Students shine in world competition
The fifth-grade Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team from Connerton Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes won third place in its division at the OM World Finals Competition in Orlando. This was the first team in Pasco County to ever place in the top three at the World competition, according to an email from coach Allison Marks.
Marks, parent of two girls on the team, and Patricia Sherburne, second-grade teacher, coached the students.
The fifth-graders created a town called Choco Ville, a chocolate-themed town with chocolate-themed characters, in which a villain (Vanillian) tried to destroy the town with a ‘vanillacane’ (vanilla hurricane). The town’s superhero, Daffy Taffy, saved the day, and helped to unite the cocoa beans and vanilla beans.
The set for Choco Ville was constructed of cardboard boxes, paint, shopping bags, candy wrappers, paper towel tubes, cotton balls, coffee filters, painted paper plates, tootsie roll wrappers, bubble wrap and ice cream containers — all of which were made to look like various candy discs, ice cream cone shapes and more.
The community was very supportive and cheered the girls on, made donations, and encouraged and prayed for them along the way.
The team’s trophy will be placed on display in the Connerton Elementary office.
Back-to-School fundraiser
Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Jacques Hakim have partnered with the Pasco Sheriff’s Charities and the YMCA of the Suncoast James P. Gills Family Branch to launch “Step up for Pasco Students,” a back-to-school fundraiser, for students in Pasco County schools.
Every $10 donated can buy a new pair of quality shoes for a child in need.
The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs by July 18.
Sponsorship levels also are available.
To donate, visit bit.ly/PascoSheriffCharities or YMCASuncoast.org/stepup.
Student achievements
Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, has announced that Molly Grace Flanagan, of Lutz, and Julliet Abel Muriel, of Spring Hill, have been named to the spring Dean’s List.
Muriel also received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in criminal justice.
Veteran Studies degree
Saint Leo University has created the first undergraduate degree devoted to veteran studies, according to a news release. A Saint Leo minor also is available in the emerging field.
The veteran studies major was developed to allow students the opportunity to study the distinctive lives and cultures formed by military service and by retirement from service — a part of American culture that often is not understood, except in shallow or stereotypic ways.
The major and the minor are intended to remedy that deficit.
The programs are open to both student-veterans and students who are not veterans.
Admissions and enrollment inquiries can be made by calling 877-622-2009, or by emailing .
Financial aid tip
Getting at least some advanced training or education after high school can lead to a future with more opportunities and higher expected income.
Data from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey shows that U.S. high school graduates aged 25 and older reported a median income of $31,956 per year, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) news release. (A median means that half of the people who responded made more than that amount, while half made less.)
Students who had some post-high school education made over $5,000 more per year, while those with two-year degrees made over $7,000 more each year.
The unemployment rates for high school graduates and those with some college or technical training didn’t differ much, 4.8% versus 4.9%. The jobless rate for people with a two-year degree was much lower at 3.3%.
The KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency that helps to improve students’ access to college.
It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy, at no cost to students and parents.
For more about the agency’s services, visit KHEAA.com.
Free vaccinations
The Florida Department of Health – Pasco County is teaming up with Pasco County Schools and Health Hero to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to Pasco County students age 12 and older.
The free vaccinations also will be made available to children’s eligible family members.
Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to receive the vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed at several school locations around the county.
Appointments are required to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.
July 12:
- J.W. Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Road, Trinity – 8 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria. Enter the school from Photonics Drive and park in the first parking lot on the right.
July 13:
- Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes – 8 a.m. to noon. Park in the student parking area.
July 14:
- Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City – 8 a.m. to noon. From State Road 52, pull in after the tennis courts and park in the staff or gym parking lot.
- Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park in the faculty parking lot and take the sidewalk between Building 300 and the main office.
Parents are encouraged to fill out the online registration available from the school district website (Pasco.k12.fl.us), and select from the available dates, times and locations.
An individual registration form must be completed for the student and every additional family member.
