- January 6, 2026
Arianna Slaughter is an IB student, ranked fourth in her class. She is also senior class president, active in service clubs and a standout athlete. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Arianna Slaughter is a standout Bulldog in the classroom, in the school and running cross country and track. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Cassidy De Young (right) hands off to Arianna Slaughter in the 4x400 meter relay at the 2024 Five Star Conference meet at FPC. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sitting down for an extensive interview with Flagler Palm Coast High School senior Arianna Slaughter is enough to make a reporter feel a little guilty.
Are you taking away from her class or study time? Or her cross country and track and field training? Or the many clubs and volunteer activities she participates in?
Slaughter is FPC’s Standing O selection for 2026.
She is serious about her studies. She is in the demanding International Baccalaureate program, maintaining a weighted 5.36 GPA, ranking fourth in her class. She scored 1540 (out of 1600) on the SAT. She is also dual-enrolled, taking online classes with the University of Florida. She plans to major in finance next year in college with thoughts on becoming an actuary.
“I’ve always loved math,” she said. “I've taken both AP statistics and AP calculus. Typically people like one or the other, but I found that I liked them similarly. So, the fact that being an actuary combines them, really interests me. Of course, what I end up wanting to do as a job could change, but I definitely know I want to major in finance.”
She wasn’t so sure about joining FPC’s cross country and track teams when she was a freshman. She didn’t run in middle school. But she said that once she showed up for her first cross country practice, she realized she could be good at it. Three years later, she broke FPC’s girls cross country record with a 5K time of 18 minutes, 17 seconds at regionals in November. And a week later, she won All-State honors with a 10th-place finish at the Class 4A state championships.
“Just knowing that it was my senior year, and it was going to be my last time to do something with my cross-country career, I just gave it my all,” she said.
FPC cross country and track coach Dave Halliday said Slaughter has a chance to break three more school records in track this spring. She already has her name in the track record book as a member of the 4x800-meter relay team that set the school record in 2024.
“This spring, she not only can finish as an All-State performer, but she has a chance to set the 1,600, 3200 and maybe even the 800 school record,” Halliday said. “We’re going to have her trained up in all three.”
The toughest one to beat will be the 800 mark of 2:13, held by FPC girls track coach Alycia Williams.
“I definitely think it's a hard time to reach. My best right now is 2:19.57, but I know Coach Williams wants me to beat it, and I think that would be a good goal to set for this season,” Slaughter said. “But she didn't give me an easy record to beat.”
Last season, Slaughter placed ninth at state in the 800, finishing about a tenth of a second from securing a podium finish.
“If she comes close to 2:13, she can win the whole thing,” Halliday said of the state championship. “Ari is one of those people who is so humble, she doesn’t necessarily see herself as that great of an athlete, because she’s always working so hard.”
Slaughter still finds time to belong to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Problems Solvers, the Leo Club and the National Honor Society. She is on the IB Council, which produces news letters to keep families informed and plans social activities.
“We do a lot of events for the entire IB class to unite them and give them a little motivation to get through testing season,” she said. “We do a lot of pot lucks and game nights. We had a lock-in in the gym and played a bunch of games.”
Through the Leo club, Slaughter volunteers at elementary school events and works at FPC’s concession stand during soccer games. Through the National Honor Society, she participates in beach cleanups, and she helped set up the Rotary Club of Flagler County’s Fantasy Lights at Town Center. She also helps teachers clean and set up their classrooms at elementary schools and at the high school.
On top of all that, she’s the senior class president.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” she laughed. “Basically I’m the voice of the senior class and help create events, the typical senior events, make sure they go smoothly.”
On weekends, she works as a hostess and cashier at Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill in Flagler Beach.
The obvious question is how can she find the time to not only fit everything in, but to excel in everything.
There's so many people that I can go to if I ever get overwhelmed in anything. ... And then, of course, my parents have always been so supportive in no matter what I do, and that just allows me to do it all.
— ARIANNA SLAUGHTER
“I honestly think it helps that they're all different, because when I get overwhelmed or stressed out in one thing, I can move to running, or l can go to a club, and it just helps take my mind off of that,” she said. “But I also think it’s having such a good support system, especially at this school. There's so many people that I can go to if I ever get overwhelmed in anything, or if I need help, or if I don't want to put it all on myself, and it allows me to have people to talk to. And then, of course, my parents have always been so supportive in no matter what I do, and that just allows me to do it all.”
To relax, she plays piano.
“I used to have a piano teacher throughout my sophomore year, but now I just self-teach,” she said. “That's like a fun, little hobby that I do. When things get overwhelming, I'll go to that.”
Slaughter is not concentrating on continuing her cross country and track career in college. Her top in-state choices — Florida and Florida State — have elite track programs, but Halliday said that her solid cross country season could open doors even in those programs.
“She could have the opportunity to run at one of those places if she decides to do so,” Halliday said. “She’s pretty special, and she’ll be nothing but successful in life. She’s so well-rounded, and she’s a super down-to-earth kid. I was just super proud of her this year, coming into her own. She is just an amazing person.”
