Literary support for elementary kids
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has supported local schools for years and, in particular, those with special needs. The club recently delivered a large number of children’s books for individual classroom libraries, as well as shoes and clothing, to Shady Hills Elementary and Miles Elementary schools. Two staff members at Shady Hills accept donations from Pat Wagner (right), the woman’s club education chair.
Charity helps hungry children
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and staff raised $11,100 to benefit One Community Now’s 2019 Hunger Walk. The walk is an annual event that raises money to fund the Pack-a-Sack 4 Kids program, which distributes backpacks of food to students who need food over the weekend.
For information on Pack-a-Sack, call Patti Templeton at (727) 900-6280.
Kindergarten preregistration
Pasco County Schools’ kindergarten preregistration is May 20, at all public elementary schools. Contact individual schools for orientation activities and times.
Requirements include:
• Child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2019
• Child’s birth certificate or other proof of birthdate
• Health examination – HRS Form 3040
• Three proofs of residency such as current utility bill; lease agreement, or deed or property tax assessment; and additional documents supporting stated address, such as auto registrations, driver’s license or voter registration
For kindergarten information, call Danielle Varcardipone at (813) 794-2404, (727) 774-2404 or (352) 524-2404.
Head Start/Early Head Start applications may be submitted for infants, toddlers and children through age 5 that meet income eligibility requirements.
For information on Head Start, visit PascoSchools.org/ecp, or call Alexis Russell at (813) 794-2730, (727) 774-2730 or (352) 524-2730.
College funding seminar
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host “College Funding Strategies” with financial specialist Erin Mollura on May 20 from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Mollura will discuss the means to provide funds to pay for an education; and tax benefits, financial benefits and planning benefits.
She also will talk about planning ideas, such as using personal savings and investment for education funding, through the use of techniques that can help you identify and try to manage risks, which can prevent you from achieving your overall savings goal.
Admission is free.
For information, call (813) 929-1214.
Course-related fees
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its May 21 board meeting at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court.
Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for board consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.
For details regarding the proposed fees adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu.
Local student showcases research
The University of Kentucky, College of Arts and Sciences and the STEMCats Living Learning Program congratulated Samuel Herrington, of Odessa, for presenting research at the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars in the Spring 2019 semester.
As part of the STEMCats BIO 199 research lab, Herrington conducted scientific research alongside a faculty mentor. He presented findings in the form of a scientific poster titled, “AGO1 Protein Influence on Arabidopsis Susceptibility to Cucumber Mosaic Virus.”
Home to 19 academic departments that offer major degrees in 27 disciplines and 36 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences provides education in fundamentals to every undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky and builds foundations for advanced study in every field.
Its faculty integrates innovative research with exceptional teaching and outreach, providing paths to understanding the past, solving the problems of today, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.
Awards of excellence
Pasco-Hernando State College announced its recipients of the annual National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards.
The 2019 honorees include: Connie LaMarca-Frankel, professor, humanities; Jacqueline May, associate professor, English; David Sullivan, Ph.D., professor, emergency medical services; Jennifer Wiatrowski, professor, biological science; and Glynis Williams, instructor, information technology.
These NISOD awards recognize professionals each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.
The PHSC NISOD Excellence Award recipients are invited to attend the 2019 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 25 to May 28, in Austin, Texas.
Mike Fasano honored
Pasco-Hernando State College’s spring commencement included honoring Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano.
Fasano was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Applied Science in supervision and management and inducted into PHSC’s Legislative Hall of Fame.
Fasano began his public service career in the Florida House of Representatives in 1994, representing parts of both Pasco and Hernando Counties, where he eventually rose to the position of House majority leader.
Following an eight-year term in the House, he served in the Florida Senate for 10 years, representing Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Pinellas counties, and achieved the position of president pro-tempore of the Senate.
He returned to the Florida House in 2012 and remained there until he was appointed by then Gov. Rick Scott to the open seat of Pasco County tax collector in 2013. Fasano continues to serve in that capacity to this day.
The leadership and support Fasano provided to PHSC during his tenure in the Florida Legislature greatly benefitted the college.
The school was able to acquire nearly $116 million to construct two of PHSC’s campuses, the Spring Hill Campus, and the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel. Additionally, Fasano was instrumental as the appropriations chair in acquiring the funding to construct the conference center and classroom building S on the West Campus.
Fasano joins prior PHSC Legislative Hall of Inductees Sen. Wilton Simpson, Sen. Jack Latvala, and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford.
During the two spring commencement ceremonies, approximately 433 degrees and certificates were conferred. An estimated 998 spring graduates were eligible to participate.
For more information about PHSC, visit PHSC.edu.
Cutting college costs
Taking more classes each semester may help you cut the cost of college, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). And, that’s important if you will need student loans to help pay for your education.
A full-time load for undergraduate students is usually 12 credit hours per semester. Associate’s degrees usually require 60 credit hours to finish, bachelor’s degrees, 120 hours. At 12 hours each semester, you’ll need five semesters to finish an associate’s degree and 10 semesters to finish a bachelor’s degree.
But, if you take 15 hours per semester, you’ll finish an associate’s degree in four semesters and a bachelor’s degree in eight semesters.
Most colleges won’t charge you any more for 15 hours than they do for 12 hours. That might save you thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.
When you’re planning your schedule, think about taking that extra class each semester. The sooner you earn your degree, the sooner you can start job hunting.
