Land O’ Lakes native part of ‘Silent Service’
Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Alfonso, a 2015 Sunlake High School graduate, joined the Navy five years ago.
Today, Alfonso serves aboard the USS Alaska, one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines, as an electronics technician (navigation). His responsibilities include operating a nuclear reactor and performing maintenance on the equipment that monitors the reactor, according to a news release.
Known as America’s “Silent Service,” the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security.
“I joined the Navy for the travel and career opportunities, as well as to make new friends,” said Alfonso, in the release.
According to Alfonso, the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Land O’ Lakes.
“Land O’ Lakes taught me to have a positive attitude and keep an open mind,” said Alfonso.
Program & lab fees meeting
The Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees will meet on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m., at the Dr. Gwendolyn Stephenson District Administration Center board room, 39 Columbia Drive in Tampa, to consider a new program fee and lab fee increase.
The proposed fees are limited to covering costs incurred by the college and will not generate a profit.
The new fees, if approved, will go into effect in fall 2022.
To see the press release in full, visit News.hccfl.edu/press-releases.
Comments on the new fees may be sent to , and then will be shared during the meeting.
Merit semifinalists
Pasco County is home to seven National Merit semifinalists from five high schools.
These students are among 16,000 high school seniors nationwide competing for about 7,500 scholarships worth about $30 million.
- J.W. Mitchell High School: Leonid Alexeyev and Jacob Bolton
- Land O’ Lakes High: Sohan Malladi and Daniel J. Urbonas
- Pasco High: Kenneth P. Chew
- Sunlake High: Louis E. Cohen
- Wiregrass Ranch: Eric T. Reichard
Scholarship selection weighs a student’s academic record, SAT or ACT scores, participation in school activities, community service, leadership, employment, awards, and other honors and distinctions.
Students also must receive a recommendation from a high school official, and write an essay.
New administrator
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has named Alysen Heil, Ed.D., as dean of workforce development and career and technical education, according to a news release.
Heil’s experience at PHSC includes roles as the assistant dean of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs and, more recently, assistant dean of workforce programs, career and technical education.
She formerly was a mathematics instructor/chair and co-coordinator of Achieving the Dream and quality enhancement plan (QEP) at Athens Technical College in Georgia, where she was employed for 15 years.
Heil earned an Ed.D. (Doctoral Degree in education) in occupational studies from the University of Georgia; a Master of Science in mathematics from the University of Central Florida; and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education mathematics from the University of South Alabama.
Early release days
Pasco County Schools again will utilize a monthly, early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.
Upcoming early release dates are: Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 9 and April 13.
On each of these days, students will be released two hours early.
The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule.
