- May 2, 2024
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K'imani Gervin-McCoy with House Speaker Paul Renner, K'imani's mom, Tahlia McCoy, and Flagler Schools' Director of Teaching and Learning Jeff Reaves. Courtesy photo
K'imani Gervin McCoy at the lectern of the House of Representatives chamber at the state capitol. Courtesy photo
K'imani Gervin-McCoy with House Speaker Paul Renner, K'imani's mom, Tahlia McCoy, and Flagler Schools' Director of Teaching and Learning Jeff Reaves. Courtesy photo
K’imani Gervin-McCoy spent her first day back from the winter break on Jan. 9 singing the national anthem at the opening sessions of the Florida State Legislature.
The Flagler Palm Coast High School freshman was invited by House Speaker Paul Renner of Palm Coast to sing the national anthem at the opening session of the House of Representatives and again at the joint session of the House and Senate.
K’imani was accompanied by her mother, Tahlia McCoy, and Jeff Reaves, Flagler Schools’ director of Teaching and Learning. According to a school district press release, they left Flagler County for Tallahassee before dawn. When they arrived at the Capitol, they were greeted by Rep. Renner and his staff.
K’imani performed the national anthem at the House’s opening session shortly after 10 a.m. and received a standing ovation. An hour later, she repeated her performance before the joint session. Afterward, she posed for photos with legislators and staff members. She also got to meet Gov. Ron DeSantis.
At the Flagler County School Board workshop later in the afternoon, Board Chair Will Furry said, “She did a phenomenal job and it was a really proud moment for Flagler Schools to have one of our own be honored in such a way. So, congratulations to her and her family.”
Superintendent LaShakia Moore, was also in Flagler County and could not watch the performances live but said she watched online.
“I hate that I wasn’t able to be there, but I watched both performances and she did a phenomenal job,” Moore told the Observer.
K'imani, 15, has been singing since she was a toddler. She won the middle-school division in each of the past two years at the Flagler Youth Talent Show when she was a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
K’imani has three younger siblings who are also musically inclined, said Tahlia McCoy who serves as K'imani's coach. In preparation for her big day at the Capitol, K’mani rehearsed with Amelia Fulmer, the Director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at Flagler Auditorium. Fulmer shared warm-up exercises and pointers on which notes to emphasize and how to pace herself.
To see K'imani's performance of the national anthem, go to https://www.facebook.com/FlaglerSchools/videos/1427299308221016.
