‘Buddy’ bundles for students
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club has not been idle during this pandemic year. The women pursued even more than their usual portfolio of projects because the need has been so great. Faith Sincich delivered enough ‘snuggle buddy’ bundles for an entire first-grade class at Miles Elementary. Each bundle contained two books, a flashlight and a snuggly blanket. The club also donated clothing and supplies to the school. For information, visit the club’s Facebook page or its website at GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.
Yea! Awards
Hillsborough County is accepting nominations for the Youth Excellence and Achievement (Yea!) Awards through 5 p.m., on April 12.
The awards recognize the positive contributions made by young people in the community.
Nominations, which will be reviewed by the Commission on the Status of Women, can be submitted for both middle and high school students in each of these categories:
- Leadership — demonstrating positive impact on others in an ongoing endeavor, such as sports, academics or the arts
- Success Despite Difficult Odds — overcoming tremendous personal difficulty to attain success and positively impact others
- Volunteer or Community Service — allocating discretionary time to help others or complete a project that has improved our community
Nomination forms can be found online at HCFLGov.net/YEA.
Speaker series
Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center will present a speaker series for students and prospective students interested in “helping” careers.
The topics for the Social Services Speaker Series will appeal to those interested in social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services.
The series will include:
- April 13: Peer Programs for Criminal Justice, at noon; Social Work Careers and Practices, 12:25 p.m.; and Questions and Answers, 12:50 p.m.
- April 27: Substance Abuse/Mental Health from the Perspective of Children’s Protective Services, at noon; Working with Youths from the Perspective of Public Schools, 12:25 p.m.; and Questions and Answers, 12:50 p.m.
- May 11: Suicide Prevention and Awareness, at noon; Benefits of Partnership Between Law Enforcement and Mental Health Professionals, 12:25 p.m.; and Questions and Answers, 12:50 p.m.
Registration is required for all sessions.
For information, email Derek Saunier, center director, at or 352-588-7451.
Victory High open house
Victory High School will host an open house on April 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Calvary Chapel Worship Center, Room 111 and Room 112, 6825 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey.
The open house is for new students, ages 14 to 19, seeking recovery from addictions, interested in enrolling in the private high school.
For information on the school, visit VictoryHighSchool.net.
Scholarship deadline extended
The deadline to apply for college scholarships of up to $5,000 from Hillsborough County Social Services and the Community Action Board has been extended to April 16.
Application materials can be downloaded on the county’s scholarship application page, at Tinyurl.com/ffzrrth8.
Detailed instructions on how to apply also can be found on the page.
Students may submit completed applications online only. Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the fall semester.
For questions, call Irina White at 813-272-5074.
Prepaid scholarships
Hillsborough County Public Schools, in partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Program, is offering two scholarships to students worth a total of $9,000.
Superintendent Addison Davis’ Future of STEM Scholarship is a two-year Florida college plan worth $8,000, and is designed to encourage new teachers in areas with critical shortages. The scholarship will be awarded to a senior student attending Hillsborough County Public Schools who will study to become a teacher in a STEM subject.
Davis’ Preparing Students for Life Scholarship is a Florida 529 Savings Plan worth $1,000. It will be awarded to a parent or guardian who attends a kindergarten registration event or begins the registration process prior to April 30. The eligible student’s name will be drawn at random.
For information about both scholarships, visit bit.ly/HCPSscholarship.
Student achievements
Mary Flook, of Land O’ Lakes, was named to the Dean’s List at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina, and Benjamin Tomas, of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List at Peru State College, Peru, Nebraska.
Course fee adjustments
The Pasco-Hernando State College’s Board of Trustees will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its April 20 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the West Campus in New Port Richey.
Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.
All fees charged by vendors are negotiated by the college, with additional fee increases and decreases expected in the coming academic year.
For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on the Policies and Procedures link.
Republican scholarships
The Republican Party of Pasco Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for Pasco County Schools’ graduating seniors, including pubic, home-schools, charter and private schools.
Graduating seniors from any Pasco County high school are eligible if they meet this criteria:
- Must be a registered or preregistered Republican
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Complete a 650-word minimum essay on the topic: “What is the importance of conservative values for young people in today’s world?”
- Extra points will be given for club and social activities, volunteer hours and campaign participation
- Must be planning to attend an accredited community college/university or accredited vocational school in Florida
Applications can be found online at PascoGOP.org, at the individual’s high school career counselor’s office, or at the Pasco Republican Party office in Hudson.
Applications and essays must be emailed to , or to RPOP, 12043 Cobblestone Drive, Hudson, FL 34667, Attention: Sandy Graves, scholarship chair.
For information and questions, call 727-863-5400, or email .
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., April 30.
Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in May.
