Students recognized for community service
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recognized its Community Involvement & Service Scholarship winners, all from Pasco High School. Sister Roberta Bailey, left, education committee chairperson, and Carolyn Hodges, right, education committee co-chairperson, congratulate Oliva Krol, Maggie Mashke, Gabriela Perez, Frida Rodrigues, Susanna Rom and Jordan Ware.
Water Awareness contest
More than 1,300 local students used their creativity to promote water conservation during the 14th annual Water Awareness Poster Contest. Students from 15 Pasco County elementary schools created artwork with the theme “We Need Water, Water Needs Us.”
Pasco County Utilities and the Florida Governmental Utility Authority, in collaboration with Pasco County Schools, hosted the competition. Judges use science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning standards when choosing the top posters. Winners receive trophies and gifts from the event sponsors.
Pasco County commissioners will recognize first-place students, in kindergarten through fifth grade, at their June 20 meeting. Winning posters will be on display in the lobbies of the West and East Pasco Government Centers through mid-August.
To learn more about next year’s program, visit WaterContest.org.
Student Citizens honored
The East Pasco Chamber Foundation in partnership with The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has recognized 10 students Citizens of the Month, for May. Students are chosen by their teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. The students honored were: Iva Kellerman, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Dakota Shattuck, The Broach School; Alexander Sosa Cuza, The Broach School Elementary Campus; Ashley Montoya, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School; Jayci Hoogewind, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Nehemiah McClammah, Heritage Academy; Jordan Mitsch, Raymond B. Stewart Middle School; Christopher Le, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Evelyn Kamau, Woodland Elementary; and Siya Patel, Zephyrhills High.
Board meeting
The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) District Board of Trustees will meet on June 20 at noon, at the PHSC East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, Building A, in Dade City. Visit Policies.phsc.edu/district-board-trustees/agenda to see a copy of the agenda. For information, email Rhonda Dodge at .
HERricane Summer Camp
Pasco County Emergency Management invites high school students to take part in its inaugural HERricane program from July 17 to July 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pasco County Emergency Operations Center, 8744 Government Drive, Building A, New Port Richey.
The free, weeklong program gives young women in ninth through 12th grades the opportunity to explore emergency management-related careers.
The program includes multiple sessions and activities with guest speakers. Each student will receive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification upon completion. The program will count toward the student’s volunteer hours.
Incoming ninth-grade students can apply. Students younger than age 18 will need a parental/legal guardian’s signature.
Interested students should apply no later than June 16 by filling out an application that includes a short essay question, online at tinyurl.com/mw625fe8.
Summer Haul Bus Pass
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) buses all summer through Aug. 31 for just $20. The special student-rate passes can be purchased at these places:
- GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
- Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, East/West Pasco Government Centers
- Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores – New Port Richey, Dade City and Wesley Chapel
- County libraries, various locations
For more information on the pass and GoPasco bus routes and schedules, visit MyPas.co/SummerBusPass.
Scholarships awarded
The Knights of Columbus San Antonio Council 1768 awarded four $1,000 scholarships to one senior from each of the council’s four member parishes. The recipients were: Anna Anderson, Saint Anthony Parish; Maggie Mashke, Sacred Heart Parish; Frida Rodriguez, Saint Rita Parish; and Adeline Schiver, Saint Joseph Parish.
Student achievements
- James Cook, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Hannah Drielick, Lutz: Dean’s List, Northern Illinois University-DeKalb
- Daniel Higgins, Odessa: Business Administration, Finance and Accounting, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
- Mykayla Christine King, Lutz: Dean’s List, Mars Hill University, North Carolina
Library reading program
The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library will host its summer reading program with interactive events, reading challenges and prizes for all ages. Join the Reading Challenge, through the registration portal of Beanstack, to log reading and activities to unlock digital badges and prizes. The portal includes themed suggestions for kids, tweens, teens and adults.
Reading during the school-year gap can help critical thinking skills and the ability to retain information, as well as encourage an interest in reading for pleasure. Children can participate simultaneously in the Reading with the Rays program, too.
Pick up a Reading with the Rays game card at your library to be eligible for more prizes. Once a game card is completed, participants can turn it into their local library for a chance to win Tampa Bay Rays prizes, including tickets to a home game.
Visit MLB.com/rays/community/reading to download a game card.
Sonic donates to teachers
In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Month (May), Sonic Drive-In’s Sonic Foundation donated $1.5 million to match all public contributions made to requests on DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers, according to a news release.
Sonic helped fully fund nearly 15,300 projects from teachers and schools across the country, including two in Holiday that received a combined donation of $857. Gulfside Elementary School received funds for two projects: “Wiggle Seats for Wiggly Seats” and “First Year in First Grade…For All of Us!”
To donate to one or more of the public school teacher requests, visit DonorsChoose.org.
Ye Mystic Krewe scholarships
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla announced it awarded 10 high school seniors from the Tampa Bay area with $120,000 in college scholarships.
Known for their pirating ways and stealing the key to the City of Tampa, the krewe has awarded $1,346,000 to students in Hillsborough County over the past 26 years through its community fund, according to a news release.
Tampa Bay area high school principals nominate one student for every 100 students or a fraction thereof in its graduating class. Nominees complete a comprehensive application, which then goes to a panel review. Finalists participate in face-to-face interviews before scholarship recipients are selected.
For more information, visit YMKG.com/ymkg-community-fund/.
