(Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector)
Essay contest winner announced
As part of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s annual contest, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano received essays from middle school students in public, private, parochial, charter, online and home-schools in answer to the question, “How do you, as a middle school student, benefit from taxes your family, friends and neighbors pay?”
Dominic Fonseca, an eighth-grade gifted student at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, submitted the winning essay and was awarded a $300 Best Buy gift card. Fonseca’s essay best communicated his response to the topic question, while meeting the contest criteria of overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
The contest will again be offered in 2018. For information, visit PascoTaxes.com.
Korean War veteran wears cap and gown
Marty Sullivan, an 83-year-old Korean War veteran, donned a cap and gown to stand with the members of the Joe E. Newsome High School Class of 2017 on May 19.
Sullivan had just completed his sophomore year at a Boston high school in 1951 when he walked into a U.S. Navy recruitment center to sign up for the Korean War.
Jobs, a family and a retirement move to Hillsborough County followed in the years after he left the service.
Sullivan learned through his volunteer work at the Hillsborough County Veterans Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum that he qualified for a high school diploma.
The State of Florida offers a standard high school diploma to any eligible, honorably discharged military veteran who left high school in order to serve our nation’s armed forces.
For information, call Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services at (813) 635-8316, or visit HCFLGov.net/Veterans.
John Legg receives alumni award
Pasco-Hernando State College has named former Senator John Legg, PHSC class of 1994, as its 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
Legg was honored at the college-wide annual Student Activities and Distinguished Alumni Award Recognition Ceremony in April.
Legg is the chief financial officer of DaySpring Academy, a Pasco County charter school he founded in 2000. He received an Associate in Arts degree from PHSC in 1994, and transferred to the University of South Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration.
Legg began his public service career as a legislative aide to Florida House Rep. Heather Fiorentino, whom he subsequently succeeded. He then was elected to the Florida Senate where he served from 2012 to 2016.
Reading kickoff
The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will host a Summer Reading Club Kickoff June 3 at 2 p.m., for elementary-aged children and their families. There will be a presentation by Mad Science.
For information, call (352) 567-3576.
Catholic homeschool conference
The IHM Tampa Homeschool Conference will take place at St. Lawrence Parish’s Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes Ave., in Tampa, June 8 from noon to 6 p.m., and June 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Participants can learn more about Catholic home-schooling.
Admission is free. Registration is not required.
For information, visit IHMConference.org, or email .
Woman’s club awards scholarships
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills awarded nine $1,000 scholarships at its end-of-the-year luncheon. The following students received a certificate and check:
- Mariana Escudero, Pasco-Hernando State College
- Shelly Brantman, Grand Canyon University
- Sarah Marie First, University of Central Florida
- Luis Arturo Chavez Rincon, PHSC/Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Lilly Ostrander, PHSC
- Courtney Graham, Saint Leo University
- Alaysha Bell, Florida A&M University
- Victoria Tinney, Sante Fe College
- Amber Strickland, PHSC
