Scholar-athletes recognized
Hillsborough County Public Schools recently announced its 2020 High Schools Scholar-Athletes of the Year awards. Each public school in the county selected a senior male and female recipient for the honor. Winners received a plaque and $1,000. These are the recipients from county schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:
Freedom High
Female: Bethany Booth
Sports: Cheerleading, flag football
GPA: 6.1
SAT: 1390
College: University of Florida
Male: Owen Barno
Sports: Golf, lacrosse
GPA: 5.97
SAT: 1240
College: University of Florida
Gaither High
Female: Kateri Espinosa
Sports: Swimming
GPA: 8.4
SAT: 1380
College: Princeton University
Male: Tyler Wilkes
Sports: Golf
GPA: 5.5
SAT: 1180
College: University of Florida
Steinbrenner High
Female: Ava Lucke
Sports: Flag football, soccer, track
GPA: 7.1
SAT: 1290
College: Undecided
Male: Paul Foreman Jr.
Sports: Cross-country, track
GPA: 6.9
SAT: 1470
College: University of Florida
Wharton High
Female: Vanessa Lopez
Sports: Cross-country, soccer, track
GPA: 6.7
SAT: 1480
College: University of Florida
Male: Zachary Godbold
Sports: Football, soccer, track
GPA: 6.1
SAT: 1270
College: University of Florida
CareerSource info sessions
CareerSource Tampa Bay has more than $500,000 to assist recent high school graduates, ages 16 to 24, to begin post-secondary training, paid work experience, or entrepreneurial training, according to a news release.
In response to COVID-19, CareerSource Tampa Bay’s (CSTB) Young Talent of Tampa Bay program is hosting virtual information sessions, bi-weekly, to inform youth about the services and training opportunities available.
Upcoming session dates are Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, all at 10 a.m.
Eligible young adults need to be out of school, between the ages of 16 to 24, and be Hillsborough County residents.
The $5,000 scholarships are available to support eligible youth interested in starting a training program to kickstart their careers.
Services available include: Career Exploration; GED Assistance; Employability Skills Training, including Financial Literacy; National Certifications for Workplace Training; Career Coaching and Guidance; Tuition Assistance for local schools; Limited Supportive Services; Placement Assistance through on-the-job training or Paid Work Experience.
Some post-secondary training programs available include graphic design, pharmacy tech, HVAC, nail tech, welding, computer information technology, barbering, construction trades, surgical technology, dental assisting, or commercial vehicle driving, and more.
Several apprenticeships also will be available.
Registration for the sessions is online at CareerSourceTampaBay.com/job-seekers/youth.
For information and questions, email , or call (813) 930-7400.
Meet the teacher
Pasco County Schools will host on-campus Meet the Teacher/Orientation events, specifically for students in transition years — prekindergarten, kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade.
The in-person events will take place as follows:
- Aug. 13 and Aug. 19 for sixth grade and ninth grade
- Aug. 20 for prekindergarten and kindergarten
Schools will communicate plans and schedules for students in all other grade levels.
Check your school’s website for more details and any updated information.
New families should contact schools to virtually enroll or to arrange an on-site appointment.
PHSC president scores high marks
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) president Timothy Beard, Ph.D., earned near-perfect scores on his annual review, for a third year in a row, by the college’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT), according to a PHSC news release. Beard’s review was discussed at the July DBOT meeting.
The nine-member College Board of Trustees gave him an overall average score of 4.90 out of 5, noting his excellent communications with the District Board of Trustees, community stakeholders, and administrators on the college’s administrative leadership team.
Trustees board chair Alvaro Hernandez summarized the review comments in a letter to the trustees, noting that “Dr. Beard’s personal and professional demeanor have positively impacted his performance as president and consequently facilitated the college being one of the premier institutions in the Florida College System. He exceeded performance standards in all areas of this evaluation.”
The review is consistent with last year’s review that showed Beard’s strong marks in all categories. Beard’s average scores were close to perfect in all five categories included in the evaluation. He earned a 4.90 for board relations; a 4.89 for community, state and national relations; a 4.89 on fiscal accountability; a 4.89 for leadership; and, a 4.90 for accountability. The president’s overall average score of those categories in 2019 was 4.8, significantly up from an average score of 3.4 out of 5 in 2017. Beard’s equivalent scores on a percentage scale have been 94% in 2018, 96% in 2019, and 98% this year.
Beard recently completed the second year of a two-year contract awarded in 2018 by the college trustees after demonstrating his ability to grow as a leader, embracing a style of leadership that promotes transparency, collaboration and clear communication.
Hernandez recommended and the board approved a three-year contract for Beard to run through June 30, 2023.
Exam prep course
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC), through the Continuing Workforce Education department, is offering new hybrid exam prep classes designed to prepare students to sit for testing to become industry-certified in a variety of fields.
These online courses include:
- Certified CompTIA A+ Professional: Sept 1. To Nov. 19, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays
- AIPB Certified Bookkeeper Professional: Sept. 3 to Nov. 19, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Thursdays
- Certified AutoCAD User: Sept. 10 to Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays
The hybrid courses offer a combination of online and face-to-face instruction, and were developed to provide technical training that directly responds to current industry demands.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act tuition funding is available through CareerSource Pasco-Hernando to qualified students.
Classes will take place on the PHSC West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey, and on the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City, with most course content available online.
For information, contact Karen Strouthopoulos at (727) 816-3123 or .
To register and pay online, visit PHSC.edu/academics/continuing-education, and select “Campus-based Continuing Professional Education courses.”
