Two join leadership team
Daniel Powell, Ph.D., and Steven Wasilefsky officially have begun their tenure with Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) as part of the President’s Administrative Leadership Team, according to a news release.
Powell joins the college as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, and Wasilefsky as the associate vice president of facilities administration.
Powell recently served as the vice president of academic success at Northwest Vista College since 2019, and led the college to be nationally recognized for its high-quality instruction and academic support, the release says.
Wasilefsky has served as a project manager for Manhattan Construction Company since 2019, where he managed construction projects up to $22 million in contract value. He also worked as a project manager in higher education at the University of South Florida, and the College of William and Mary.
Drive Into the School Year
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office will host “Drive Into the School Year” on Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for Hillsborough County students, at 2030 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa. Road tests, written tests and the issuance of driver licenses and learner’s permits will be available by appointment only. The event aims to prepare students and their families for the new school year with essential services, making the transition smoother. Students must meet requirements before taking a written or road skills test. There also will be free services offered including hearing exams, sports physicals, dental services, and more.
Limited walk-in services will be available for Hillsborough residents, including title and registration services, disabled parking permits, and certain driver license services such as renewals and address changes.
To determine eligibility or to make an appointment, visit HillsTax.org/student-Saturdays/.
2024-2025 school calendars
All Pasco and Hillsborough county students report back to school on Aug. 12, following Meet the Teacher days from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9. Pasco County Schools 2024-2025 Student/Teacher Calendar through the end of 2024 includes these days:
- Sept. 2: no school (Labor Day); Sept. 20, progress reports
- Oct. 14 and Oct. 15: no school (Teacher Planning Days); Oct. 23, report cards
- Nov. 8, progress reports; Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, no school, Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 20: end of quarter; Dec. 23 to Dec. 31, no school, Winter Break
To view the school calendar in detail and for 2025 upcoming days, visit https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/library/home/calendar_24_25.pdf.
To see the Hillsborough County Schools calendar, visit https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/2#calendar1/20240712/month.
Band seeking sponsors
The Bands of Sunlake High School, dubbed the “Soaring Sound,” is looking for sponsors for the 2024-2025 season. The music and performance program offers students opportunities in Marching Band, Color Guard, Wind Ensemble & Concert Band, Jazz Band, Indoor Percussion, and Chorus.
There are four levels of sponsorship packages businesses can select, with donations ranging from $250 to $1,000. All sponsors receive premium home football game parking, listing in event programs and on social media and promotions of the business at a home football game. Higher levels receive business name/logo on show shirts, tickets to the band banquet, promotion at all home football games and logo on equipment trailer.
For information, email Alan Bonko, band director, at .
Hillsborough Schools Bash
The second annual Back 2 School Bash at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover, will take place Aug. 3 from noon to 4 p.m.
Hillsborough County Schools will be on hand to provide information about resources for students, including nutritional health tips, tutoring services, and more. Community organizations also will share information about after-school programs, 4H, FFA (Future Farmers of America), and more. The event also will feature yard games, inflatables, face painting, dodgeball, volleyball, hay rides and a cake walk. All games are free and food trucks will be available to purchase from.
Guests are encouraged to bring school supplies to donate to the public schools in the community.
Back-to-School Bash
Florida Penguin Productions will host a Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, in Lutz. The event will feature a free backpack giveaway, scavenger hunt for school supplies, community stage performances, games and activities, meet-and-greets with mascot and characters, and more. RSVP through Facebook.
Earn service hours
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is looking for high school seniors and college students to earn service hours and qualify for a scholarship worth up to $3,000. Sign up for one or more events online at EventBrite.com. Students also can organize their own clean-ups and beautification projects for extra qualification and points. Application runs from Aug. 12 to Sept. 21.
Student achievements
- Jackson Behuniak, Lutz: Chancellor’s Honor Roll, University of Mississippi
- Emily Bentley, Lutz: Dean’s List, Chancellor’s List, Western Carolina University, North Carolina
- Alyssa Bongiovanni, Lutz: Honor Roll, Rhodes College, Tennessee
- Taylor Borja, Lutz: President’s List, University of Maryland Global Campus
- Kenza Brown, Lutz: President’s List, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
- Sean Corcoran, Odessa: Provost’s List, Troy University, Alabama
- Caitlyn Culpepper, Odessa: $1,000 Study Abroad Grant, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Chancellor’s Honor Roll, University of Mississippi
- Liam Andrews, Lutz: Dean’s List, Washington University-St.Louis, Missouri
- Madeline Griggs, Odessa: President’s List, The University of Alabama
- Riley Hall, Wesley Chapel: President’s List, Mercer University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Georgia
- Tanya Hallowell, Odessa: President’s List, Georgia State University
- Logan Hinsberg, Odessa: President’s List, The University of Alabama
- Danielle Kanas, Lutz: President’s List, The University of Alabama
- JoAna Mucklow, Odessa: Chancellor’s Honor Roll, University of Mississippi
- Joseph Pesansky, Odessa: Dean’s List, College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts
- Kaitlyn Ryan, Lutz: Chancellor’s Honor Roll, University of Mississippi
- Emara Saez, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tufts University, Massachusetts
- Josh Steele, Odessa: President’s List, Plymouth State University, New Hampshire
- Chase Thurber, Odessa: Chancellor’s List, Western Carolina University, North Carolina
- Jillian White, Lutz: Chancellor’s Honor Roll, University of Mississippi
Serving the Navy
LTJG Kevin Ramsay is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Training Squadron (VT) 35 where naval aviators learn the skills they need to fly missions around the world. Ramsay earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Florida in 2017 and joined the Navy more than two years ago. Today, Ramsay serves as a student pilot assigned to VT 35, a U.S. Navy advanced flight training squadron located at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.
Distinguished principal named
The Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) announced that Dr. Angela Murphy-Osborne has been named the 2023-2024 recipient of the Florida NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) National Distinguished Principal of the Year, according to a news release. Murphy-Osborne has led Hamlin Elementary, in Winter Garden, for the past two years and has been a principal for the past 25 years.
She has been honored as the Orange County Public Schools Principal of the Year in 2012 and 2015, as well as the Florida Principal of the Year in 2015. The educator believes that to run a successful school, the stakeholders must be included and invested in the success of the school, the release says.
Murphy-Osborne was honored at FSA’s Discover ’24 Annual Conference in June, as well as in Washington D.C., in October.
