Mary Rathman

ROTC Cadets take oath
Saint Leo University commissioned four Army ROTC cadets, calling the individuals to take the oath of office, have gold bars pinned to their uniforms by family members, and receive their first salute. The new Army officers are, from left, 2nd Lieutenant Alex Swonger, 2nd Lieutenant Jason Douglass, 2nd Lieutenant William LaPierre, and 2nd Lieutenant Cody Walker. The cadets are standing in front of the ‘For Those Who Serve’ statue at the school. (Courtesy of Renee Gerstein, Saint Leo University)

Students inducted to honor society
These Lutz students have been initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at the University of South Florida: Catherine Elko, Mark Giddarie, Maylenid Oyola, Jennifer Ron and Jana Woodall.

Brian Longbottom, of Odessa, was also inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

Fourth quarter Top Dogs
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills hosted the Top Dog winners from Stewart Middle School at Hungry Howie’s for lunch.

The club started the program more than 30 years ago to honor students for academics and leadership roles in the school.

The fourth quarter Top Dogs were: Kabre Mathews, Carlos Morales Garcia, Joyla Tenryk, Savannah Baptist, Emily Kirk, Caitlyn Eudy, Madison Aquilera, Rosmy Cruz Luis and Jorden Soule.

Each student received a certificate and a gold dog tag.

Students of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized nine Students of the Month, chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.

The Zephyrhills chamber has recognized students with this program each month of the school year for nearly 20 years.

The students receiving honors for May 2017 were Katie Aspedon, Zephyrhills High School (Aspedon also was a recipient of a The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Scholarship); Aliza Hernandez, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Jose Polo, Hope Ranch Learning Academy; Joyla Tenryk, Raymond B. Stewart Middle; Kali Deshane, Chester W. Taylor Elementary; Zelia Betz-Merrill, The Broach School; Savanna Best, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Tristan Geist, Heritage Academy; and, Parker Howry, Woodland Elementary.

Students and their families get breakfast, and the students are awarded with gifts and recognitions from businesses who sponsor or support the program.

Saint Leo adds online degrees
Saint Leo University has added two new online, technology-related degree programs that are ready to enroll students for the fall semester.

A new Associate of Arts in cybersecurity can prepare people to pass certain industry certification tests, which will allow them to compete for entry-level jobs. Additionally, associate degree holders can move into the existing Bachelor of Science program in cybersecurity, also online.

At the graduate level, Saint Leo is offering its Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in data analytics. Students can receive 15 graduate credit hours in courses that can teach them how to approach “Big Data” to extract and evaluate patterns and improve business planning.

For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

Third-graders improve scores
The percentage of Pasco County Schools third-grade students scoring a 3 or higher on the Florida Standards Assessment in English language arts increased by three percentage points in 2017, improving from 57 percent to 60 percent.

Pasco students also surpassed the state proficiency rate by two percentage points.

Deer Park Elementary School led the schools making significant progress, moving up 24 percentage points, from 56 percent proficient to 80 percent proficient.

Lake Myrtle improved 18 percentage points, from 61 to 79 percent.

Chester Taylor progressed from 52 to 68 percent, up 16 percentage points.

Other schools that improved by 10 percentage points or more include Pasco and Watergrass (up 13 percentage points), Pine View (up 12 percentage points) and Sanders (up 11 percentage points).

Pasco charter school improvement was led by Athenian Academy, which garnered a 25 percent point increase, from 39 to 64 percent proficiency.

Other charters that improved by 10 percentage points or more include Pepin Academies (13 percentage points) and Countryside Montessori (12 percentage points).

Sixty-seven percent of the 50 Pasco County elementary schools with scores, improved the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher.

Sixty-three percent of Pasco’s charter schools with scores showed improvement in the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher.

Local preschool gets makeover
Country Village Preschool, 17727 Mentmore Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes recently had a complete renovation to its campus. Main Street, which includes a grocery store and a fire station, is located in the center of the school. It gives students a chance to take part in an interactive classroom with lessons geared toward hands-on learning based on a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) curriculum. For information, call (813) 920-8700.

Posthumous diploma awarded
Alfred Smith was drafted out of high school to serve in World War II and never completed high school. Smith’s grandson, Robert Pullen (U.S. Air Force retired), worked with the Florida Department of Education to see that his ‘Pepa’ was awarded a high school diploma. Ruth Smith accepted her husband’s posthumous diploma during the Pasco High School graduation ceremony May 26. Alfred served as a private in the Army in Germany and earned a Bronze Star for his service. From left: Principal Kari Kadlub, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt S. Browning, Ruth Smith and Tom Smith (son).

Students make Dean’s List
These local students have been named to the spring Dean’s List at their respective schools:

• Tori Anderson (Odessa), Berry College, Georgia
• Cami Ash (Lutz), Harding University, Arkansas
• Lauren Dobles (Lutz), Emerson College, Massachusetts
• Sarah Fechtel (Lutz), Belmont University, Tennessee
• Christina Linton (Odessa), Newberry College, South Carolina
• Kyle McCann (Lutz), Belmont University
• Caroline Amanda Meisner (Lutz), Greensboro College, North Carolina
• Katelyn Prieboy (Lutz), Belmont University
• Katie Quintana (Lutz), Berry College
• Madison Stevens (Lutz), Harding University
• Katie Wynn (Lutz), Belmont University

School garden yields veggies
Pasco County Schools’ Chef Blancato visited Hudson Elementary School May 23, to encourage students to eat fresh vegetables by showing them how to prepare dishes, using the vegetables grown in a class-run garden.

Second-grade scholars and Pasco County master gardeners tended to a garden throughout the school year, and were able to partake in their fruits of labor.

Goddard School open house
The Goddard School, 2539 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will have an open house June 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a Walk-in Wednesday June 14 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The F.L.E.X. curriculum allows children to grow and learn through hands-on experiences, incorporating S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), as well as P21 initiatives (cooperation, communication, critical thinking and collaboration).

The school is now open, offering tours and enrolling.

For information, call (813) 413-5453.

New teacher graduates
Pasco-Hernando State College Educator Preparation Institute graduated 24 new teachers. Several of the students have secured positions as teachers in Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools.

The college will be training new teachers this fall and is accepting applications for individuals who want to pursue a career in teaching.

The deadline to apply and complete testing requirements is July 15. Classes start Aug. 21.

For information, call Melissa Burr at (727) 816-3471, or visit PHSC.edu/epi.

Students advance to nationals
Pasco-Hernando State College students Jeff Haney and Michaela DiPerna received gold medals at the SkillsUSA state competition, advancing them to the National SkillsUSA competition at the 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, June 18 to June 24.

The NLSC is a showcase of career and technical education students representing 52 state and territorial associations.

Haney will compete in the computer programming category, and DiPerna will compete in related technical math.

Also, PHSC student Marnie Banks was awarded a silver medal, placing second in the state competition in the related technical math category; Karen Becker received a bronze medal, placing third in the state competition in the job interview category; and, Nancy Haney placed third for a bronze medal in the extemporaneous speaking category.

Sixty-four graduate from Primrose School
The Primrose School at Collier Parkway celebrated 64 pre-kindergarten students, as they received their first graduation diplomas.

A formal ceremony commemorated the students’ completion of pre-kindergarten and recognized each child, one-by-one, as they shook their teacher’s hand and moved their tassels from left to right.

There also was a slide show of pictures collected throughout the year, a Pledge of Allegiance, the “Star Spangled Banner,” class song performances, and a reception with cake, juice and refreshments.

More than 1,000 degrees bestowed
Saint Leo University’s commencement ceremonies at University Campus bestowed more than 1,000 new degrees on recipients.

• About 325 students, mainly adult learners who studied online and on ground at the Adult Education Center at University Campus and Pasco-Hernando State College locations, were awarded bachelor degrees.
• More than 435 students received master’s degrees across a variety of disciplines during a ceremony in the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Saint Leo conferred its first Doctorate of Business Administration degrees to Billie Jarrell, Leslie Sukup and Patrick Plummer.
• More than 350 traditional undergraduates who studied at University Campus received their degrees. Two associate degrees were awarded posthumously to the families of Alexis Carrera and Nicholas Jonah Cusson-Ducharm, both of whom passed away in 2016.

New principal and chaplain
St. Petersburg Catholic High School has two new school leaders.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg appointed Ross Bubolz as the school’s next principal and Reverend Anthony Ustick as school chaplain.

Bubolz began his career at Glenwood School in Chicago, Illinois, as a teacher, dean of students and residential care worker. He has spent the last 14 years in Catholic schools, most recently serving as principal of the Cathedral School of St. Jude in St. Petersburg.

Ustick is a native of Pinellas County and ordained to the priesthood in May 2015. Recently, he was the parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle.

Ustick will work with Bubolz in the administration and leadership of the school.

Pine View students place second
Local students from Pine View Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes are second-place national winners as part of the 25th annual Toshiba and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) ExploraVision program.

The students will be honored in Washington D.C., June 7 through June 10.

The Pine View project named “The Coral Reef MGS” will help reefs grow, while providing scientists with consistent information about coral bleaching, ocean water temperature and acidity.

The Monitored Growth Sanctuary includes an electrified graphene coral growth platform, solar and hydropower collectors, and an ocean water monitoring station.

Fifth-grader wins first place in poster contest
Kaden Horvath, a fifth-grader at Cypress Elementary School in New Port Richey, won first prize (Grades 3 to 5 category) in the second annual Dole “Fruitapalooza” poster contest. Horvath received an iPad mini and a plaque.

Cypress Elementary’s fifth-grade art students also won the National Grand Prize in the contest. The school received $1,000 for the art classroom and 10 cases of Dole fruit bowls for the cafeteria.

To view Horvath’s submission, visit DoleFoodService.com/schoolcontest.

Teacher hiring event
Pasco County Schools will host a teacher interview and hiring event June 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Schools District Office Building 3, 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Those interested in an interview must apply to attend the event at PascoSchools.org/employment and complete the Teacher Interview and Hiring Event Application. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive an email to respond to.

For information, contact the Office of Human Resources and Educator Quality at or (813) 794-2845.

Catholic homeschool conference
The IHM Tampa Homeschool Conference will take place at St. Lawrence Parish’s Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes Ave., in Tampa, June 8 from noon to 6 p.m., and June 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants can learn more about Catholic home-schooling.

Admission is free. Registration is not required.

For information, visit IHMConference.org, or email .

PHSC adds new trustees
Pasco-Hernando State College welcomed two new members to the District Board of Trustees.

Col. Jeffrey Harrington, of Hudson, serves as second in command at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as Chief of Police at New Port Richey Police Department. Harrington has a doctorate degree from Capella University. He fills a vacant trustee seat, with his term ending May 31, 2019.

Alvaro “Al” Hernandez, of Odessa, is a vice president of marketing at Humana, and received a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. He fills a vacant trustee seat, with his term ending May 31, 2018.

Five students accepted to service academies
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) congratulated five students who have been accepted to one of the nation’s prestigious service academies.

The students were nominated by Bilirakis’ office based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character.

This year’s appointees are:

• Bethany Greene, Sunlake High School, United States Naval Academy
• James Nichols, Steinbrenner High, United States Military Academy
• Olivia Lane, Hillsborough High, United States Air Force Academy
• Alana Tallman, Pasco High, United States Air Force Academy
• Nicolette Clark, Allendale Academy, United States Air Force Academy

The students undergo a competitive interview process, and each respective academy makes the final decision on acceptance.

Applications for the next round of nominations in the fall can be found online at tinyurl.com/lorof88.

Student selected for Duke program
McKenna Vitali, a seventh-grader at River Ridge Middle School, was selected to participate in Duke University’s Talent Identification Program, and received a medal at the university during a Grand Recognition Ceremony.

Vitali, an exceptional education student who has been diagnosed with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was recognized by Duke for her exceptionally high ACT scores.

Local university graduates
Grantham University in Kansas has announced these local graduates of the school’s online degree and certificate programs: Charles Hutchins, Dade City, electronic and computer engineering; Edward Bryant, Land O’ Lakes, criminal justice; Paul Hanniffy, Land O’ Lakes, business administration; Penny Petee, Land O’ Lakes, multidisciplinary studies; Emil Isaakian, Lutz, computer engineering tech; and, John Payne, computer science.

King’s College in New York has awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in media, culture and the arts to Alexa Rivera, of Wesley Chapel.

Tori Anderson, of Odessa, has earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Berry College in Georgia.

Katarina Parise, of Lutz, graduated from The University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice. Parise is a 2013 graduate of Sunlake High School.

Courtney Olivier graduates law school
Courtney Olivier, of Lutz, has graduated from the Stetson University College of Law. Olivier was a member of the Trial Team, a fellow in the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, a member of the Student Leadership Development Committee, and a class representative of the Student Bar Association. She also served as a Stetson Ambassador and a Study Abroad Diplomat.

Olivier also was an intern for two federal defender’s offices: the Federal Defender Program in Chicago, Illinois, and the Office of the Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa.

Essay contest winner announced
As part of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s annual contest, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano received essays from middle school students in public, private, parochial, charter, online and home-schools in answer to the question, “How do you, as a middle school student, benefit from taxes your family, friends and neighbors pay?”

Dominic Fonseca, an eighth-grade gifted student at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, submitted the winning essay and was awarded a $300 Best Buy gift card. Fonseca’s essay best communicated his response to the topic question, while meeting the contest criteria of overall essay structure, appearance and readability.

The contest will again be offered in 2018. For information, visit PascoTaxes.com.

Korean War veteran wears cap and gown
Marty Sullivan, an 83-year-old Korean War veteran, donned a cap and gown to stand with the members of the Joe E. Newsome High School Class of 2017 on May 19.

Sullivan had just completed his sophomore year at a Boston high school in 1951 when he walked into a U.S. Navy recruitment center to sign up for the Korean War.

Jobs, a family and a retirement move to Hillsborough County followed in the years after he left the service.

Sullivan learned through his volunteer work at the Hillsborough County Veterans Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum that he qualified for a high school diploma.

The State of Florida offers a standard high school diploma to any eligible, honorably discharged military veteran who left high school in order to serve our nation’s armed forces.

For information, call Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services at (813) 635-8316, or visit HCFLGov.net/Veterans.

John Legg receives alumni award
Pasco-Hernando State College has named former Senator John Legg, PHSC class of 1994, as its 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Legg was honored at the college-wide annual Student Activities and Distinguished Alumni Award Recognition Ceremony in April.

Legg is the chief financial officer of DaySpring Academy, a Pasco County charter school he founded in 2000. He received an Associate in Arts degree from PHSC in 1994, and transferred to the University of South Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration.

Legg began his public service career as a legislative aide to Florida House Rep. Heather Fiorentino, whom he subsequently succeeded. He then was elected to the Florida Senate where he served from 2012 to 2016.

Reading kickoff
The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will host a Summer Reading Club Kickoff June 3 at 2 p.m., for elementary-aged children and their families. There will be a presentation by Mad Science.

For information, call (352) 567-3576.

Catholic homeschool conference
The IHM Tampa Homeschool Conference will take place at St. Lawrence Parish’s Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes Ave., in Tampa, June 8 from noon to 6 p.m., and June 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants can learn more about Catholic home-schooling.

Admission is free. Registration is not required.

For information, visit IHMConference.org, or email .

Woman’s club awards scholarships
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills awarded nine $1,000 scholarships at its end-of-the-year luncheon. The following students received a certificate and check:

• Mariana Escudero, Pasco-Hernando State College
• Shelly Brantman, Grand Canyon University
• Sarah Marie First, University of Central Florida
• Luis Arturo Chavez Rincon, PHSC/Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lilly Ostrander, PHSC
• Courtney Graham, Saint Leo University
• Alaysha Bell, Florida A&M University
• Victoria Tinney, Sante Fe College
• Amber Strickland, PHSC