Wiregrass drumline performs at playoffs
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s quest for the Stanley Cup wasn’t the kind of finish that fans expected after the Bolts’ outstanding regular season, but despite the team’s early elimination, the playoffs offered some exciting experiences, especially for members of the Wiregrass Ranch High School drumline. The squad, under the direction of Josh Hobbs, was selected from among several schools that submitted a video for consideration. The drum line played its cadences outside Amalie Arena before the front gates opened, while Lightning cheerleaders cheered on the arena’s steps. And, they played to kick off the first and second periods of the game, with crowds outside at the playoff watch party. Wiregrass Ranch members receiving recognition were: Joses De Carlos, Jason Garcia, Nicholas Carroll, Connor Saathoff, Amber Dickens, Kelly Griffing, Lynn Asare-Bediako, Brendan Dozier, Elijah Hernandez, Alex Lang, Nia Owens, Joel Ellis, Tristan Barber and Thomas Hoskins.
Saint Anthony school celebrates 135 years
St. Anthony Catholic School, 12155 Joe Hermann Drive in San Antonio, will celebrate its 135th anniversary on May 10. It is the oldest Catholic elementary school in Pasco County and the fourth oldest Catholic school in the state.
There will be Mass at 9 a.m., presided over by the Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of St. Petersburg, followed by a spring concert at 10:30 a.m., performed by the students in San Antonio Park.
After the concert, guests can take part in a family picnic.
For information about the celebration or the school, call Sister Alice Ottapurackal at (352) 588-3041.
To RSVP, visit StAnthonySchoolFl.org.
Honor Day awards
Citizens Concerned for Students (CCS) will recognize the public middle and high school African-American students who have earned the Honor Roll at least once during the school year at the annual awards ceremony, known as Honor Day, on May 11 at 5 p.m., at the Pasco Schools Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.
The keynote speaker will be attorney Angel Everett, author of “Harvard & Hardship: A Beginner’s Guide to College and Law School.”
The sixth annual College and Resource Fair also will take place at 3 p.m., in the adjacent Wesley Chapel High School gymnasium, featuring a variety of schools and educational resources.
Both events are free.
For information, visit HonorDayPasco.org.
Seventh-grader wins spirit award
Selena Schulz, of Hudson, a seventh-grader at Countryside Montessori Charter School in Land O’ Lakes, will receive an engraved bronze medallion to recognize her selection as a Distinguished Finalist for Florida in the 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
The presentation will be on May 14 at 3:45 p.m., at Countryside Montessori, 5852 Ehren Cutoff.
Schulz has raised more than $5,000 for animal shelters in three states and Canada by setting up a table at events and selling her trilogy of books through her organization, “A Bed A Buck A Buddy.”
For information on the awards and its honorees and finalists, visit Spirit.Prudential.com.
Food waste contest
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched “Ace the Waste!” – a student competition for food waste reduction ideas.
Students ages 11 to 18 can submit proposals on reducing food loss and waste anywhere along the supply chain, from the farm to the dinner table and beyond.
Topic ideas include: Preventing food waste; Recovering wholesome, excess food to feed people; Recycling food scraps to keep them out of landfills; and, Raising awareness.
Students may submit a one- to two-page proposal or a one- to two-minute video.
Submissions will be judged on impact potential; originality and creativity; clarity of expression; and, adherence/appropriateness to theme.
One winner will be selected from each of two categories: ages 11 to 14, and ages 15 to 18.
The deadline for proposals is May 24 at 5 p.m.
For details and to submit ideas, visit tinyurl.com/y4cj6kpr.
Youth Leadership Pasco graduates
Thirty-four outstanding students, selected from high schools throughout Pasco County, participated in the Youth Leadership Pasco program designed to inform, motivate, and increase their awareness of Pasco County through issue-oriented seminars and interaction with community leaders. The students devoted time to seven program days, which included Orientation/Teamwork, Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice, Healthcare/Government, Economic Development/ Business/Media, Education/Career Development, and Graduation.
The Youth Leadership Pasco Class of 2019 graduates were: Naomi Armstrong, Cypress Creek High School; Bayli Baker, Wesley Chapel High; Jenna Boudreau, Dayspring Academy; Yazmene Canty, Wendell Krinn Technical School; James Capogrosso, Wiregrass Ranch High; Emmersyn Chefero, James Mitchell High; Elizabeth Collier, Sunlake High; Madily Corbin, Wesley Chapel High; Bella Cortier, James Mitchell High; Alexis Dusel, Dayspring Academy; Joseph Falcone, Cypress Creek High; Sydney Field, River Ridge High; Pedro Fonseca, Wesley Chapel High; Ryan Hamilton, Gulf High; Savannah Horseman, Wiregrass Ranch High; Evan Huff, homeschool; Joelynn Jung, Wiregrass Ranch High; Ronak Kanodia, Land O’ Lakes High; Renee Lisbon, Wiregrass Ranch High; Noel Martinez-Pla, Cypress Creek High; Katelyn McCullough, River Ridge High; Raynee Meek, River Ridge; Chase Mullins, Wesley Chapel High; Ryan Nixon, Wendell Krinn Technical; Amber Northrup, Cypress Creek High; Tanner Politi, Zephyrhills High; Katalina Romero, Gulf High; Brody Sweigart, James Mitchell High; Kodie Taylor, Sunlake High; Jordan Utterback, James Mitchell High; Joseph Vreeland, Cypress Creek High; Mackenzie Whalen, Sunlake High; Zharia Wilson, Wesley Chapel High; and, Alanna Yeo, River Ridge High.
For more information, visit LeadershipPasco.com.
New inductees
Florida State University welcomed 314 new inductees into its prestigious Garnet & Gold Scholar Society during a special ceremony on April 25. To become an inductee of the Scholar Society, students must meet the engagement area criteria and submit a synthesis reflection project before graduation.
These local students are now members of the Garnet & Gold society:
- Valencia Beckwith, Odessa: biological science
- Alena Harding, Wesley Chapel: management information systems, professional sales
- Ashley Sutch, Lutz: nursing
- Taylor Welniak, Wesley Chapel: biological science, editing, writing and media
