Saint Leo Community Service Day
Saint Leo University’s “Spring Community Service Day” will be Jan. 18, in conjunction with the campus’ celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The university will host a guest speaker and a community children’s fair as part of the festivities.
The guest speaker will be Peggy A. Quince, justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, on the topic of the importance of Dr. King’s message of working to combat poverty among American youth. The noon presentation will be in the Student Community Center boardrooms.
Following Justice Quince’s presentation, there will be a children’s fair on campus from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with face painting, sand art and several inflatables.
Admission is free, and the presentation is open to the public.
The campus is at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.
STEM magnet school info meetings
Centennial Middle STEM Magnet School, scheduled to open in August, will host parent information sessions at 6 p.m., as follows:
- Jan. 19 at Dr. John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
- Jan. 20 at Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
- Jan. 21 at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills
Parents of sixth- and seventh-graders at the host schools, as well as those of current fifth-graders in the elementary schools that feed into them, are encouraged to attend.
The superintendent, the magnet school principal, and district staff will discuss the STEM magnet theme and programs that will be offered at the school. Parents also will hear about magnet school application timelines and options for transportation.
Martin Luther King Jr. lecture
Pasco-Hernando State College’s 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture Series will host guest speaker Mark Anthony Neal on the topic of “Hip Hop, Civil Rights and Social Media.”
There will be five presentations over a two-day period.
- Jan. 20 at 10 a.m., Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Room B-303, in Wesley Chapel
- Jan. 20 at 6 p.m., East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, Room A-240, in Dade City
- Jan. 21 at 9:45 a.m., via web telecast, North Campus, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., B-104/105, in Brooksville
- Jan. 21 at 9:45 a.m., West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, Performing Arts Center, in New Port Richey
- Jan. 21 at 7 p.m., Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Room B-105
Admission is free. For information, call (855) 669-7472.
Thursday Musicale offers scholarships
The Thursday Musicale, a women’s choral group formed to promote music in Pasco and Hernando counties, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Pasco and Hernando counties who plan to study music in college and make it a career.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Jan. 22. Auditions will be Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs in New Port Richey.
For applications, contact your high school career counselor and/or music director.
Take Stock in Children applications
Take Stock in Children scholarship applications are now being accepted online through Jan. 24 for Pasco County Schools’ students on free/reduced lunch in grades eight to 10.
The organization, a program with the Pasco Education Foundation and partnered with Pasco County Schools, has provided scholarships, mentors and hope since 1995.
For information and an application, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org.
School photographer celebrates with fundraiser
Paul Gigante, a professional school photographer since 1991 in Tampa Bay, has seen the need to help less fortunate homeless high school seniors, as they transition after graduation to start college careers. His goal is to raise $50,000 at a benefit to help as many students from the Class of 2016 in Pasco and Hillsborough counties as possible.
Gigante will host a “H4 Benefit” (Helping Our Homeless High Schoolers Achieve Higher Education) at Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road in Tampa, on Jan. 24 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Entertainment will include the USF “HOT” Pep Band, The Butch Ryan Band, local disc jockeys, and others.
There also will be silent auctions, sports memorabilia, gift baskets, a 50/50 raffle, corn hole tournament, photo booth and more.
The cover charge is a birthday card for Paul with a donation payable to “H4 Benefit.”
Corporate/local business partnerships/personal and family sponsorships are available.
For information, contact Paul Gigante at (813) 340-4080.
Saint Leo welcomes new partners
Saint Leo University now has professional working agreements with four new community partners in Florida.
The new organizations include Bay Area Youth Services Inc., The Gracepoint Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and Oglethorpe Inc.
BAYS is a nonprofit with the objective of improving the quality of life and increasing the potential of Florida’s youth.
Gracepoint is a nonprofit with a mission to educate, advocate for, and give hope to all people touched by behavioral health and developmental challenges.
Miami-Dade County government provides major metropolitan services countywide and city-type services for residents of unincorporated areas. It also provides employee discount services to all employees.
Oglethorpe’s mission is to breathe new life into failed or failing psychiatric health centers and to restore their place in their communities.
Rasmussen launches accelerated entrance options
Rasmussen College has launched two accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at its Land O’ Lakes/East Pasco campus.
The college’s BSN degree program is available with the new, accelerated pre-licensure entrance options designed for students committed to the nursing profession and eager to launch their careers as quickly as possible. The options also help fill a significant need for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in the Tampa Bay area.
To learn more about the accelerated entrance options, visit Rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing.
