ZooTampa brings animals to schools
TAMPA – ZooTampa at Lowry Park is bringing its Nature Nurtures outreach program back to four Hillsborough County elementary schools.
The multi-year initiative features interactive presentations by ZooTampa’s Ambassador Animal Team. They’ll introduce students in kindergarten through third grade to reptiles and amphibians.
“Kids are naturally curious – and seeing an animal up close is an unforgettable way to make nature feel real and accessible,” said Tiffany Burns, senior director of animal programs at ZooTampa.
The program will visit Muller Elementary Magnet School, James Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary and Lake Magdalene Elementary through April. The partnership focuses on Title I schools within 15 miles of the zoo.
Hillsborough County Public Schools celebrates top staffers
TAMPA – The Hillsborough Education Foundation and Hillsborough County Public Schools honored those who represent the very best of public education at the 2026 Excellence in Education Awards.
Winners were as follows:
- Ché Counce won the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year. Counce is an Access Points teacher who has served Hillsborough County Public Schools for seven years.
- Mary Torres-Cerezo won the Instructional Support Employee of the Year. Torres-Cerezo has worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools for 21 years. She spent 14 of those years as a nurse for Willis Peters Exceptional Center.
- Christi Atkinson won the Teacher of the Year. Atkinson has been teaching in Hillsborough County for 14 years, nine years at Wharton High School, with the last four years as the science department head.
Saint Leo University opens new track, locker rooms
- LEO – Saint Leo University celebrated the grand opening Jan. 22 of an eight-lane, 400-meter track and newly constructed locker rooms.
The completion of the track is part of a phased relaunch of Saint Leo University’s men’s and women’s track and field programs. The teams welcomed 42 student-athletes in fall 2025, with enrollment expected to grow to about 60 by fall 2026. By 2027, at least 80 student-athletes are anticipated to be competing in sprint, distance and field events, including long jump, high jump, throwing events, javelin and steeplechase.
Saint Leo University also unveiled state-of-the-art men’s and women’s locker rooms on the north side of the Marion Bowman Activities Center. The three locker rooms serve about 120 student-athletes, primarily supporting the university’s soccer programs, and provide dedicated spaces for team strategy, preparation and camaraderie.
Achieva Foundation announces 2026 scholarships
DUNEDIN – The Achieva Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Achieva Credit Union, is accepting applications through March 21 for its 2026 Scholarship Program.
The foundation will award 28 scholarships totaling $87,000.
New this year, the program includes a $3,500 scholarship for a home-educated student, established in honor of Achieva’s former CEO Gary Regoli and his wife, Teresa.
Twenty-seven students will each receive $3,000 scholarships to support their continued education at colleges and technical schools. Scholarship funds are deposited into recipients’ Achieva accounts to help offset the cost of tuition, books and other education expenses.
Applicants or a member of their family must be an Achieva Credit Union member in good standing, a graduating high school senior or enrolled in an accredited college or technical school.
Apply at Achievacu.com/Foundation.
Quick Hits
- Pasco-Hernando State College welcomed new members to its board: M. Stacey Thomson, a physical science professor at PHSC; Jessica Zimmerman, service center operations director at Suncoast Credit Union; and Janei Harris, a student at PHSC.
- McClellan Creek, of Odessa, made the honors list at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus in Madison, NJ. Students must have a 3.5 or better grade point average.
- Amber Rosswaag, of Lutz, graduated with a Finance B S. at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
- Alexander Mihalek, of Wesley Chapel, and Catalina Munoz Sola, of Lutz, made the dean’s list at Fairfield University at Fairfield, Connecticut.
