Pasco Elementary receives distinction
Pasco Elementary School has been designated an Imagine Nation Beacon School. ‘The Pirates’ earned the recognition after its pre-K classes came in third place and its ESOL students came in fifth place for the most minutes spent on Imagine Learning. The program covers reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
Student volunteers needed
The Concourse, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, is looking for student (and adult) volunteers for its 2023 Celebration of Lights that will run on select dates from Nov. 24 to Dec. 30. The drive-thru light display includes a holiday train; Pasco Safety Town features Santa Claus. For more information or to sign up, visit tinyurl.com/2bwppzpt.
Build a Bear for a Cause
The seventh annual Build a Bear for a Cause is scheduled for Nov. 28 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at The Shops at Wiregrass store, 28163 Paseo Drive, #170, in Wesley Chapel, to benefit the Pasco County Schools’ ABC (Assist, Believe, Care) Program, a program that matches community individuals and groups with children in need at local elementary schools in order to provide basic essentials.
Guests can stop by to build a bear or to make a donation (and a bear will be built for you). For those interested but who cannot make the date, stop by during the day and the Build a Bear staff will hold your donation for the campaign. The goal is 200 bears that will be distributed to local children.
To make a monetary donation, visit https://square.link/u/zGHBhFJH or use Venmo: @Cindy-ross-0. For information, contact Cindy Ross at 813-949-5700, 813-205-6125 or .
Pitch Competition
Pasco-Hernando State College has challenged the Hernando County community to create a new product, service, or innovation aimed at improving the county, and will host a Dinner and a Pitch Competition on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m., at 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., in Brooksville.
In the presentation, PHSC will outline a business idea that leverages project-based learning and 21st century skills to develop a community-enhancing venture. The goal is to present the idea to a group of investors. Teams may consist of one to four business partners.
For more information, contact Alysen Heil at or 727-816-3257.
Behind the scenes
Payton VanNort, of Lutz, is a member of the production crew for Marietta (Ohio) College’s performances of “Stratum: An Original Musical” that opens on Dec. 1. VanNort, a major in theater-directing, is working as the stage manager in the production.
Academy hosts Santa
The East Pasco Education Academy, 35830 County Road 52 in Dade City, will host a “Cookies with Santa” fundraiser on Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free to visit with Santa and to decorate cookies, as well as play holiday games. Tickets can be purchased for the Polar Express, Snowball Fight and other Christmas surprises. There also will be opportunities for holiday photos. All proceeds will benefit the students of the academy.
Illustrative Contest
B&B Theatres in Wesley Chapel invites students to submit original artwork for its illustrative contest entitled, “Enjoy the Magic of the Movies.” Artwork should feature one of the movie titles listed below, using any art medium, limited to 11-inch by 14-inch size.
Entries should be submitted with the student’s name, school and grade level, and delivered to the theater, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 14.
Works of art will be featured in the theater and the winners will receive a popcorn party in January for their class, as well as a movie pack for two. Movie titles to select from are:
- “Disney’s Wish”
- “Wonka”
- “Migration”
- “Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom”
Scholarship recipients
The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative’s (WREC) Educational Foundation since 1997 has awarded 2,414 college scholarships to its members with a potential payout of $18.5 million, according to a news release.
The recipients of these scholarships may attend any in-state regionally accredited college, university or technical school. The WREC funds the program using abandoned Capital Credits that would otherwise be forfeited to the State of Florida as abandoned property.
In 2024, WREC will select 110 high school seniors to receive a maximum $12,000 ($1,500 per semester) each toward their undergraduate education, totaling $1,320,000, the release said.
Students are selected in their senior year by local guidance counselors and WREC personnel.
Scholarship applications are available now and can be picked up at any local WREC District Office, high school guidance office or online at WREC.net. Applications must be mailed to the WREC Corporate Center Office and postmarked no later than March 31, 2024.
Students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area who received 2023 scholarships include: Arossa Adhikary, Land O’ Lakes High School; Angellea Bachtel, Pasco High; Jack Carbone, Cypress Creek High; Cameron Choate, Cypress Creek; Adrienne Csatlos, Sunlake High; Kaylee Eisenberg, Wesley Chapel High; Aydin Ferran, Wesley Chapel; Shannon Fields, Wesley Chapel; Lauralee Fuher, Wesley Chapel; Nam Huynh, Wiregrass Ranch High; Leah Kuriakose, Pasco High; Isabelle Le-Nguyen, Cypress Creek; Sophia Lipinski, Wesley Chapel; David Little, Land O’ Lakes; Mikayla Mahoney, Cypress Creek; Zoe Miller, Wesley Chapel; Alan Nguyen, Cypress Creek; Bryan Nunez, Wesley Chapel; Alejandra Padilla, Zephyrhills High; Mateo Palacio, Wesley Chapel; Joaquin Parrilla IV, Cypress Creek; Jessilyn Peppers, Wesley Chapel; Gabriela Perez, Pasco; John Purcell, Freedom High; Warren Raskopf, Wesley Chapel; Erin Roberts, Land O’ Lakes; Aliyah Rodriguez Sanchez, Wesley Chapel; Sophia Rojas, Wiregrass Ranch; Sachin Singh, Wesley Chapel; Asia Smith, Cypress Creek; Julian Stevenson, Wesley Chapel; Emily Sutton, Pasco; Antonio Williams, Wesley Chapel; Nya Williams, Cypress Creek; and Mckenna Yingling, Cypress Creek.
