Join youth council
The Dade City Youth Council is looking for eighth- through 12th-graders who are interested in learning to be a leader in the community, earn service hours, and make valuable connections. Participants must live in Dade City or attend a zoned Dade City school. Those interested also must attend a one-hour meeting each month and participate in three service projects during the year.
Applications are due by Sept. 1. For information and an application, email .
New school name sought
The Pasco County School Board is seeking community input into the naming of a new school under construction in the new Angeline development in Central Pasco County, near the Suncoast Parkway Ridge Road exit.
The school will be a dedicated STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) magnet school with grades six through 12, and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2023.
School board policy encourages community members, educators and students to submit suggestions for school names, and encourages names that involve the general location of the school, features of the area, or historical information.
If the suggested name is an individual, it should be a person of either local or national prominence recognized for their outstanding civic or educational contribution.
If the person is an elected official or a former school district employee, they must either be deceased, no longer in public office, or no longer employed in the school district for at least two years.
Suggestions must be submitted before Sept. 5 to be considered by the school board. The name of the new school will be determined by school board vote.
To access the suggestion form, visit tinyurl.com/yc26s9j4.
Threats & consequences
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) is urging parents and guardians to speak with their children about the consequences of making threats, and to report anything suspicious to a trusted adult.
The PSO investigates all threats it is made aware of.
If you see a social media post that appears to be a threat to a school or an individual, do not share the post online. Instead, report threats or tips to the Pasco County Non-Emergency Line at 727-847-8102, option 7.
Additionally, the PSO suggests speaking with students about the impact their actions have on social media. A threat made on social media is still a real threat, which can result in criminal consequences.
Scholarship benefit
BCMF Calstrong in Trinity/Odessa and LiveFit in Hudson are partnering to host their first Walk-A-Thon on Sept. 10, at 11539 Pyramid Drive in Odessa. The event will benefit The Ashley Morrison Heart Scholarship for Pasco County high school athletes. Any remainding funds will be donated to meningitis research. For more information, call 727-842-7000.
Student helps recycle bikes
Ananth Kutuva is an IB junior at Land O’ Lakes High School and is an avid mountain biker who enjoys tinkering with bikes. Kutuva has been volunteering since ninth grade at WellBuilt Bikes.
WellBuilt Bikes is a nonprofit shop that sells refurbished bikes at affordable prices and invests the sales revenue into the Earn-A-Bike program, so those with little to no money can access and personally own a bike.
In partnership with WellBuilt Bikes, Kutuva is collecting bikes in any condition that will be refurbished and given to those in need. As of Aug. 20, he has collected 60 bikes.
For information or to donate, contact Kutuva at or 813-701-7870.
Saint Leo enrollment
Saint Leo University is now accepting applications for the upcoming fall start term. To contact an enrollment counselor, email or 813-226-4851.
Local achievements
- Scott Abramson, Odessa: Dean’s List, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington
- Colin Gaynor, Odessa, is part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 300-member Cornhusker Marching Band, which will make its debut Sept. 3 at Memorial Stadium. Gaynor plays the clarinet.
- Nana Kusi, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
- Abigail Pesansky, Odessa, is a student-athlete (rowing) named to the Southeastern Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll, The University of Alabama
- Emily Rogers, Lutz: Dean’s Academic Honor List, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Classroom grant program
The Pasco Education Foundation helps to leverage money from the community to support local schools, to fund projects that improve student learning and make a positive, long-term impact in the classroom.
The grant program serves to provide schools and educators with an opportunity for financial support for innovative and creative curriculum, special activities, and classroom or school projects.
Innovative Classroom Project applications for 2022 are now open.
Every teacher has ideas to help their students engage in learning, and the foundation is looking to bring these to fruition in the classroom.
The grant program provides teachers across Pasco County the financial resources they need to inspire learning. (Individual projects have a limit of up to $1,000. Group projects may vary.)
To read all the guidelines and complete an application, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org/departmentsschool/. Applications are due on Sept. 12.
School Fishing Club
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2022-2023 School Fishing Club Program offers school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to apply for the Florida R3 Fishing Grant.
The grant program is focused on engaging youth anglers to ensure the future of fishing in Florida.
The Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Grant will award up to 40 high school fishing clubs or teams $500 to assist with club expenses, the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for the participants.
The grant program is open to new or existing freshwater and/or saltwater fishing clubs or teams in public, private and charter schools throughout Florida.
To be considered for the grant, the clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent who will follow the provided instructor’s manual.
Applications can be found online at MyFWC.com/SFC — scroll down to “Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program.” The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m., on Sept. 16.
Anniversary plans
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will celebrate 50 years of service to the district with free community celebrations, a speaker series, and other events and initiatives. The school’s golden anniversary year officially began in July and will conclude on June 30, 2023.
The first of five campus-based community celebrations will be presented at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City, on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event, taking place during Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature the flavors and sounds of Latin culture, and guest speakers will explore local history and Hispanic culture.
Free entertainment, family activities, food, campus tours and demonstrations will be included, and application fees to PHSC will be waived for prospective students attending the event.
Other campus celebrations will be hosted at the Brooksville, New Port Richey, Spring Hill locations, and the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel throughout the anniversary year.
Details on events and activities will be posted and announced online at PHSC.edu/history.
