Principal of the Year named
Pasco County Schools has recognized Chris Dunning, principal of Wendell Krinn Technical High School, as its Principal of the Year.
Dunning has been an educator in Pasco County for more than 30 years. He started his career as an elementary school teacher and advanced to elementary assistant principal and then principal.
The honoree also spent time as the district’s chief negotiator in the Office for Employee Relations. He also was selected to open Paul R. Smith Middle School, where he led the team to become the highest-scoring Title I School in the district.
He then moved on to Seven Springs Middle School and also achieved the highest-scoring school in the district.
Dunning currently leads Wendell Krinn Technical, the district’s first magnet high school that has been recognized as a Demonstration Magnet School and provides opportunities for students in 14 career areas.
Throughout his professional life, Dunning has been an active volunteer in the community, has coached at the YMCA and was a leader of a cub scout pack. He also has served on multiple chamber boards as chairman and has been a member of multiple rotaries.
Dunning and his wife, Jeannie, are first responders in the foster care system and have hosted almost 40 children in the past three years.
Sunlake car wash fundraiser
The Sunlake High School boys and girls tennis teams will host a car wash on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 7-Eleven, at the corner of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes. All proceeds will benefit the two teams.
College & Career Fair
Pasco County Schools will host its fourth annual Virtual College and Career Fair on Feb. 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., to provide information to middle and high school families as they plan for college entrance and/or careers after high school. Each session will have a live presentation accessible through the online event platform, Sched, with representatives from college, career and the Armed Forces.
Resources: ACT/SAT Support; College Admissions Process; Collegiate Athletics; Financial Aid, Bright Futures, and Scholarships; Naviance-College, Career & Life Readiness Resource; Resources for Students with Disabilities; International Universities
Participating colleges: University of South Florida; Florida Polytechnic; Florida Gulf Coast University; Pasco-Hernando State College; Florida A&M University; University of Central Florida; Grand Canyon University; Saint Leo University; Florida International University; Rasmussen University; University of Florida
Career information: Cross Air Ocean Flight School; AdventHealth; Human Resources and Educator Quality, Pasco County Schools; Marchman Technical College; Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
Armed Forces: United States Coast Guard; United States Air Force
To register to attend, visit https://collegeandcareerfair2024.sched.com/.
For additional support, email .
Books to ‘snuggle’ with
AdventHealth Heart of Florida accepted a donation of 720 new books titled “Snuggle” from the nonprofit Early Learning Coalition of Polk County. The book features loving and encouraging messages parents can read to their children. Reading to newborns offers an opportunity for bonding, provides babies with the building blocks for language, and gives them the tools for forming lifelong social and emotional skills.
University graduates
The University of Tampa honored 1,105 degree-seeking candidates at the school’s 157th commencement last December. Area students receiving degrees include:
- Mackenzie Allen, Lutz: Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology
- Sharron Canham, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Economics
- Annael Julien, Lutz: Master of Business Administration in Business Administration
- Joshua Luther, Odessa: Master of Business Administration in Business Administration
- Aaron Molloy, Lutz: Master of Science in Marketing
- Amy Waly Ndiaye, Lutz: Master of Science in Finance
- Lindsey Reed, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
- Daniel Riley, Odessa: Master of Arts in Professional Communication
- Denis Sapogov, Lutz: Master of Science in Business Analytics
- Joseph Vardakis, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Marketing
The Georgia Institute of Technology presented degrees to approximately 6,300 undergraduate and graduate students during the school’s 265th commencement last December. Area students receiving degrees include:
- Robert Bebeau, Lutz
- Daniel Crane, Lutz
Student selected for Carnegie Hall
Cole Colhouer, a student at Land O’ Lakes High School (LOLHS), has been selected for the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Cole will perform the French horn with the Honors Symphony Orchestra. Participation in the Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated young performers from around the world, according to a news release from Cheryl Colhouer.
Colhouer has studied music for seven years and is a member of the LOLHS Wind Ensemble, All County Band, Bay Area Youth Winds and the Universal Show Band. He has received dozens of awards and recognitions.
The student auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was recently accepted after a review of the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the group is a result of the talent, dedication and achievements demonstrated in a student’s application and audition recording.
The Honors Performance Series, presented by WorldStrides, was created to showcase accomplished individual student performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in world-renowned venues.
To learn more, visit HonorsPerformance.org or WorldStrides.com.
Conservation poster contest
Hillsborough County kindergarten through 12th grade students are encouraged to enter the 2024 Drop Savers Water Conservation Poster Contest, sponsored by Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.
Students who enter the contest must create an original idea for a poster depicting water conservation in slogan and/or drawing form. Each submission will be judged on the message, creativity, originality and artistic ability. The poster must be drawn on 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper, vertically or horizontally. Students can use crayons, paint, colored pencils or markers. No highlighters, photos or computer graphics are allowed.
The contest has five age divisions. Each school will select one winner from each division for submission to the local level. A first-, second- and third-place local winner will be chosen for each division. The first-place local winners will advance to the statewide level.
The deadline for submissions is March 1. For more information, visit .
For additional details and list of prizes, visit HCFL.gov/residents/property-owners-and-renters/water-and-sewer/drop-savers-poster-contest.
Scholarship applications
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is now accepting applications for the Florida Supervisor of Elections (FSE) Scholarship.
The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science, public administration, business administration or journalism/mass communication major and be at least a junior in college.
Students must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida and have at least a C average or above for the previous year. Additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information can be found at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2024 FSE Scholarship Application under the Noteworthy tab on the homepage. Applicants will be personally interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration.
Applications are due by March 8.
Scholarship opportunity
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer invites college students to apply for a scholarship provided by the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE). The FSE is offering three $1,200 scholarships to eligible Florida residents who are accepted or enrolled as full-time students in a senior college or university in Florida.
Students also must be at least a junior in college, or have enough credits for enrollment as a junior prior to the application date.
Hillsborough County residents must apply through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office. Students who apply must be either a political science, public/business administration, or journalism/mass communications major.
The application deadline is March 8. To learn about the full list of requirements and how to apply, visit VoteHillsborough.gov/Scholarship, or email .
