Safety is a priority for these officers
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office Traffic Control Officers (TCO) completed their annual certification training prior to the start of the new school year. The TCOs assist school crossing guards by maintaining traffic flow for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the street. This helps to ensure the safety of students and their families as they get to and from school. Training took place at Safety Town in Shady Hills.
Adopt a Classroom
Pepin Academies Foundation is hosting its second annual Adopt a Classroom campaign to help equip teachers and students with needed school supplies.
Individuals and businesses can participate by sponsoring or adopting a classroom, with the option to donate to one Pepin Academies campus or support all three of its Tampa Bay-area campuses.
Teachers will have the opportunity to identify their own classroom needs, which is an important step in granting schools the flexibility to adapt teaching practices to suit the individual needs of the students.
Adopt a Classroom donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/y34hzd72.
Vocational center
Hope Services will host a grand opening ribbon-cutting of a Vocational Training Center on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Center Complex, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.
There will be inflatables, food trucks, games, music, sports clinics, refreshments and more. The first 750 people will receive a free goodie bag.
Scholarships awarded
Negative Population Growth (NPG) leaders have announced that 16 students from across the United States will receive checks ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, to put toward tuition, as winners of NPG’s annual Essay Scholarship Contest.
High school students and currently enrolled college undergraduates competed by writing an original 450-word to 600-word essay addressing the topic of “Write a letter to President Biden that highlights why overpopulation must be part of his administration’s discussions concerning our environment, including efforts to curb climate change.”
This year’s $25,000 in prizes was a portion of the scholarship money NPG has awarded in recent years as part of its Youth Outreach program.
The multi-faceted outreach program is designed to get “young people focused on the disastrous future that awaits their generation if our nation’s leaders fail to soon recognize and act on putting forth workable, responsible, common-sense solutions to today’s ever-growing population crisis,” according to an NPG news release.
For more information about the essay contest and Negative Population Growth, visit NPG.org, follow NPG on Facebook @NegativePopulationGrowth, or on Twitter @npg_org.
Student achievements
-Kaylyn Burr, of Land O’ Lakes, was named to the Honor List at Minnesota State University-Mankato.
-Benjamin Tomas, of Lutz, was recognized to the Dean’s List at Peru State College in Nebraska.
An assembly line of help
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club recently volunteered at Connerton Elementary School in Land O’Lakes, to help it get ready for the new school year. The women quickly worked to assemble and collate 750 information packets for the students and parents. The woman’s club has long supported local schools through hands-on volunteering and annual scholarships. From left: Darlene Choe, Nancy Taylor, Jean Palmieri, Tanya Highnote and Joan Moore. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org, or its Facebook page.
