Crazy about kindness
The Sunlake Academy of Math and Science PTSO (Parent, Teacher, Student Organization) last month hosted a Raise Craze fundraiser. Students logged their AOKs (Acts of Kindness) and placed a heart on a kindness tree, and celebrated with a Kindness Karnival — a day of sports and friends.
The final stats from the fundraiser:
- $56,533 total raised
- 3,063 Acts of Kindness logged
- Top Raising Class: $3,335
- Top AOK Class: 254
- Two top-earning students; three top AOK elementary students; three top AOK middle school students
The Raise Craze team and volunteers worked diligently to make the fundraiser a success, along with Sunlake families, teachers and staff.
Investiture ceremony
Saint Leo University will host an investitute ceremony of the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory for Rabbi A. James Rudin on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m., according to a news release.
Rudin is one of the co-founders of the university’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies.
Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston will conduct the ceremony on behalf of Pope Francis.
This is the third time in history a pope is honoring an American rabbi with the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. This also marks the first time in his papacy Pope Francis is granting the honor to a Jewish person, the release said.
Student news
Payton VanNort, of Lutz, is a crew member for Marietta College’s (Ohio) performances of “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.”
VanNort, who is majoring in theater directing, will fill the role of an assistant stage manager in the production.
Music performance
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Pasco-Hernando State College will host the band Decades Replay on Dec. 1 from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., at the West Campus Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.
Decades Replay is a tribute band that plays ’70s, ’80s, ‘90s and 2000s music across the nation and is nd is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The band covers the biggest hits by artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses, Duran Duran, Prince, Journey, Cyndi Lauper, The Cure, Pat Benatar, The Cars and many others. Costumes, props and performance provide a full decades stage show.
The cost of admission is $50. For information and tickets, visit PHSC.edu and click on the 50 Anniversary banner at the top.
Emerging Scholars Program
As part of Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) celebration of National First-Generation Student Day, its Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program has announced applications are now open for the Class of 2027, according to a news release.
The Scholars Program offers academically gifted, first-generation, low-income high school seniors the opportunity to graduate from FAU, debt-free.
Selected scholars will receive four-year financial aid packages for tuition, on-campus housing, books, a meal plan and additional resources needed to complete their college degree, the release said.
“First-generation students need support from a network of resources in order to pursue their academic goals,” said Aubrey Strul, co-founder of the Scholars Program, in the release.
“Our vision is to provide the financial, academic, social and career guidance necessary to level the playing field for Florida’s bright, capable future scholars,” Strul said.
Prospective emerging scholars must meet the following criteria:
- First-generation student (defined as parents not having attended college)
- 2023 high school graduate
- Accepted to FAU for the Fall 2023 semester
As part of the application process, future scholars need to submit a completed FAFSA application to assess eligibility for Federal Pell Grant funds, commit to enroll in 30 credits per academic year, and agree to live on campus for all four years.
Applications must be submitted by Feb. 1.
For information on applications, email Dr. Keven Allen, director of First-Generation Student Success, at .
To learn more about the Emerging Scholars Program, visit KellyStrulScholars.fau.edu.
Using a 529 account for education
Setting up a 529 account is a good way to save for education costs, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). These education savings accounts get their name from the governing section of the federal tax code.
Saving for college in a 529 account isn’t the only option.
The 529 plan in some states allow people to save for kindergarten through 12th grade education, as well as for college, according to a news release.
The funds from some plans also may be used for apprenticeship programs, or even to repay college loans.
And accounts don’t always have to be opened by parents. Grandparents and other relatives can open accounts for children. In some states, adults can open accounts to save for their own college education.
Money withdrawn from a 529 account generally is free of federal tax, as long as it is used for qualified eucational costs, which include tuition and fees, room and board, books, computers, and certain expenses for special-needs students.
Withdrawals also may be exempt from state taxes, depending on where the account holder or beneficiary lives.
Find out what your state offers before setting up a 529 account, and check into 529 accounts that aren’t limited to specific states.
KHEAA is a nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college, and provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.
To learn more, visit KHEAA.com.
Band program headed to D.C.
The Pasco High School Band Program, under the direction of Kyle Spence, is set to head to Washington D.C., from May 25 to May 30, to perform in the National Memorial Day Parade.
The “Marching Band of Pirates” also are scheduled to perform in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and will visit the Smithsonian Museums and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at the World War II Memorial and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.
If you would like to donate to the band’s trip, visit PHS.pasco.k12.fl.us/dc-page/. A schedule of the trip also is on the website.
