William Floyd High School senior Mike Amodeo has been selected to have his artwork featured on the cover of the 2025 yearbook. Amodeo, who was also named William Floyd's "Artist of the Month" for December 2024, had previously received this honor as an eighth-grade student at William Paca Middle School.
The theme for the yearbook cover competition was "Beyond Imagination," encouraging students to create illustrative and fantastical images reflecting their high school years and future aspirations. Amodeo's winning design merges past and future elements, featuring students in high school classes alongside images of future careers within a thought bubble emerging from a graduation cap. He explained that his work celebrates William Floyd and highlights the diversity within the district. Using colored pencils, he aimed to convey a variety of colors.
Theresa Bianco, chairperson of Fine Arts at William Floyd School District, remarked on Amodeo's talent: “I have had the pleasure of meeting Mike in eighth grade, from Mr. Antenucci's class,” she said. “He was creating beautiful portraits back then, and that was his passion.” Bianco noted his growth in mastering various mediums and styles throughout high school.
Bianco further praised Amodeo’s development: “As a senior, Mike has found his visual voice and what he wants to say with his artwork,” she added. Mrs. Erika Licausi, an art teacher at WFHS who taught Amodeo in several classes, agreed: “Even in ninth grade, Mike had a clear vision for his artwork."
Amodeo has explored different art courses offered by William Floyd High School, such as Animatronic & Creative Design and Fashion Design. His interest in fashion design led him to create and sell bleached t-shirts on social media.
Looking ahead, Amodeo plans to continue expanding his brand as a t-shirt designer while pursuing tattoo design as a career. After graduation, he will attend tattoo classes at Noble Art Academy in New York City. Throughout his education from kindergarten through high school, he attended John S. Hobart Elementary School and William Paca Middle School.