New staff named at PHSC
Daniel Powell, Ph.D., has been chosen to serve as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer for Pasco-Hernando State College, beginning early June, according to a news release.
Powell most recently served as the vice president of academic success at Northwest Vista College (NVC) since 2019. Before joining NVC, he was dean of the school of arts & humanities at Laramie County Community College, and served as the music and theater chair at the Patel Conservatory in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
Powell’s new role entails coordinating the development and implementation of all academic programs, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and state and federal guidelines.
He will inherit the role from Gerene Thompson, Ph.D., assistant vice president and dean of arts and sciences, who is serving as interim CAO (chief administrative officer) after Stanley Giannet retired in January.
Honor Day Awards
The Citizens Concerned for Students will recognize Pasco County public middle and high school African American students who have earned the Honor Roll at least once during the current school year. The annual event, known as Honor Day, will celebrate more than 2,600 students who have earned the achievement this year.
The ceremony will be on June 2 at 6 p.m., at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.
Adjacent in the Wesley Chapel High gymnasium, the annual College and Career Fair will also take place at 4 p.m. The fair will feature universities, schools and career paths — including the University of South Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, University of Florida, National Aviation Academy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — and the Pasco Education Foundation’s Take Stock in Children Scholarship program.
New this year, during the career fair, the Honor Day Soul Food Sampler will feature complimentary soul food-inspired cuisine from local Tampa Bay area soul food restaurants and caterers.
The fair, sampler and ceremony are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit HonorDayPasco.org.
Drumline summer program
The 501(c)3 nonprofit Samaritan Corporation of Pasco County Inc.’s Blue Diamond Drumline will begin its summer program on June 3 at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, for students ages 6 to 17.
No musical experience is necessary and no prior knowledge of reading music is required.
Sign-up begins on May 28 at the park, where there is a display that includes schedules, brochures and business cards. Parents can provide the student’s name and phone number on the sign-up sheet and will be contacted regarding the student’s start date.
All classes will be on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting June 3, at 6:15 p.m., for advanced students who started in January, and at 7:15 p.m., for all beginners.
For more information, contact Clyde Carter at 813-953-7263 or .
Saint Leo offers camps
Saint Leo University’s summer camps are taught by university faculty and staff and include a range of offerings such as sports (basketball, baseball); swimming lessons; acrobatics & tumbling; recreation activities; and academics (music, STEM, robotics, writing).
There also is a Little Lions Recreation Camp, and three robotics camps — coed middle and high school camps, and the Girls Can! camp for ages 11 to 15.
New programs this year focus on the arts in voice, instrumental and general music, as well as writing and illustrating books.
For those who like science, there is the new Lions Den STEM Summer Camp, too.
Full details about all the camps can be found online at SaintLeoCamps.com. Camps will take place on campus at 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo.
For more information, email Carrie Fidurko at .
Teacher hiring event
Pasco County Schools will host a Teacher Hiring Event on June 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Connerton Elementary School, 9300 Flourish Drive in Land O’ Lakes. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, a growth mindset and a willingness to help students grow. For more information and to preregister, visit Pasco County Schools on Facebook or https://ryu.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq-mform/view.php?id=134578.
Intern explores new role
Taylor Buono has been recognized as a new intern at Victory High School, and in her partnership she will explore occupational therapy’s role in recovery high schools, develop programming for students, and complete mental health first aid training, according to a news release.
Buono earned an Associate of Arts at Hillsborough Community College in 2018, a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of South Florida in 2020, and currently is earning an entry-level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (August 2024) at Nova Southeastern University.
The student is interested and passionate about novel and emerging areas in occupational therapy, such as public and community health, community integration/reintegration, mental health, life transitions, and more.
Buono believes in individuals’ rights to engage and participate in age-appropriate, essential and meaningful daily activities for their overall physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional health and wellness, the release says.
Summer Haul bus pass
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) buses all summer — June 1 to Aug. 31 — for just $20 with a Summer Haul Pass.
The special student rate passes can be found at these locations:
- GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
- Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, East/West Pasco Government Centers
- New Port Richey Library, Main Street
- County libraries, various locations
For more information about the pass or GoPasco bus routes and schedules, visit GoPasco.com.
