Hebrew students make intergenerational connections
TAMPA – Students in first, second and third grades at Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay, along with their music and classroom teachers, made intergenerational connections by visiting residents at Aston Gardens to share in the magic of Chanukah.
After their performance of Chanukah music, students handed out latkes and played dreidel with the residents. It was, as always, a joyous occasion.
Zephyrhills High valedictorian wins award
ZEPHYRHILLS – Pasco County Schools recognized Zephyrhills High School senior Joel Torres Espinoza as its United States Presidential Academic Scholar nominee.
Jennifer Yonkof, of Zephyrhills High School, said Espinoza is not only valedictorian of the class of 2025 but he is also a player on the school’s soccer and tennis teams.
Outside of school, Espinoza volunteers with the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Foundation.
Angel Hernandez, program coordinator with the career technical and adult education office at Pasco County Schools, told school board members that the U.S. Department of Education has been recognizing high school seniors with this honor since 1964.
Student artist already making a mark
NEW PORT RICHEY – Lela Costantino, a senior at Wendell Krinn Technical High School, was named the U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education nominee for Pasco County Schools.
Linda Borne, a commercial art technology teacher at Marchman Technical College, described Costantino as a talented designer and artist.
She has completed real world projects as well as created a mural for the Humane Society of Pasco County.
Foundation hits Giving Tuesday goal
PASCO COUNTY – The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation surpassed its Giving Tuesday goal of $5,000 in 2024, according to Lisa Richardson, vice president of advancement, innovation and strategic partnerships.
The post-Thanksgiving campaign raised $5,407 for the foundation, which supports the college.
“Your contributions make a real difference, empowering our students and strengthening our community,” Richardson wrote in the foundation’s December newsletter.
The foundation is looking for sponsors for its annual golf tournament on March 7 at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club in Dade City. Sponsorships are available for the awards reception, lunch, hole and foursome.
Hillsborough County hosting poster contest
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – Hillsborough County Water Resources and the City of Tampa are encouraging students from kindergarten through 12th grade to enter the Drop Savers Water Conservation Poster Contest.
Students must create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, slogan or drawing. The goal is to educate and raise awareness about water conservation.
Schools can only submit one winning poster for each division. Visit HCFL.gov/DropSavers to see the rules, the steps on how to submit the poster, and view the past winning posters. The deadline is Feb. 15, 2025.
Student Achievements
- Lutz residents Jenna Freligh and Joelle Gamble made the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Belmont University. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C with at least 12 course hours.
- Jett Odom, a management major from Land O’ Lakes, made the provost’s honor roll at Midwestern State University for the fall 2024 semester. Students must have a grade point average of 3.75 to 3.99 and no grade lower than C with at least 12 course hours.
- Annelisa Russo, of Odessa, FL, made dean’s list at Lee University for the fall 2024 semester. Students must have a grade point average of 3.7 to 4.
- Sravani Gopaluni, a student in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program from Lutz, presented research, “Efficacy of Lisinopril in Hypertension: Monotherapy vs. Combination Therapy Relative to Menopausal Status and BMI,” at Des Moines University’s 2024 Research Symposium.
