Environmental youth council
Sarah Robison, of Lutz, a college sophomore and youth leader in environmental activism, has been selected to serve on Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program’s 2023 Future Blue Youth Council (FBYC), a global group of diverse young leaders who will work together to empower peers to advocate for a healthier and safer future for the planet.
The Bow Seat Ocean nonprofit program is based in Massachusetts and its mission is to engage youth in ocean conservation and advocacy through arts.
The youth council members will mentor grantees of the international Fellowship Program, a by-youth, for-youth FBYC initiative that provides funding and guidance to young people who are addressing water-related challenges in their local communities.
Robison was selected from more than 50 applicants worldwide and will join 13 other young leaders on the 2023 Future Blue Youth Council.
Robison was awarded first place in the A Voice for Animals contest by the Humane Education Network and Animal Welfare Institution, in 2020.
Currently, she is the founder and president of the CARE Club, an international organization of high school and college students who are committed to making a positive impact on the planet.
Those interested can visit the club’s Instagram page: @careclub2023_2024.
For information about the youth council, visit BowSeat.org/get-involved/alumni/future-blue-youth-council.
Merit Scholars announced
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners. The 2,500 students were chosen from more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.
The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Each award is supported by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s own funds. These area students are among the $2,500 scholarship winners:
- Thehan V. Atalugama, Land O’ Lakes High (Probable career field: Science/Research)
- Andrews S. Domonkos, Land O’ Lakes High (Finance)
- Kartikeye Gupta, Steinbrenner High (Science/Research)
- Allen Ho, Land O’ Lakes High (Environmental Engineering)
- Rishabh Kanodia, Land O’ Lakes High (Computer Science)
- Saneyah Khan, Academy at the Lakes (Neuroscience)
- Diganto N. Ray-Sarkar, Wesley Chapel home-school (Biomedical Engineering)
- Joshua K. Selvan, Hillsborough High (Medicine)
- Andria Wang, Land O’ Lakes High (Computer Engineering)
Commencement celebrations
More than 1,300 students participated in Saint Leo University’s commencement ceremonies on May 13, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Students from the university’s main campus, its Florida locations, and those who study online throughout the world came together to celebrate their achievements and receive their doctoral, master, bachelor and associate degrees. University Campus undergraduate students received their bachelor and associate degrees, while graduate students in the College of Education and Social Services received their doctoral degrees in criminal justice and education, and master degrees in criminal justice, education, emergency and disaster management, human services administration, instructional design, and social work.
CSI Summer Camp
Saint Leo University will offer its CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) Summer Camp from June 18 through June 24 at the campus, 33701 County Road 52 (formerly State Road 52) in St. Leo.
The camp is open to rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 15 to 18, with parental consent.
Campers will experience hands-on and behind-the-scenes evidence collection, documentation and preservation as they work a variety of mock crime scenes.
Participants should expect to be involved in:
- Practical exercises lifting fingerprints, casting foot and tire impressions, drawing and photographing evidence
- Learning about types of bugs relating to crime scene decomposition
- How to dig up human remains
- Exercises about interview, interrogation and legal aspects of CSI, and then presenting their findings to a mock grand jury
Campers also can experience residence hall life and join other campers for meals, swimming, movies and other evening activities.
For more information, contact Nikki Heister at or 352-588-8487.
To register, visit CSICamps.totalcamps.com/shop/Event.
Student achievements
- Maxwell Gebhart, Wesley Chapel: Master of Science (Biology), Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Marissa Schabes, Lutz: Dean’s List, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
- Alice Washburn, Odessa: Dean’s List, Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama
Online academy debuts
Covenant Journey Academy (CJA) recently made its national debut at the National Religious Broadcasters convention and at the Florida Parent Educators Association, which is the nation’s largest homeschool convention, according to a CJA news release.
The CJA is a full-service, kindergarten through 12th grade, online Christian academy available to anyone around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It has more than 150 courses taught by certified teachers.
The academy’s mission is to offer families a biblically integrated alternative to an on-campus classroom.
In addition to homeschool, Covenant offers Christian school affiliation options.
CJA also offers six languages, including Spanish, French, Latin, German, Chinese, and American Sign Language. Students can begin Spanish as early as kindergarten.
To learn more, visit CJ.Academy online, or call 407-875-1967.
Homeschool Conference
The Tampa Bay Homeschool Conference is scheduled for July 22 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Common at Trinity, 1540 Little Road in Trinity.
The keynote speakers will be Brenda Dickinson, founder/president, Home Education Foundation; and Nicole Thomas, founder/CEO of Nicole the Math Lady.
The conference’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower the community. Whether you are new to homeschooling, wondering if homeschooling is right for your family, or you’re a homeschooling veteran, there will be something for everyone at this event.
For details, visit TampaBayHomeschoolConference.com.
