Back-to-School Party
Fifty boys and girls received bags of school supplies at the 12th annual Back-to-School Party sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio and Farmworkers Self Help. The children also listened to Senior Forest Ranger Chris Farley and Ranger Ali discuss entry-level jobs with the Florida Forest Service, and they got to sit in the Forest Service bulldozer. Several children talked about becoming forest rangers and helping to fight forest fires. The event also provided hot dogs served by Rotary Club President Jim Tremmel.
Hispanic Heritage contests
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to design a bookmark, and students in grades six to 12 can design a poster, for the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative’s Hispanic Heritage Contest.
First- and second-place winners will be chosen in groups: kindergarten through second grade; third grade through fifth grade; sixth grade through eighth grade; and ninth grade through 12th grade.
Prizes include museum tickets, gift cards, history center tickets, sketchbooks, and professionally printed bookmarks.
The contest runs through Sept. 30. Entries can be submitted to any Hillsborough County public library.
For information and to see some of last year’s winners, visit HCPLC.org/events/hispanic-heritage.
Fee adjustments
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted student-related fees at a Sept. 17 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill campus, 450 Beverly Court.
The fee adjustment proposal was reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by the PHSC President’s Administrative Leadership Team, a committee of college administrators.
Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing.
Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.
For details regarding the proposed fees adjustments, justification for the fees, and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu.
Faculty-authors to read
Five Saint Leo University faculty-authors will read from their own creative works Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, in Selby Auditorium, Lewis Hall.
The event, “Wild Gifts: A Reading by Creative Writing Faculty,” will include readings by poets, a short story writer, a memoirist, and a novelist.
Homecoming boutique
A Cinderella Project Homecoming Boutique will be set up at Cypress Creek High School, 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Free homecoming attire, shoes and accessories will be available for any high school student.
For information, call Cypress Creek at (813) 346-4400.
Other boutiques also will be at Gulf High School in New Port Richey on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26; and, Fivay High School in Hudson on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Ambassador sworn in
Philanthropist Donald R. Tapia, Saint Leo University alumnus and former Board of Trustees chair, was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica by Vice President Mike Pence on Aug. 20, in Washington D.C.
Tapia will represent the president in an official capacity, and work on efforts to protect and promote national interests and maintain diplomacy.
Tapia competed his undergraduate degree in business administration from Saint Leo’s Center for Online Learning in 2005, joined the board of trustees in 2006, earned a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo (online) in 2007, and was named chair of Saint Leo’s Board of Trustees in 2011.
He was the chairman and CEO of Essco Group Management, which grew to become the largest Hispanic-owned business in Arizona. In 2010, he retired from the company to devote his time to philanthropy.
Tapia’s gift of $4 million to Saint Leo was announced in 2010, and was used to construct the Tapia College of Business building.
In 2014, the university awarded Tapia the degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, for his dedication to Saint Leo.
Belle of the Ball
The Belle of the Ball Project again will provide free homecoming dresses and accessories to in-need high school girls on Sept. 21, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its boutique at 1210 Holt Ave., in Clearwater.
Dresses will be available to all in-need high school girls for their high school prom, homecoming or military ball.
No referral letter is necessary. No appointment is needed.
A $1 to $5 donation is requested, but not required.
Donations of dresses and accessories also can be made at the site. Large size dresses (size 18 to 26) are the biggest need.
For information, visit BelleOfTheBallProject.com.
