Pace Center’s first Hernando graduates
Three students have become the first high school graduates at the Pace Center for Girls in Hernando County, since its inception in January 2018.
Hannah Kennedy, Brianna Roden and Kayleigh Barton graduated from the center that was founded to serve struggling middle and high school girls who wanted to make positive changes in their lives.
As a movement, Pace was founded in 1985 to provide an opportunity for young women and girls to create a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.
Girls attend Pace during the day and are enrolled in all academic classes taught by teachers who are certified through the State of Florida.
The students also meet with counselors who provide mental health services for the girls and their families.
A typical enrollment is between 18 months and 21 months and, upon exit, follow-up services are provided for at least a year.
The program is free for girls who reside in Hernando County and meet eligibility requirements.
For information about the Pace Center for Girls, call Diane Jerome, community engagement manager, Center for Girls – Pasco and Hernando, at (727) 849-1901, ext. 1908.
Super Saturday
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host Super Saturday on June 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for students who have committed to join Saint Leo for the fall term.
Students who are still making a college decision can also attend, and will have the opportunity to experience the school’s academics, community and student services.
The event will include college-specific orientations, class registration, FAFSA filing assistance, housing selection, issuance of parking decals and student ID cards, campus tours, residence hall walk-throughs, and more.
Prospective students and their families can also bring transcripts for the final round of fall semester instant admission sessions, complete an on-site application, take placement exams, submit a deposit, and meet faculty and staff.
Local retailers also will be available so families can shop for room furnishings and various services in preparation for college life.
And, University Campus Admissions will be giving away multiple scholarships totaling up to $5,000.
Participants can take part in games, novelties, crafts, listen to music, win radio station prizes, and visit the food trucks, too.
The event is free.
For information, visit SaintLeo.edu/super-Saturday.
Chamber scholarships
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce presented scholarships to four Pasco High School graduates at its Business Breakfast at AdventHealth Dade City, in May.
The students awarded scholarships were Paul Leon, Sarah Peterson, Kaleigh Sinka and Megan Simonelli.
Third-graders improve proficiency
Pasco County third-graders improved their overall proficiency (Level 3-5) on the English Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment by 3 percentage points over last year (57/60) and outperformed the state by 2 percentage points (58/60).
These schools saw improvement of 10 percentage points or more:
- Academy at the Farm, 12 percentage points
- Chasco Elementary, 14 percentage points
- Connerton Elementary, 16 percentage points
- Lake Myrtle Elementary, 11 percentage points
- Learning Lodge Academy, 27 percentage points
- Oakstead Elementary, 11 percentage points
- Richey Elementary, 10 percentage points
- Sand Pine Elementary, 26 percentage points
- Seven Springs Elementary, 19 percentage points
- Veterans Elementary, 11 percentage points
Another 23 schools increased or maintained the percentage of students scoring a Level 3 or higher.
Overall, Pasco County’s third-graders showed the highest proficiency percentage in the Tampa Bay area.
Timothy Beard aces review
Pasco-Hernando State College president Timothy Beard earned near-perfect scores on his annual review, for a second year in a row, by the college’s District Board of Trustees.
The nine-member College Board of Trustees gave him an overall average score of 4.8 out of 5, noting his excellent communications with the District Board of Trustees, community stakeholders, and with administrators on the college’s administrative leadership team.
Beard earned a 4.86 for board relations; a 4.72 for community, state and national relations; a 4.78 for fiscal accountability; a 4.82 for leadership; and a 4.81 for accountability.
This review is consistent with last year’s review that showed Beard’s strong marks in all categories. The president’s overall average score of those categories in 2018 was 4.79.
Universities collaborate
Two Catholic universities have come together to make it easier for education, health care, law enforcement and other public-service professionals to pursue a graduate degree for career advancement.
Through a collaborative effort, Saint Leo University will provide prospective students with an easy-to-navigate admissions process, and Notre Dame de Namur University will offer a quality online master’s degree program in public administration that fits the career and lifestyle needs of adult students.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares professionals for administrative and management positions in public, nonprofit and service-related organizations.
The MPA is the preferred degree for many public-sector leaders because it delivers a comprehensive overview of organizations that rely on government budgets, taxes, or grants for funding.
The fall term for the Notre Dame program begins on Aug. 26. Applications will be accepted through mid-August.
To learn more about the master’s program and admissions, visit SaintLeo.edu/ndnu, or call (888) 875-8265.
