Taking action against local hunger
Fifth-grade students from Carrollwood Day School volunteered at Feeding Tampa Bay as part of their student-initiated study focusing on hunger. The class and its teacher, Barbie Monty, inspected, sorted, organized and weighed nonperishable and perishable goods for distribution throughout the Tampa Bay communities. The group played a role in providing 2,892 meals for the hungry in the area.
Chamber awards eight scholarships
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarships to eight Zephyrhills High School seniors during a ceremony in the school’s auditorium on May 15. Recipients were chosen based on community service, presentation, character and academic achievement. Recipients were Madison Reidenbach ($500), Katharine Ayers ($500), Meghan Shannon ($500), Avyanna Galyan ($1,000), Ghyslain Velaquez ($1,000), Eden Faison ($500), Sandy Lin ($500) and Amanda Cook ($500).
Essay winner
As part of the Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neill’s Constitutional Essay Contest, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano announced Angie Bolton, a student at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in San Antonio, as the essay winner.
Bolton’s essay best communicated her response to the topic question, “Which taxes impact you the most: local, state or federal? Why?”
Her submission met all the contest criteria of overall essay structure, appearance and readability.
Students in sixth through eighth grade, from public, private, parochial, charter, online and home-schools entered the contest.
Bolton was awarded a Best Buy gift card at a ceremony on May 3.
All entrants received a personal letter from Fasano thanking them for their participation.
Outstanding students and alumni
Pasco-Hernando State College recognized outstanding student leaders and named the Distinguished Alumni for 2018 at a banquet at its West Campus in New Port Richey.
The Dr. Felisha R. Barker Outstanding Student Leaders were: Johnathan McCurnin and Audrey Pease, East Campus-Dade City; Emily Brock and Keilah Rodriguez, North Campus-Brooksville; Markishia Clarke and Dean Powell, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch-Wesley Chapel; Savannah Lugo and Kaitlyn MacLean, Spring Hill Campus; and Dealaney Allen and Steven Gomez Rosario, West Campus.
Additionally, four military veteran students were recognized: Jesse Aldrich, North Campus; Brandon Bryant, Porter Campus; Amande Moore Frazier, West Campus; and Brandon Swanbom, East Campus.
The 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Margarita Romo (Class of 1980), founder and executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help Inc., which allocates services to house, feed, clothe, education and employ less fortunate farmworkers.
Donation creates endowed scholarships
Pasco-Hernando State College’s spring commencement included presentations of two $10,000 donations to the PHSC Foundation provided by Dr. Rao Musunuru, chair of the PHSC District Board of Trustees and local cardiologist.
The two donations created endowed scholarships in honor of Marilyn Pearson-Adams, PHSC District Board of Trustees member, and Robin Schneider, PHSC District Board of Trustees vice chair.
In the past year, the Foundation has awarded $1 million in scholarships to benefit PHSC students.
Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its next board meeting, scheduled for June 12 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus in Brooksville, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., in the library’s McKethan Conference Room.
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, faculty and staff.
For details regarding the proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation dates, visit Policies.PHSC.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosure.
Pasco summer meals
Pasco County Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department has expanded its Summer Food Service program, which runs to Aug. 1, to more than 100 sites across the county.
Meals will be provided at 50 school sites and 50 additional locations, including libraries, churches, parks, housing complexes and more.
Summer lunch bus stops are included among the 100 sites.
Any child age 18 and younger can participate with no enrollment or fees, and no requirement that they attend a Pasco County public school.
To find the nearest location, visit SummerFoodPasco.net, text “food” to 877-877, or call (813) 794-2480.
Families can attend one of the summer kickoff events, which will include food, games, prizes, cool treats and fun. The parties are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- June 8 at Crews Lake Park, 16739 Crews Lake Drive in Spring Hill
- June 14 at Zephyr Park, 5039 Fourth St., Zephyrhills
Student bus passes
The Pasco County Public Transportation Department will offer Student Summer Haul Passes to students for $20.
Pasco County students can ride the fixed-route bus system all summer. The special rate will be effective through Aug. 31.
Haul passes can be picked up at all Pasco County libraries; the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s office at the West and East Pasco Government Centers; the Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores in Wesley Chapel, Dade City and New Port Richey; and the PCPT Administrative Offices at 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., in Port Richey.
For information, call (727) 834-3322, or visit vit.ly/SummerHaulPass.
For bus routes and schedules, visit RidePCPT.com.
