Memorial scholarship established
Laura Raposa, Pasco-Hernando State College’s dean of accelerated learning, and her husband Ben established the Kimberly Ann Montgomery Scholarship in memory of Laura’s sister, who dedicated her life to nursing and caring for others. Kimberly’s calling was to be a nurse and care for others and she served 21 years as a nurse at North Bay Hospital. The family hopes the scholarship will help other like-minded students achieve their goals. To make a gift to the scholarship, visit Giving.PHSC.edu.
Student achievements
- Zoe Adkins, Lutz: Dean’s List, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Kenza Brown, Lutz: Dean’s List, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
- Justus Espinoza, Odessa: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Florida State University
- Flagler College has recognized these area students to its President’s List: Mikayla Croissant, Lutz; Niamh Kirkwood, Odessa; and Madeline Rodriguez, Lutz.
- The Florida Institute of Technology named these area students to its Dean’s List: Lance Fales, Land O’ Lakes; Anika Futo, Lutz; Daniel Vassallo, Lutz; Max Martino, Lutz; Jackie Figueredo, Lutz; and Madison Rooth, Odessa.
- Jaeden Lowther, Odessa: President’s List, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
- Jacob Statman, Lutz: Dean’s List, Rochester Institute of Technology
- The University of Tampa named these students to the school’s Dean’s List: Samantha Park, Odessa; Robert Cooper, Lutz; Cole Benjamin, Odessa; Hope Lelekacs, Odessa; Tristan Hilson, Lutz; Michelle Loefstrand, Odessa; Madison McElhone, Odessa; Angelina Santana, Lutz; Lindsey Reed, Lutz; Zoe Papageorgiou, Odessa; Margret Gudmundsson, Lutz; Ashley Mantei, Odessa; Gabrielle Reim, Odessa; Charles Pals, Odessa; Alyssa De La Sala, Lutz; Makenzie Reynolds, Lutz; Olivia Jacinto, Lutz; Andrea Centeno, Odessa; and Timothy Chen, Odessa.
- Payton VanNort, of Lutz: attended the Musical Theatre Intensive (MTI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and competed in the MTI competition in late January. VanNort is majoring in Theatre-Directing.
- Claudia Vitale, of Lutz, to its Dean’s List, Georgia Institute of Technology
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
The East Pasco Education Academy, 35830 County Road 52 in Dade City, will host Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on March 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The event also will include pictures with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, Bunny Express tractor ride, and an Egg Scramble.
Admission is $10 for children ages 2 and older. Adults are free (breakfast is $5). All proceeds will benefit the students at the academy.
For information, call 352-524-5700.
Five for Five Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco will host its fourth annual Five for Five Dinner on March 14, at the Timber Greens Golf & Country Club, 6333 Timber Greens Blvd., in New Port Richey, to benefit the party’s $5,000 scholarship fund. Check-in and cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
Special guests will include Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Sen. Ed Hooper, Rep. Brad Yeager, Commissioners Seth Weightman and Gary Gradford, and school board member Colleen Beaudoin.
Individual tickets and a la carte Host a Toast are $100. Table sponsorships are available.
For tickets and information, call Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011 or 727-863-5400.
Women in Education
NOTE TIME CHANGE: Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host an Empowered! Women in Education Conference on March 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the PHSC Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.
Participants can explore leadership, confidence, empowerment, and engage in networking opportunities. There also will be a celebration of Women’s History Month.
To view the agenda, visit PHSC.edu/empowered/agenda. To register, visit PHSC.edu/about/events/campus/empowered-women-education-conference.
For information, contact Jessica White, associate dean student life and leadership, at 727-816-3764 or .
Community Action Board Scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are available to eligible Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education. Scholarships are worth up to $5,000, can be used to accredited trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.
All applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent (16-year-olds may apply if they are a graduating senior).
- The candidate must have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Applicants must reside in Hillsborough County.
- The applicant’s household income must fall within 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines of the Community Services Block Grant.
- Students seeking a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree do not qualify.
Students are encouraged to read through the Community Action Board Scholarship Application Package online, at http://tinyurl.com/3entyf4e, before applying.
Students can apply online at https://form.jotform.com/233123786503151.
Giving students a voice
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is giving students a voice in the democratic process to influence the decisions that affect them most.
To help students make their voices heard nationwide, NASSP is establishing the National Student Council, an assembly of student leaders from across the country to serve as powerful advocates for their peers at the federal level, according to a news release.
NASSP’s National Association of Student Councils (NASC), formerly known as NatStuCo, will administer the National Student Council.
“It’s incredibly rare for policymakers to ask my classmates and me for our opinions,” said Shreeya Gogia, an NASC member and senior at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas, in the release. “NASC’s National Student Council will finally give students like me a seat at the table so we have a say in the decisions that will have the biggest impact on our schools and futures.”
Elections and appointments to the National Student Council will take place from March to September, after which the representatives will identify the most pressing challenges facing students and then advocate for solutions.
In addition to the National Student Council, the NASSP will give away $100,000 in new scholarships to NASC members each year.
For more information, visit NatStuCo.org.
Schools of Distinction
Pasco County Schools has announced three of its schools have been recognized as National Merit Schools of Distinction. Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools, awarded the title.
The schools earning the commendable designation are Hudson High School’s Cambridge Programme, Sunray Elementary’s Cambridge Programme and Sanders Memorial STEAM Elementary, according to a news release.
Each school has distinguished itself through its dedication to integrating specialized themes into curricula and instructional methods, ensuring students don’t just learn but thrive through enriched educational experiences that are both engaging and challenging.
By achieving this distinction status, these schools have demonstrated their effectiveness in raising student academic achievement, providing diverse educational environments, and fostering continuous improvement through evidence-based instruction aligned with their theme, the release says.
Men of Excellence
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) hosted its first Men of Excellence event on Feb. 20, at the PHSC Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.
The event featured a panel discussion and vendor fair, and was designed around a barbershop-style concept aimed at encouraging men to come together and openly share and discuss a wide array of topics and how to incorporate excellence into their lives, according to a news release.
“When you’re presenting yourself, whether it’s on the job, in the community, or in the classroom, you want to reflect a standard of excellence and helping young men and women be able to identify, understand and exhibit excellence is critical,” said Nathaniel Brown, PHSC linking in faith and education (LIFE) coordinator, in the release.
Several community leaders addressed current challenges facing youth by offering personal stories, advice and encouragement.
Javon Parker, a sophomore at Wharton High School, was in attendance and said he enjoyed gaining knowledge from the speakers and hearing about the variety of experiences and challenges they overcame. The event was open to the community as well as PHSC students.
PHSC plans to host additional similar events. For more information, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.
