Showering teachers with tokens of appreciation
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has always prioritized education, and supports the local teachers and schools often. Club member Sabrina Scott, center, recently visited the Lutz K-8 School to deliver snacks and treats to PTA representatives, which were distributed to the teachers as small tokens of the club’s gratitude and in commemoration of Teacher Appreciation Week. Similar gifts of appreciation were delivered to the teachers at Connerton Elementary and Miles Elementary, as well. The woman’s club has supported these three schools for many years.
Eighth USF president named
Florida’s Board of Governors has confirmed Rhea Law as the University of South Florida’s (USF) eighth president. Law spent the past eight months serving as interim president, and is the first USF alum to fill the role, according to a University News post.
“Under her leadership, the university recently experienced the most transformational legislative session in USF history, with record-setting investments in operations on all three USF campuses. She also led the effort to complete USF’s new five-year strategic plan, created a collaborative working group to develop a more transparent budget model and has fostered greater communication and collaboration across campuses,” the post said.
Law also is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the USF Law Alumni Society, served as a member of the USF Research Foundation Board, and was named a 2018 Distinguished Alumna by the USF Alumni Association.
Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness will offer a High School Summer Pass program from May 16 through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.
Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.
The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.
The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.
To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.
Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.
The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.
Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.
Ukulele for home-schoolers
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Ukulele Basics class for home-schoolers on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participants can learn the basics during this hands-on workshop, presented by Candy Otte of the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society.
Ukuleles will be provided, but home-schoolers can reserve a ukulele to play at home later.
Masks are recommended, but not required.
Registration is a must, online at PascoLibraries.org.
College prep seminar
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will present “Preparing for College: Academically, Socially and Financially,” on May 17 at 4:30 p.m.
High school and middle school students and families can attend, to learn about the importance of preparing early for college. Topics also will include how to gain acceptance and how to fund the college of your choice.
Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org.
Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.
The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.
For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.
Citizens of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has named 13 students as Citizens of the Month, for March and April.
Students are chosen by the teachers and administrators of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.
These students received recognition: Ivani Sharrock and Nicholas Dester, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Jordan Reed, The Broach School; Parker Dixon and James Spivey, Chester Taylor Elementary; Evelean Grantham and Lazaro Martin, Heritage Academy; Gissel Garcia-Romero and Lacy Ferris, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Mackenzie Gavin and Nathaniel Fuller, Woodland Elementary; and Annalyse Guash and Brooke Lea, Zephyrhills High.
Student inductions
Rebecca Moore, of Odessa, and Alex Kiester, of Lutz, have been inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Florida Southern College.
Saint Leo awards degrees
Saint Leo University will host a doctoral hooding ceremony on May 13, for more than 40 students receiving degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and education.
Two in-person commencement ceremonies will take place on May 14, at which time degrees (doctoral, master, bachelor and associate) will be awarded to more than 1,200 students.
Kylie Culver will be honored as the Class of 2022 valedictorian, and will deliver the official “farewell.” Culver will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in history, and minors in Spanish and world politics.
The salutatorian is David Pacheco, who will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in computer science, information assurance.
For details on the times and ceremony locations on campus, visit SaintLeo.edu.
To access a livestream, visit the school’s website, where a link will be posted the day of.
Best high schools ranked
U.S. News & World Report has named the best high schools in the Tampa area, as well as national rankings, according to its website, USnews.com.
The top 10 high schools were ranked as follows:
- Plant High, No. 1 in Tampa; No. 632 in National Rankings
- Steinbrenner High, No. 2 Tampa; No. 742 National
- Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High, No. 3 Tampa; No. 790 National
- Newsome High, No. 4 Tampa; No. 903 National
- Palm Harbor University High, No. 5 Tampa; No. 985 National
- Osceola Fundamental High, No. 6 Tampa; No. 1,326 National
- Robinson High, No. 7 Tampa; No. 1,351 National
- St. Petersburg Collegiate High, No. 8 Tampa; No. 1,354 National
- Sickles High, No. 9 Tampa; No. 1,367 National
- Land O’ Lakes High, No. 10 Tampa; No. 1,380 National
Other area school rankings in Tampa included Wiregrass Ranch High, No. 12; Mitchell High, No. 14; and Sunlake High, No. 15.
Hillsborough Virtual School came in at No. 19 in the Tampa area.
