Local student recognitions
These area students were recognized by their respective schools for the fall semester:
- Alexia Faith Acebo, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
- Calee Ash, Lutz, Dean’s List at Harding University in Arkansas
- Cami Ash, Lutz, Dean’s List at Harding University
- Courtney F. Bobo, Lutz, Dean’s List at Samford University in Alabama
- Alexis Burnette, Wesley Chapel, Dean’s List at Furman University in South Carolina
- Rachel Carlson, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Maine
- Mackenzie Morgan Cuffe, Odessa, President’s List at Clemson University in South Carolina
- Samantha Nicole Cuffe, Odessa, Dean’s List at Clemson University
- Stephanie Leeanne Erickson, Odessa, President’s List at Clemson University
- Dominique Eule, Lutz, Dean’s Honor Roll at Southwestern College in Kansas
- Brycie Gauthier, Lutz, Dean’s Honor Roll at Oklahoma City University
- Jessica Howell, Lutz, Dean’s List at Furman University
- Grace Korta, Lutz, Dean’s List at Mercer University Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics
- Ashley Kubel, Odessa, Dean’s List at Georgia Southern University
- Garren Lewis, Lutz, Dean’s List at Seton Hall University in New Jersey
- Ayson Grace Logrono, Land O’ Lakes, Dean’s List at the College of William & Mary in Virginia
- Nathan Mansour, Odessa, Dean’s List at University of Dayton in Ohio
- Gabriel Montenegro Slowing, Lutz, President’s List at University of Southern Mississippi
- Ebonee A. Nicholes, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
- Tyler W. Scarboro, Lutz, Dean’s List at Samford University
- Andrew Jacob Schwitzgebel, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
- Taylor Avery Trumbetti, Lutz, Dean’s List at University of Alabama
Bishop McLaughlin open house
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill, will host an admissions open house March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For information or to RSVP, call (727) 857-2600, ext. 244.
Scholarship fundraiser
The Medical Center of Trinity volunteers will host a jewelry sale fundraiser March 9 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and March 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the hospital’s lobby at 9330 State Road 54. The Masquerade Jewelry and Fashions sale will include jewelry, watches, scarves, rings, umbrellas and more.
The scholarships will benefit local students studying in any area of the medical field.
Music fest needs helpers
The Land O’ Lakes Music Festival is looking for volunteers, for a variety of jobs, to help with its second annual event, scheduled for March 11.
Students can help the community and earn some community service hours at the same time.
For information, call Linda Christle, volunteer coordinator, at (727) 809-3938, or email her at .
Bus drivers needed
Pasco County Schools is looking for experienced bus drivers or anyone interested in becoming a bus driver.
There will be an information meeting March 15 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive, Building 1, Room 01-036, in New Port Richey.
Guests should bring a driver’s license, social security card or permanent resident card. Those who have worked in a CDL-required (commercial driver’s license) position in the last two years should provide employer’s name, address and fax number.
Prospective drivers must attend an information meeting before being approved for a certification class.
For information, call Pasco County Schools’ Transporation Department at (813) 794-1862.
Lunch & learn, job fair
Pasco-Hernando State College will host a Lunch and Learn March 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at its West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.
Employers can participate in a panel discussion and learn the benefits of hiring an individual with a disability.
Following the lunch, there will be an “open to all” job fair from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those attending can meet with representatives from for profit, government and nonprofit organizations. Participants should dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.
To register for lunch and learn, visit InclusionWorksLunchAndLearn.eventbrite.com, or call Jackie Eden at (727) 816-3334.
For information about the job fair, email Jackie Eden at or Ana Segovia at .
Scholarship applications
Hillsborough County Social Services and the Community Action Board offer scholarships up to $5,000 to eligible students who want to continue education at an institution of higher learning.
Scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 school year will be accepted through March 31.
Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the the start of the fall semester.
Applications can be downloaded at tinyurl.com/zxvwatv.
Students may submit completed applications online, via email, or hand deliver to any County Community Resource Center.
Pasco child care provider recognized
Kids ‘R’ Kids of Wesley Chapel owner, Bimal Bhojani, was named first runner-up for WEDU’s “Be More Positive” Award, for his donation to the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando’s waitlist for subsidized child care.
Last spring, 10 children from Pasco County were given an early learning opportunity — a year of free services from Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Wesley Chapel. Bhojani’s donation came at a time when the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc.’s waitlist had more than 1,200 children.
Every year, ABC Action News and WEDU receive dozens of nominations from community members who have encountered everyday heroes throughout the year.
Bhojani joined numerous nonprofit organizations and individuals at the 2017 awards luncheon at the Glazer Family Jewish Community Center in Tampa.
Pepin Academies Pasco wins Samsung contest
Pepin Academies Pasco was named a state winner in the “2017 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow” contest, and will represent Florida in the national competition.
Pepin Academies is a kindergarten through 12th-grade school for boys and girls with learning capabilities.
The school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) teacher, Carrie Donahue, submitted the entry that was “chosen for its innovative approach to advancing interest in STEAM among its students, as well as making an impact in the local community,” according to Samsung Electronics America officials in a statement.
Pepin Academies Pasco is the only school in Florida, and just one of 50 schools in the United States, to win the state prize.
The school will receive $25,000 in technology, including a video kit for students to create videos to showcase their project development.
Pasco will now go on to Samsung’s national competition with a short video that brings its STEAM “Activity Plan” to life.
Home-schooling ministry
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers a Home-schooling Ministry, with weekly co-op at the church, social events and more.
For information, email Linda Holt at .
Middle school essay contest
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office is accepting entries to Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s Constitutional Officers Essay Contest. The contest runs through March 31.
Middle school students in Pasco County, grades six to eight, in public/charter, private, non-public and home-schools can participate.
In 500 words or less, students must answer the question: “How do you, as a middle school student, benefit from taxes your family, friends and neighbors pay?”
Each entry must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information.
Entries will be judged by a panel of directors from the tax collector’s office, and will be reviewed on how well the student communicates a response to the question, as well as overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
Students in public/charter schools should submit essays to the school’s principal, who will forward the essay to the tax collector’s office.
Students in private, nonpublic or home-schools should send essays to Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120, New Port Richey, FL 34654, or by email to .
The deadline is 5 p.m., March 31.
The winning entry will be notified by telephone by April 17.
For information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.
