Saint Leo awards degrees
More than 1,200 students earned degrees from Saint Leo University, during two commencement ceremonies on May 14, according to a news release. Doctoral, master, bachelor and associate degrees were awarded.
Kylie Culver, of Tampa, served as valedictorian of the Class of 2022. In her commencement address, Culver noted how the graduates successfully completed their degree programs through a global health crisis.
“The Class of 2022 has been through a lot,” said Culver in the release.
“Not only did we have the regular challenges that come with being college students – making sure we got good grades, making friends, managing our time, and social lives, but we also have the additional challenge of living through a pandemic,” noted Culver.
Salutatorian for the class was David Pacheco, of Brentwood, New York.
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.
Student achievements
- Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed new initiates from 78 universities. These local students were inducted: Jenna Boudrea (Lutz), University of South Florida; Madelynne Eash (Odessa), Jacksonville University; Hannah Everich (Lutz), University of South Florida; Dylan Gellett (Lutz), University of South Florida; Andrew Nissensohn (Lutz), Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia; and Zachary Rashas (Lutz), University of South Florida.
- Andrea Denton, of Wesley Chapel, was recognized to the President’s List at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas.
- Timothy Elko, of Lutz, earned a Master of Science from the University of Mississippi Graduate School. Elko majored in sports analytics.
- Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, has recognized Danielle Frances and Jenna Freligh, both of Lutz, to the Dean’s List.
- Wolfang Louk, of Lutz, and Faith Quinn and Grace Quinn, of Wesley Chapel, were named to the Dean’s List at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
- Southern New Hampshire University named these local students to its President’s List: Jennifer Nalley, Odessa; Masum Rahman, Odessa; and Allie Ungerecht, Lutz.
- Madison Nichols, of Odessa, earned a bachelor degree in psychology, at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
- Sean Saccomanno, of Land O’ Lakes, was recognized to the Dean’s List at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Kids Tag Art fundraiser
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan presented the results of its first ever Kids Tag Art Program to the Hillsborough County School Board. The inaugural event raised $33,769, and will provide $1,200 for art supplies and materials to each participating eleentary school, according to a news release.
The Kids Art Program is a creative fundraiser that gives Title I, fifth-grade elementary school students the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities by designing front license vanity plates in art class.
The plate designs are printed on metal plates, and then sold to family, friends and to the public.
Proceeds from the plate sales and sponsorships go back to the participating schools, to help support their arts program.
Humanitarian Awards
High school students throughout Pasco County recently were honored during the Florida Holocaust Museum’s 2022 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award event.
The award recognizes the outstanding humanitarian actions of high school juniors who have worked to better the lives of others at their schools and in their communities.
“These students are already leaders, being honored for their acts of kindness and for making a difference in our community,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning in a news release.
The winners in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, are: McKenna Yingling, Cypress Creek High School; Aross Adhikary, Land O’ Lakes High; Johana Morales, Pasco High; Benjamin Borton, Sunlake High; Angelica Chirino, Wesley Chapel High; Kate Niehoff, Wiregrass Ranch High; and Jamarius Giles, Zephyrhills High.
Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus.
Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.
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.
For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosures.
Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness is offering a High School Summer Pass program 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.
