Dade City essay winner
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano announced the winning student chosen for the annual Middle School Essay Contest.
Essays were submitted by students, grades six to eight, from public, private, parochial, charter, online and home-schools throughout Pasco County. Participants had to answer the question, “If you could spend tax dollars to fund any program, what would it be and why?”
A panel of judges, not knowing the age, gender, grade or school of each entrant, chose the essay written by Julia Alcocer, an eighth-grader at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy in Dade City, as the winner.
Alcocer wrote that she would fund a program that “would aid elderly people with day to day living and provide lifesaving practices to the vulnerable citizens,” which would include nutritional needs, temperature control in living spaces, and affordable medications.
The judges noted that her essay best communicated her response to the topic question, and met the contest criteria of overall structure, appearance and readability.
This annual essay contest is just one of the community related events the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office participates in throughout the year.
Glitz & Gala prom
Barrington Hill, 16117 Lake Iola Road in Dade City, invites all Pasco County seniors, from public and private schools, to a Glitz & Gala prom on June 20 from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Tickets are available online.
For information, contact Alicia Trias at (727) 642-6128 or ">
University of Tampa graduates
The University of Tampa (UT) virtually hosted its 150th commencement on May 9
The Class of 2020 included these students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:
- Allison Barthel, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Amy Clement, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Writing
- Samuel Collins, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Michael Dailey, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bernard Deysson, of Odessa, Master of Business Administration
- Courey France, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Allied Health
- Madison Ghodsi, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Talia Goldenberg, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Jordan High, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Jean Labossiere, of Lutz, Master of Science in Exercise and Nutrition Science
- Michaela Lewis, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Education–Elementary
- Ashley Martin, of Odessa, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Amanda Mencia, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Allied Health
- Trent Puleo, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Management
- Nina Sennott, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in International Business-Marketing
- Ashlee Stormer, of Odessa, Master of Business Administration
- Gianna Taravella, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Communication
- Nikea Veney, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Derian Yeretzian, of Odessa, Master of Science in Accounting
The event was viewed online by the students, their family members and friends, UT faculty and staff members, and the general public. The ceremony included remarks by Ronald Vaughn, the school’s president, and special messages from the academic deans and student challenge speakers.
Each graduate also received a personalized video commemorating their achievement.
Black Hills commencement
More than 300 graduates were recognized during the 179th Black Hills State University (Spearfish, South Dakota) virtual commencement ceremony, which took place on May 8.
Local student Conor Heaney, of Land O’ Lakes, was part of the Class of 2020 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services.
A total of 27 master degrees, 282 bachelor degrees and 20 associate degrees were awarded.
Student procrastination
The online homework help website, Brainly.com, surveyed 17,000 United States high school students, ages 14 to 18, to find out about the types of school assignments they procrastinate the most on, how often they procrastinate, and which states have the students that are the biggest procrastinators.
Nationwide, 82% of high school students admitted they procrastinate on homework at least some of the time. Louisiana high schoolers take the lead for the top procrastinators, with 19% saying they always procrastinate on schoolwork.
Top 5 states where students procrastinate the most:
- Louisiana, 19%
- California and Florida, 15%
- Idaho, 13%
- Pennsylvania, 11%
- North Carolina, 10%
How often high schoolers said they procrastinate (compared to national average):
- Always, 4%
- Somewhat Often, 35%
- Every now and then, 43%
- Never, 18%
Causes of procrastination:
- There are other things they would rather be doing, 74%
- They don’t know how to do the work or where to start, 26%
More interesting statistics:
- 32% say that math is the school subject they most procrastinate on, while 45% say it is English curriculum
- 43% of students say they procrastinate more on homework that requires writing or research
- 49% admit that procrastinating on schoolwork is their biggest academic hurdle
