Women in education
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) honored six women with Trailblazer awards at the Empowered! PHSC Women in Education Conference.
The awards recognize women who have made a different in education within the community or their profession.
The honorees were:
- Susan Duval, board chair of the Hernando County School Board
- Heather Fiorentino, former superintendent of Pasco County Schools
- Katherine Johnson, Ed.D., president emerita of PHSC
- Carol Morsani, director of the Frank and Carol Morsani Foundation, and a philanthropist and community leader in the Tampa Bay area
- Madeline Pumariega, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost of Tallahassee Community College, and former chancellor of the Florida College System
- Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., president of St. Petersburg College
Paying it forward
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce presented a combined $14,250 in donations to local youth groups, civic clubs and scholarships at the annual Pigz Pay it Forward Dinner. The event takes place every year to recognize volunteers and sponsors involved in the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest.
The chamber will give out $5,000 in scholarships to Zephyrhills High School graduating seniors, which will include a $1,000 performing arts scholarship, a $1,000 Turn Around scholarship, and six academic scholarships.
Classroom grants awarded
ArtsFirst, the public-private collaboration between the First National Bank of Pasco and the Pasco County School Board, has distributed the first and second quarter fine arts classroom grants to 13 area schools.
The first-quarter grants were given to Dr. John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills High School, Rodney B. Cox Elementary School in Dade City, Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel High School, and Pasco Elementary and Pasco Middle schools in Dade City.
The second-quarter grants were awarded to Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes High School, Schraeder Elementary in Bayonet Point, the Harry Schwettman Education Center in New Port Richey, Calusa Elementary School in New Port Richey, and Pine View Middle School in Land O’ Lakes.
Grant funds were used to purchase a wide variety of fine arts tools, supplies, technology, and even costumes.
Student achievements
- Kaylyn Burroughs, of Odessa, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Tampa
- Emily Gerber, of Odessa, was selected for inclusion on St. Lawrence University’s Dean’s List for academic achievement. Gerber is a member of the Class of 2020 and is majoring in conservation biology. St. Lawrence University is in Canton, New York.
- Kayla Whittyngham, of Lutz, was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Tampa
Saint Leo reschedules commencement
NOTE: Commencements have since been canceled for June 1.
As a result of stronger guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding large group gatherings, Saint Leo University’s commencement ceremonies, originally scheduled for May 2 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, have been rescheduled for June 1.
The Saint Leo Under the Stars graduation celebration and Baccalaureate Mass have been rescheduled for May 31.
Due to the ever-changing dynamics of the pandemic and its ramifications, visit SaintLeo.edu/coronavirus for updated information.
Virtual MOSI
As Virtual MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) enters its third week, The Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes has started using the program as part of engagement curriculum for the second grade.
JoAnn Slay, second-grade math and science teacher at the school, said, in a release, “MOSI in Motion has been a great addition to our online science experience. By adding the MOSI in Motion link to my Google Classroom page and encouraging the kids to view the daily experience, my kids have started exploring other science topics on their own. They are becoming more curious and more involved in their own learning.”
The children leave comments about the videos, and the first experiment about gravity aligned with the unit the class was starting on forces and motion, Slay said.
MOSI will continue to produce content for its Virtual MOSI program as long as needed during these unusual times.
Content plans also included a Forensics Week and a Chemistry Week.
For information, visit Facebook.com/MOSIinMotionTampa.
