New year, new name
One of Saint Leo University’s education centers, the former East Pasco Education Center, will now be the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus, according to a news release.
The name change is keeping with the center’s mission of educating adult learners and those of nontraditional college age. Adult learners choose to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in order to strengthen their skillsets or reskill and change careers, and Saint Leo’s Center for Adult Learning will focus on assisting students in meeting those goals.
The new center is based on the first floor of Saint Edward Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the campus, which is at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.
Degrees offered at the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus include:
- Associate of Arts: liberal arts; business administration; criminal justice; and information technology
- Bachelor of Arts: business administration (management, marketing, and technology management); criminal justice (criminalistics and homeland security); educational studies (education and children; education and adolescents; English; social science); elementary education; human resource management; middle grades education (English and social science); psychology (clinical/counseling, developmental, experimental, general); and religion
- Bachelor of Science: accounting; computer information systems; cybersecurity; and health care administration
- Bachelor of Social Work: social work
- Master of Science: criminal justice (behavioral studies, corrections, criminal investigations, critical incident management, forensic science, and legal studies)
Registration is taking place for Spring 2 Semester classes, which begin March 13, and the Summer 1 Semester, which begins May 8.
For information about the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus, email , or call 813-226-2775.
African acrobats
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host the Zuzu African Acrobats on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., at the PHSC Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For information, contact Luther Buie, associate dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs, at 727-816-3192 or .
Graduation rates
The Pasco County Schools 2021-2022 graduate rate of 90.2% continues to exceed the state average and is the best among Tampa Bay area school districts, according to a Pasco County Schools news release.
Pasco’s graduation rate slipped by less than one percentage point compared to last year’s rate (from 91.0% to 90.2%), the release said.
The slight decrease reflects a statewide trend, and many districts experienced significant decreases.
The state graduation rate dropped by nearly three percentage points, from 90.1% to 87.3%.
Taking the long view, Pasco’s graduation rate is evidence of steady progress — since 2013, the rate has improved by more than 14 percentage points.
“Despite the challenges our students experienced in recent years, we continue to see steady progress year after year,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning, in the release.
“All our teachers in elementary, middle and high school can share the credit because we know that it takes a team effort to prepare students for college, career and life,” said Browning.
Hillsborough County Public School’s graduation rate for the 2021-2022 year is 87.9%, the release said.
To view the statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education web page.
Student achievements
- James Cook, Lutz: Dean’s List, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Nicole Marie Farmer, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in finance, University of Maryland Global Campus
- Matthew Ferguson, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in management studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
- Alexis Leighty, Lutz: Dean’s List, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
- Wolfgang Louk, Lutz: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
- Faith Quinn, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
- Grace Quinn, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
Five for Five Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco will host its third annual Five for Five Dinner (a five-course meal to benefit the club’s $5,000 scholarship fund) on March 2 at the Timber Greens Golf & Country Club, 6333 Timber Greens Blvd., in New Port Richey.
The fundraiser will help a high school student go to a college or trade school of their choice in Florida, with a $1,000 scholarship award.
Check-in and cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6 p.m.
The event will feature Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Chef Adam, and celebrity sous-chefs Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Sen. Ed Hooper, Rep. Randy Maggard, Commissioner Seth Weightman, and school board member Cynthia Armstrong.
For tickets and sponsorship levels, call Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011, or the Republican Party of Pasco office at 727-863-5400.
