Students garner merit awards
The Lexington Oaks Women’s Club recognized three outstanding Lexington Oaks students with merit awards. With Cindy Cox (second from left), the club’s president, are recipients (from left) Cara Adipietro and Gabriela Santiago, who each received a $500 award in honor of Mary Lou Kruse, a former Lexington Oaks resident women’s club member, and Amanda Barry who received the $250 Christopher Helbing Memorial Award.
Pasco graduates garner more than $23 million in scholarships
Pasco County Schools will graduate more than 4,300 students in 2016, who have earned in excess of $23 million in scholarships.
Graduation ceremonies will take place June 2 through June 5, except Marchman Technical College, which was May 25 at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge.
The University of South Florida’s Sun Dome will host J.W. Mitchell, Sunlake, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills, Hudson, Anclote and Fivay graduates.
Pasco eSchool students will have their ceremony at Crews Lake Middle School. Gulf High’s graduation will be at Calvary Chapel Worship Center. River Ridge and Ridgewood graduations will be in each of the school’s gymnasiums, and Pasco High’s ceremony will be in its football stadium.
Senior week at SunWest Park
SunWest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway in Hudson, will host Senior Week, May 31 to June 3, allowing graduating high school seniors to get in free, with a student ID. SunWest Park is the closest beach to Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and East Pasco. There is swimming, floating inflatables, volleyball, an aqua park and more. For information on the park, visit SunWestPark.com.
Saint Anthony school dedication
Saint Anthony Catholic School, 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio, will host a dedication of the newly renovated school building on June 3. There will be a blessing and dedication at 10 a.m., followed by an open house and refreshments.
For information, call Sister Alice Ottapurackal at (352) 588-3041.
Students earn regional science award
Colby Tomasello and Clay Kennedy, ninth-graders at Land O’ Lakes High School, won the Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Regional Award for their “Recharge Roadways” proposed prototype.
Both students joined Joshua Burke, of Jesuit High School, to form a team that presented its prototype as a renewable energy resource for electric vehicles. The proposal repurposes roadways to function as a continuous recharging mechanism.
The team was coached by Land O’ Lakes High teacher Victoria Savosh and mentored by Heather Tomasello.
Each team member, teacher and mentor received a Toshiba 8GB Excite tablet and a framed certificate. Land O’ Lakes principal Ric Mellin received a plaque and a Toshiba laptop. Savosh will use the laptop as a student station in her classroom.
As regional award winners, the team advanced to the national competition in Washington D.C.
PHSC students advance to national SkillsUSA
Pasco-Hernando State College students Toshia Knous and Richard Yackel were awarded gold medals at the SkillsUSA state competition and will advance to the national competition at the 52nd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 19 to June 25 in Louisville, Kentucky.
SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations and for further education.
The NLSC is a showcase of career and technical education students representing 52 state and territorial associations. Knous will compete in Practical Nursing, and Yackel will compete in Related Technical Math.
PHSC student Margaret Liwski received a bronze medal, having placed third in the state competition in the Job Interview category.
For information about the career programs at PHSC, visit PHSC.edu/careers.
