East Pasco Chamber honors Student Citizens of the Month
ZEPHYRHILLS – The East Pasco Chamber Foundation and Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce recognized 10 students from Zephyrhills schools on Sept. 18 at Chick-fil-A.
Teachers and administrators selected students as Greater East Pasco Student Citizen of the Month for September for their exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their schools, families and communities.
The students receiving honors were as follows:
- Sarai Nieves – eighth grade, Academy of Spectrum Diversity;
- Daralis Robles – first grade, Children’s Educational Services Elementary Campus;
- Jason Jarman – sixth grade, Children’s Educational Services Secondary Campus;
- Jase Kitchen – fifth grade, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School;
- Anna Gomez-Marzano – first grade, Heritage Academy;
- Angel Cruz – sixth grade, Raymond B. Stewart Middle School;
- Justin Telman – pre-kindergarten, West Zephyrhills Elementary School;
- Cheyenne Oney – fifth grade, Woodland Elementary School;
- Tiana Williams – sixth grade, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; and
- Xavier Rodgriguez – 12th grade, Zephyrhills High School).
The ceremony marks 27 years of celebrating student citizenship in Zephyrhills. Area businesses can support the program by calling Vicki Wiggins at the East Pasco Chamber of Commerce at 813-782-1913.
Schools respond to social media threats
LAND O’ LAKES – Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning urged parents to talk with their children about making threats on social media.
Browning said in a video posted to the PCS’s Facebook page on Sept. 13 that there were nearly 20 social media threats targeting the district’s schools over a two-week span. Two of these threats led to arrests.
He also mentioned that two people were arrested Sept. 12 for “irresponsible behavior with a firearm” in the woods near a school.
“Actions like these lead to significant disruption in learning and are unacceptable and have serious consequences,” Browning said. “They pose risk to not only to our students but also to those making the threats. They also drain valuable resources for both our schools and law enforcement.”
The district shared on Sept. 18 that it had received another threat overnight that mentioned Fivay, Gulf, Hudson, Mitchell and River Ridge high schools. A River Ridge student was charged with written threats to commit a mass shooting, two counts of disruption of school function and violation of probation, according to the district.
Boy Scouts present superintendent an award
LAND O’ LAKES – Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools, received the 2024 Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award from the Boys Scouts of America.
Mark Rose, past president of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, presented Browning with the award Sept. 10 during the Pasco County school board meeting.
Rose said the award goes to educators that demonstrate and inspire good character.
Browning is proud to have been a scouting dad, having two sons that earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
“The scouting program is one that continues to change lives,” Browning said. “It provides boys and girls an opportunity to experience things they otherwise wouldn’t have an opportunity to be a part of.”
Browning, who is on the tail end of his tenure as superintendent, acknowledged the last couple of months have felt like a farewell tour but it’s always good to be recognized by your peers.
Land O’ Lakes has top STEM student
LAND O’ LAKES – Pasco County Schools recognized Abhinav Katkoori, of Land O’ Lakes High School, on Sept. 10 for being named a 2024 Sunshine State Scholar.
Scholars have to meet a high bar, including a GPA of 3.9, 25 hours of community service and an interest in STEM careers. Winners go through a two-day program in Orlando where they connect with colleges and employers.
Katkoori serves as president of Mu Alpha Theta, a math honor society. He has tallied 80 hours of community service and took six Advanced Placement assessments by the end of last school year, according to officials.
Student achievements
- Lutz residents William Miller and Ty Robinson are among the 835 new students starting at the College of the Holy Cross in fall 2024. The school is based in Worcester, Ma.
