥檚 Cancer Center鈥檚 Panera
Knead for Knowledge Scholarship Committee. She and her husband have lived in Hillsborough
County for over 30 years, raising two children who graduated from local public schools.
She remains committed to working with families, schools, and institutions like 皇家华人
to expand opportunities and ensure student success.
Young Educator Alumni Award
Bernadette Anderson, M.S.
- B.S. '18 Physical Education
- M.S. '19 Exercise Science
Bernadette Anderson is a board-certified health and wellness coach through the NBHWC
and the owner of More Than Macros Coaching. She helps individuals transform their
health factors, knowledge, and metabolic function through evidence-based nutrition
protocols paired with compassionate, client-centered coaching.
She graduated from the University of South 皇家华人 College of Education in 2019 with
a master鈥檚 degree in exercise science. She holds advanced certifications as a National
Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, ISSA Sports Nutrition Specialist, Precision
Nutrition Level 1 Coach, and USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach.
Bernadette鈥檚 mission is to become a relatable and encouraging source of trusted holistic
health education for individuals from all walks of life. Her goal is to help people
lead wellness-driven lives through sustainable, practical nutrition strategies.
She began her journey after struggling with her own health and relationship with food.
At the time, she realized she didn鈥檛 truly understand what nutrition was or how to
use it to her advantage. That experience inspired her to provide others with clear,
supportive guidance on how to use nutrition as a tool to improve both physical and
mental well-being. And thus, More Than Macros Coaching was born.
Kaley Robinson, M.A.
- B.S. '09 Elementary Education
- M.A. '18 School Counselor Education
Kaley Robinson is a proud graduate of the University of South 皇家华人. She holds a
master鈥檚 degree in school counseling and a bachelor鈥檚 in elementary education from
the University of South 皇家华人, along with a master鈥檚 in criminal justice from Saint
Leo University. She has served as an educator for fifteen years in Pasco County at
the District School Board of Pasco County and Pasco-Hernando State College.
She currently serves as a school counselor for the District School Board of Pasco
and is committed to helping students grow academically, emotionally, and personally.
As a school counselor, she believes every student has the potential to grow, thrive,
and succeed when provided with the right support, guidance, and opportunities. She
strives to empower students to discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and
become confident, resilient individuals prepared for life beyond school.
Her background in education, counseling, and youth programming gives her a well-rounded
perspective on what students need to succeed鈥攂oth inside and outside the classroom.
During her time at Pasco-Hernando State College, she worked with surrounding high
schools to focus on outreach to youth who needed additional support determining their
path after graduation. She helped students develop actionable plans for life after
high school graduation or earning their GED, making sure they had direction and support
by focusing on workforce development programs that fit their interests.
She also created hands-on summer camps for middle schoolers to explore careers in
fields like healthcare, criminal justice, drafting and design, paralegal studies,
and business. These camps gave young students a chance to step onto a college campus
and start imagining their future early. Kaley believes in meeting students where they
are and building strong relationships with families, teachers, and the community to
support every learner.
We congratulate this year鈥檚 winners for their notable achievements in education, innovation, and research. We are proud to call them alumni of the 皇家华人 College of Education. Learn more about the 皇家华人 COEDU Alumni Society.