A campaign good for the ‘sole’
Pasco County government and constitutional offices collected more than 9,000 pairs of shoes and socks for kids in Pasco County schools, during the 2023 Two Good Soles Shoes and Socks Drive. This year’s drive resulted in 3,198 pairs of shoes and 5,939 pairs of socks. The community effort helps students put their best foot forward. Since 2016, the campaign has collected 18,340 pairs of shoes and 45,685 pairs of socks, which social workers distribute to students enrolled in Pasco County Schools.
Sunlake Ravenfest
The Sunlake Academy of Math & Science PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization), 18681 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, will host a Ravenfest fundraiser on Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fall festival will include inflatable games, vendors, bubbles, food trucks, lawn games, a goat petting zoo, raffle, and face painting. Admission is $5; children age 2 and younger are free. For tickets, visit SunlakePTSO.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/260279.
Robotics Rumblerama
Middle and high school robotic teams will battle it out with their bots at the 2023 Over-Under VEX Robotics Rumblerama Competition on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey, in the gymnasium. For information, contact Aaron Ellerman at 727-816-3259 or .
Florida Bar competition
The Florida Bar announced its annual High School Appellate Brief Writing & Moot Court Competition, an event that provides a unique experience in the world of law and advocacy.
The opportunity offers high school students the chance to gain a firsthand understanding of the appellate process by engaging in brief writing and oral argument exercises based on a fictitious case, according to a news release.
The competition, sponsored by The Florida Bar’s Law Related Education Committee, is open to high school students across Florida. Students work in teams of two, coached by a teacher or qualified sponsor, to draft a brief for either the petitioner or the respondent, using only the cases, citations, and legal authorities provided in the case problem.
District competition winners will advance to the State Finals in Tallahassee, where they will present their arguments before a panel of appellate judges. The highest-scoring teams will proceed to the Final Round, in which they will argue before the Florida Supreme Court. In addition to an overall winner, awards will be presented for the Best Brief and Best Oralist, recognizing both individual and team achievements.
For more information and registration details, visit FloridaBar.org/flmootcourt.
Outstanding youth recognized
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recognized six outstanding young people on Oct. 18, as the board presented its Youth Excellence and Achievement Awards (YEA! Awards) during its meeting. The YEA! Awards recognize three middle school and three high school students in Hillsborough County who display initiative, innovation, and commitment to themselves and others, while pursuing leadership excellence. This year’s recipients are:
- Success Despite Difficult Odds — Gavin Shreeve, Randall Middle School; Caitlin Conrad, Steinbrenner High School
- Leadership — Nathaniel Freeman, Williams Middle IB School; Hunter Anderson, Durant High School
- Volunteer or Community Service — Gabrielle Lee, Farnell Middle School; Jayen Patel, Hillsborough High School
For more information, visit HCFLGov.net/YEA.
Free essay review
CollegeConfidential.com, an online platform that leverages the power of community to provide unfiltered guidance on college admissions and higher education, has launched a free essay review service for the 2024-2025 academic year college applicants, according to a news release. The online platform provides the largest college forums in the world, access to thousands of schools (including virtual campus tours), and the collaborative strength of students, families and experts, the release says.
The essay review service is designed to help college-bound students confidently tell their unique stories and convey their personalities, strengths, accomplishments, and the contributions they will make on campus. Key features of the service include:
- 100% free and accessible to students
- Essays are reviewed by select community member volunteers who possess decades of experience helping students refine college essays.
- Essay feedback is secure, private and confidential.
- Access to additional college application resources
- Exclusive decision date calendar and helpful college lists
Students interested in using the free essay service should follow these steps: Visit CollegeConfidential.com and register or log in if you have an existing account; join the Students Essay Reviews private group and access the Essay Feedback private community; and follow the instructions to submit an essay help request.
To learn more, visit CollegeConfidential.com.
